Tennessee Bills

HB 2627 creates the office of County Highway Supervisor for Weakley County, establishing it as the chief administrator of the county highway department. The bill sets qualifications requiring an engineering background or four years of highway maintenance experience, residency, and age requirements, with the position elected every four years starting in 2026. It clarifies that the current highway superintendent continues in office until the next election and mandates that the bill requires a two-thirds approval vote from Weakley County’s legislative body to take effect. This is a county-specific private act affecting only Weakley County’s highway governance structure.

SB 2701 would allow Henry County to impose a severance tax on the extraction of clay, titanium, and other commonly recognized minerals within its borders. The tax rate would match Tennessee’s maximum per-ton rate for similar minerals, automatically adjusting if state law changes. All revenue collected - after administrative costs - must be used exclusively for county road construction, maintenance, and repairs. The tax applies only to minerals not already taxed under existing state law and requires Henry County’s legislative body to approve it by a two-thirds vote.

HB 2636 amends Greenbrier's local charter to increase aldermen salaries from $120 to $300 per month, effective only for new terms (not current officeholders until their current term ends). It replaces specific purchasing limits in the charter with requirements to follow state law. The bill also requires Greenbrier's city council to approve the changes by a two-thirds vote before taking effect. This directly affects Greenbrier's city council members and their compensation structure under local government rules.

SB 2153 would authorize Tennessee’s Department of Health to create a voluntary home visiting program for children aged birth to five and their families. The program provides evidence-based, home-based support through licensed clinicians to improve child mental health, reduce abuse/neglect risks, and strengthen family stability for families facing stressors like poverty or trauma. It requires care coordination to connect families with medical, housing, and social services, and mandates contracting with qualified nonprofit providers trained in trauma-informed practices. The bill also requires annual reports to the legislature tracking families served, outcomes, and funding sources, with implementation pending committee action.

HB 2625 would change Cheatham County's school district structure from six to seven districts, each with one elected board member. It requires the county legislative body to approve the change with a two-thirds vote before taking effect. Incumbent board members would serve out their current terms, with one new member elected in the 2032 general election to fill the new seat. The bill only becomes effective if Cheatham County officials formally approve it.

HB 2632 changes Shelbyville's utility board structure by removing the city manager as a voting member and replacing them with an additional city council member. The board will now consist of five citizen members appointed by the council plus two city council members (previously, the city manager held one council seat). This directly affects how Shelbyville manages its power, water, and sewer systems through its governing board. The bill requires Shelbyville's city council to approve the change before it takes effect.

HB 2626 reallocates an existing $7,500 development impact fee in Cheatham County, known as the Cheatham County Development Tax. It changes how the revenue is distributed: 46.67% ($3,500) to the county’s general education debt fund, 46.67% ($3,500) to a dedicated fund for school building construction/renovation, and 6.66% ($500) to the Highway and Public Works Fund. The bill directly affects Cheatham County residents and developers who pay this fee, as it modifies where the existing revenue goes. The allocation requires approval by Cheatham County’s legislative body with a two-thirds vote to take effect.

HB 2318 revises Tennessee's process for state agencies to accept federal aid. It requires the Joint Committee on Ways and Means to review all federal aid applications and acceptances (previously only required for amounts over $25 million), including notifying the committee before accepting any federal funds. State agencies like the courts, treasury department, and executive departments must now follow this process for all aid amounts, though the committee can choose not to hold a hearing or must act within 30 days. The bill also clarifies annual/multi-year grant review requirements and updates terminology for consistency.

HB 2633 would amend Springfield's city charter to allow relatives of city employees to be hired in departments other than the employee's department, while maintaining existing restrictions on hiring relatives in the same department or for city officials/managers. This change would directly affect Springfield's hiring practices for city employees and their relatives. The bill requires Springfield's city council to approve the change by a two-thirds vote before it takes effect, and the city must formally certify this approval. The proposal modifies the current nepotism rule (defined as hiring relatives in the same department) but does not change the prohibition on hiring relatives of city officials or the city manager.

HB 2645 replaces the City of Martin, Tennessee's existing charter (Chapter 158 of the Private Acts of 1992) with a new governing document. The bill establishes Martin as a city with perpetual succession, divides it into three wards for electing aldermen, and sets up a nonpartisan election process for mayor and aldermen every two years. It grants the city broad authority to enact ordinances, levy taxes, regulate public safety (like fire codes and noise), manage infrastructure (water, sewer, gas), and handle waste disposal. The charter also requires ward boundaries to comply with "one person, one vote" principles and be reviewed every decade using U.S. Census data.

HB 2646 amends the law to allow the Williamson County Hospital District board to sell real property or lease substantially all of its facilities, but only with prior approval from the Williamson County Board of Commissioners. This directly affects the hospital district’s asset management and requires county government consent for major transactions. The key mechanism explicitly mandates county approval for these actions, replacing outdated language with a clear statutory requirement. The bill updates the legal framework without altering the existing practice of needing county oversight.

SB 2708 modifies rules governing the Williamson County Hospital District's property management. It removes a previous restriction that prohibited the hospital district board from selling real property or leasing most facilities without county approval, now requiring such transactions to be approved by the Williamson County Board of Commissioners. The bill specifies that the hospital district board can sell property or lease substantially all facilities only with this county commission approval. This change affects the hospital district's ability to manage its assets and directly involves Williamson County's governing body in major property decisions. The bill requires a two-thirds vote from the county commission for approval.