SB 27 Tennessee Senate · 114th Regular Session (2025-2026)

Governor - As enacted, prohibits orders, proclamations, or rules issued by the governor under the governor's emergency management powers from contravening, suspending, or conflicting with a provision of the Tennessee Constitution; restricts governor's ability under such powers to suspend certain procedural provisions of a law, order, rule, or regulation. - Amends TCA Title 4 and Title 58, Chapter 2.

SB 27 limits the governor's emergency powers by prohibiting executive orders, proclamations, or rules from overriding or conflicting with the Tennessee Constitution. It specifically restricts the governor from suspending procedural requirements for state agencies or laws governing how state business operates during emergencies. The bill requires that any suspension of such procedures must be strictly necessary to address the emergency, with no broader exceptions. This directly affects the governor's authority to issue emergency directives under Tennessee law.
Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Feb 2025
Senate Passage
Mar 2025
House Passage
Mar 2025
Governor
Introduced Jan 14, 2025 Last action Jun 4, 2025
Floor votes · Senate Mar 6, 2025 · House Mar 24, 2025

How they voted

323
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 37
Mar 6, 2025
D Democratic6
2 Yea 2 Nay 2
33% Nay
R Republican31
30 Yea 1 Nay
96% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
20
Key actions
6
Committee
3
Mar 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
Signed by H. Speaker
lower
Mar 25, 2025
Upper · Passed
Signed by Senate Speaker
upper
Mar 24, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed H., Ayes 77, Nays 16, PNV 0
lower
Mar 6, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate, Ayes 27, Nays 3, PNV 2
upper
Feb 25, 2025
Lower · Passed
Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee
lower
Feb 18, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 2/25/2025
lower
Jan 15, 2025
Committee
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate State and Local Government Committee
upper
Jan 14, 2025
Introduced
Introduced, Passed on First Consideration
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Mark Pody
Mark Pody
RRepublican
TN
17