Tennessee Bills

This bill amends the charter of the Town of Stanton to revise its general powers and provisions related to the town judge. It grants the town expanded authority to manage finances, issue bonds, acquire property, and regulate public utilities and services. The legislation also clarifies the town's ability to grant exclusive franchises and contracts for utilities, with terms limited to 25 years or less. These changes require local approval before implementation and apply specifically to the municipal government of Stanton.

This bill creates the office of County Road Superintendent in Obion County and clarifies that the position is appointed by the county commission. The appointed superintendent would serve as the chief administrative officer responsible for building, maintaining, and managing county roads and bridges. Key provisions include giving the superintendent authority to manage department purchases, propose budgets, and issue expenditure warrants with a second signature from the County Mayor, while also allowing the county legislative body to establish an advisory committee for recommendations. The bill requires a two-thirds vote by the Obion County legislative body to take effect, ensuring local approval before implementation.

This bill would update the legal requirements for Haywood County's attorney by requiring state licensure, establishing a hiring preference for county residents, and mandating an oath of office. It clarifies the attorney's role as legal counsel to county officials, including the mayor and commission, while also allowing the county commission to hire additional legal counsel when needed. The legislation also modernizes terminology by replacing "quarterly county court" with "county commission" and "county judge" with "county mayor" throughout existing county laws. Importantly, the bill will only take effect if approved by a two-thirds vote of the Haywood County legislative body.

This bill proposes changes to the City of Lafayette's election schedule and compensation for city officials, but it requires approval from the city council to take effect. The legislation would move city elections from May to coincide with the November general election, while also increasing the mayor's annual salary from $45,000 to $75,000 and raising council member meeting compensation from $100 to $150 per meeting. Additionally, the bill authorizes the creation of new superintendent positions for streets and sanitation, subject to city council confirmation. Because the bill requires a two-thirds vote from the Lafayette city council to become law, it does not automatically change anything unless the local government approves it.

SB 2641 requires local retirement programs (including city, county, and school district pensions not in Tennessee's main TCRS system) to make investment decisions based **solely on financial factors**, excluding environmental, social, or governance (ESG) considerations. It mandates that fiduciaries (like fund managers) conducting an economic analysis to justify voting against a company's board recommendation on shareholder proposals. The bill creates a presumption that voting with a board’s recommendation is financially motivated, while banning votes prioritizing ESG interests unless proven financially beneficial through documented analysis. This applies to all local government retirement programs managing assets for employees’ benefits.

HB 2541 requires that workers on non-state construction contracts for public highway projects funded with state or federal money receive the prevailing wage rate, expanding the existing requirement from state contracts only. It directly affects construction workers and contractors working on public highway projects using public funds, including those under private contracts. The bill amends Tennessee's Prevailing Wage Act by redefining "state contract" to include non-state projects on public highways and updating the policy statement to mandate fair wages for all such projects. These changes apply to contracts entered into, amended, or renewed after the bill's effective date.

SB 2283 shortens the deadline for Tennessee cities to report how they spend tourism-related occupancy taxes. Specifically, it changes the reporting period from 90 days to 60 days after each fiscal year ends. This affects cities that levy occupancy taxes under general law, requiring them to file detailed reports with the Department of Tourist Development about tourism spending. The bill amends Tennessee Code Sections 67-4-1403(c)(1) and related provisions to implement this deadline change.

SB 2537 extends the deadline for Tennessee property taxpayers to apply for tax relief from 35 to 45 days after taxes become overdue. This change directly affects homeowners and property owners who qualify for property tax relief but haven't yet submitted an application. The bill amends Tennessee law (TCA Title 67) to give eligible taxpayers an additional 10 days to file for a refund or credit voucher. The policy change is a straightforward deadline extension with no other provisions or requirements.

SB 2295 requires Tennessee's Alcoholic Beverage Commission to submit its biennial report on preventing underage drinking, drunk driving, and other harmful alcohol use to the General Assembly by February 1 (instead of February 15) each odd-numbered year. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Sections 57-1-206(a) and related provisions to change this deadline. This shortens the submission timeline by two weeks, providing lawmakers earlier access to data on alcohol-related prevention efforts. The report directly affects the Commission (which must submit it) and the General Assembly (which receives it).

HB 2539 removes a reporting requirement from Tennessee's health code that was due to the Department of Health by December 15, 2022. Specifically, it deletes subsection (b) of Tennessee Code Annotated § 68-1-144, which concerned a report on the remote use of the WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) program. This bill does not create new policy or affect program eligibility - it only eliminates a previously required, overdue administrative report. The bill is procedural in nature and has not yet been voted on by the full legislature.

HB 2574 amends Tennessee law to clarify the driver's license revocation period for individuals convicted of DUI-related offenses involving an implied consent violation (such as refusing a breath test). It specifically sets a 1-year and 6-month revocation period for drivers without prior DUI convictions under Tennessee Code Annotated § 55-10-407(a)(1). The bill directly affects drivers who face license suspension due to DUI offenses, particularly those without prior convictions. This change clarifies the existing penalty duration without introducing new penalties or altering other aspects of DUI sentencing.

HB 2552 requires Tennessee local governments (municipalities, counties, or metropolitan counties) to review development applications, plans, or site inspections within 30 business days. If they identify issues, they must provide a single consolidated report of deficiencies within that timeframe, with a maximum of two such reports allowed before denial. The bill also mandates written contract changes with developers/contractors and requires local governments to release bonds within 30 days after an independent inspector confirms project completion. These provisions directly affect developers, contractors, and local government agencies by streamlining approval processes and reducing delays.