Tennessee Bills

HB 1424 removes a requirement in Gallatin's city charter that forced most appointed city officers (except the city attorney) to devote all their time to city duties. This change allows those officers to work outside regular city business hours without violating the charter. The amendment requires approval by Gallatin's city council with a two-thirds vote before taking effect, as specified in Section 2 of the bill.

HB 1434 changes Hardeman County's budgeting process by raising the assumed property tax collection rate from 85% to 92% when calculating the general tax rate for the county's general fund. This adjustment directly affects Hardeman County's budget planning for the next fiscal year, as it uses a higher estimated revenue rate to cover expenditures. The bill requires approval by a two-thirds vote of the county's legislative body before taking effect, and it becomes law once approved.

HB 1421 establishes litter abatement and control requirements for Tipton County, Tennessee, directly affecting all residents, businesses, property owners, and event organizers within the county. It requires refuse to be disposed of in closed, secured containers (with specific rules for wet garbage and hazardous materials), prohibits dumping in streams or public areas, mandates clean construction sites, and bans littering on private property or public rights-of-way. Violations carry fines of $25-$50 per day until corrected, and the law requires approval by a two-thirds vote of Tipton County’s legislative body to take effect. The bill focuses on concrete disposal rules and enforcement, not broader environmental outcomes.

HB 1427 sets the annual salary for Putnam County General Sessions Court Judges equal to the salary received by Putnam County circuit court judges and chancellors as of September 1, 2030. Effective that date, their salaries must be adjusted annually based on Tennessee Code sections 8-23-103(2) and 16-15-5003, paid in 12 equal installments. The bill requires local approval by Putnam County’s legislative body via a two-thirds vote before taking effect, and repeals conflicting private acts. It directly affects Putnam County’s General Sessions Court Judges, aligning their compensation with circuit court judges’ pay starting in 2030.

HB 1432 modifies Bartlett, Tennessee’s city charter to limit the mayor and each of the six alderman positions to a maximum of three four-year terms (12 years total). It directly affects current and future mayors and aldermen in Bartlett by restricting re-election opportunities. Key provisions include requiring resignations for officials running for another city office, establishing staggered elections for aldermanic positions, and updating personnel rules to prohibit discrimination based on protected characteristics. Incumbents serving at the time of the law’s effective date may complete their current terms, and the bill requires local approval by Bartlett’s legislative body before taking effect.

HB 1438 amends the charter of the City of Erin, Tennessee, primarily updating definitions and expanding the Board of Mayor and Aldermen's corporate powers. It changes the definition of "Elector" to require property ownership of at least 50% fee simple interest within the city, and adds specific powers to the Board, including contracting, borrowing money for municipal purposes, and acquiring property. The bill also corrects minor typographical errors (like "four year" to "four-year") and adds a new residency requirement of 24 continuous months for mayoral or aldermanic candidates. These changes directly affect Erin residents (particularly voters and candidates) and the city's governance structure under its charter.

HB 1416 would amend Germantown's city charter to require the mayor to serve as a full-time position, dedicating their full attention to city duties. It specifies that the mayor's salary must be set by city ordinance (overriding prior charter rules), and directly affects Germantown residents and its mayor. The bill requires voter approval via a binding referendum on May 2026 (or August 6, 2026, if a primary occurs), where voters will decide whether to adopt the change. This referendum process is a key mechanism, as the bill cannot take effect until the vote is certified.

HB 1436 repeals a 2007 state law (Chapter 47 of Private Acts) that established a statewide animal control program for Bartlett, Tennessee. The bill directly affects Bartlett residents and its city government, transferring control of animal services back to local authorities. Key provisions require Bartlett's city council to approve the repeal by a two-thirds vote before it takes effect, with approval certified to the state. If approved, the city would no longer be subject to the state-mandated program. The bill has passed the Tennessee legislature and governor but remains pending local approval.

HB 1429 prohibits immediate relatives of elected city officials in New Johnsonville from running for any city elected position. It defines "immediate relative" broadly to include spouses, parents, children, siblings, and in-laws. The law requires approval by a two-thirds vote of New Johnsonville's city legislative body before taking effect. This policy change directly affects residents seeking city office who have close family members already holding elected roles, aiming to prevent conflicts of interest in local government.

HB 1417 extends the current city judge's term in Tullahoma by one year (until August 2026) to align their election with the city's mayor and aldermen elections. After this extension, the city judge will be elected every eight years during the same August municipal elections as the mayor and aldermen, beginning in 2026. The bill modifies existing election timing rules under Chapter 553 of the Acts of 1903 but does not change the judge's qualifications, compensation, or duties. This directly affects Tullahoma's city judge position and municipal election schedule.

HB 1437 amends Crossville's city charter to set the mayor's salary at 15% of the Cumberland County Mayor's salary and each council member's salary at 5% of the county mayor's salary, with any future increases requiring approval through an election. It establishes a new regular meeting schedule requiring city council meetings at 6:00 PM on the second Tuesday of each month and mandates that special meetings only address pre-announced business with agendas posted online. The bill also increases Crossville's maximum occupancy tax rate from 2% to 3%, directly affecting the city's revenue generation and budgeting. These changes apply specifically to Crossville's local government operations and fiscal policies.

SB 1265 renames Tennessee's meat inspection law from "Tennessee Meat and Poultry Inspection Act" to "Tennessee Meat Inspection Act" and revises it to establish a state-run meat inspection program. The bill directly affects meat processing facilities, custom operations (like small farms preparing meat for household use), and businesses selling meat within Tennessee. Key provisions create a state program to inspect meat for safety and labeling, replacing reliance on federal oversight for intrastate commerce, while excluding personal use of home-slaughtered meat and restaurants using federally inspected products. The law ensures Tennessee's Department of Agriculture has exclusive authority over meat inspections within the state.