Legislative Bulletin - Mar 30, 2026

As introduced, removes the right of a cause of action for any affected person who seeks declaratory and injunctive relief in any action brought regarding the legality or constitutionality of a state governmental action.

As introduced, authorizes the executive director of the wildlife resources agency to enter into agreements with local law enforcement agencies for the purpose of enforcing wildlife management laws and rules; creates a Class B misdemeanor for feeding black bears in areas for which notice has been posted that feeding black bears is unlawful.

As introduced, adds the governing body of a local education agency and any other local governing body of a public body with the authority to make binding decisions or the ability to appropriate funds to the list of governing bodies that are required to make meeting agendas available to the public in advance of such meetings.

As introduced, directs the Tennessee advisory commission on intergovernmental relations (TACIR) to perform a study of this state's emergency communications system.

As introduced, authorizes a local government having revenues of at least $20 million in the prior fiscal year to use any project delivery method that the local government determines most effectively meets the needs of the local government for the construction of qualified local projects.

As introduced, removes the requirement that industrial, commercial, or other businesses, permitted to operate under zoning regulations or exceptions thereto, immediately preceding a change in zoning, may only destroy present facilities and reconstruct new facilities necessary to the conduct of such industry or business, subsequent to the zoning change. Removes the requirement that any structure rebuilt on a site conform to existing zoning regulations as to setbacks, height, bulk, or requirements as to the physical location of a structure upon the site.

As introduced, prohibits the state or a county or municipal government, in connection to a development property, from requiring a landowner, developer, or builder to fund, build, or contribute to the development of: (1) nonessential infrastructure that is not contiguous or adjacent to a development property of a landowner, developer, or builder; or (2) nonessential infrastructure beyond the anticipated infrastructure needed for the development property as
estimated at the start of the development of the development property. Specifies that “development of a property” constitutes any point from the initial planning stage through to the completion of the development property.

As amended, the legislation is only applicable to the Town of Jonesborough. As introduced, authorizes municipalities to levy a tax on the privilege of engaging in the act of development within the boundaries of the municipality; requires such tax to be levied at the rate and under the terms, conditions, and limitations contained in present law that apply to counties.

As amended, requires, by January 1, 2027, the chief law enforcement officer of each county to enter into a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with federal officials concerning enforcement of federal immigration laws, detention and removals, and investigations in the state pursuant to federal law. Establishes that a violation of this requirement may result in the state withholding all funds of the state allotted to the LEA or to the local government for use by the LEA. As introduced, requires a local government entity to comply with a court order regarding an unlawful sanctuary policy within 120 days of the issuance of the court's order.

As introduced, specifies circumstances in which a referendum will not be required to effectuate annexation of territory; removes repealer provision for exceptions to the referendum requirement.

As introduced, authorizes municipalities, including those with home rule charters, and metropolitan forms of government to adopt a tiered system of monetary penalties for repeated violations of the same municipal ordinance by the same person or entity within a 12-month period.

As introduced, authorizes local governmental bodies to conduct certain community meetings via electronic means of communication.

Makes various changes to the Real Estate Infrastructure Development Act of 2025 (Act). Authorizes central business improvement districts (CBIDs) to overlap areas within an infrastructure development district (IDD), created by a municipality pursuant to the Act. Clarifies that, when a district must be approved by two or more host municipalities, and a governing body makes approval contingent on the approval of another governing body, host municipalities are authorized to hold separate public hearings. Requires the establishment resolution of an IDD provide the maximum rate of levy of the special
assessment to be imposed. Authorizes a host municipality to issue bonds separately for each phase of development, whose term of life cannot exceed 30 years from the date of issuance of bonds for its respective phase. Revises the term of dissolution for IDDs Specifies that a portion of special assessments, rather than up to five percent, may be set aside for the actual costs of administrative expenses.

Requires a law enforcement agency to communicate with local government entities and officials to submit quarterly reports to the Centralized Immigration
Enforcement Division (CIED) within the Department of Safety (DOS) regarding illegal activities, including criminal gang activities and violations of federal immigration laws, of persons who are not lawfully present in the United States. Creates a Class A misdemeanor offense for a law enforcement employee or official that fails to report an individual to the CIED, who is not a United States citizen or qualified alien who has been charged or convicted of a criminal offense.

As amended, authorizes the board of directors of an industrial development corporation (IDC) to initiate a merger with another IDC in the manner provided for public benefit corporations (PBCs) pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. Title 48, Chapter 61. Authorizes an IDC to negotiate and receive from any lessee of the IDC, without any delegation from the municipality, payments in lieu of taxes (PILOTs) with respect to tax-credit housing projects, despite such PILOT resulting in a reduction in taxes relative to the tax year prior to the year the project became a tax-credit housing project; provided, the chief executive officer of each affected taxing jurisdiction has executed a letter supporting the project. Requires any agreement to accept or waive PILOTs from any of the IDC's lessees to be submitted to the legislative body of the municipality or municipalities making the delegation and any other taxing jurisdiction affected by the delegation. As introduced, authorizes the board of directors of an industrial development corporation to initiate a merger with another corporation in the manner provided for public benefit corporations under the Tennessee Nonprofit Corporation Act.

As introduced, authorizes a county mayor and the chief executive officer of a municipality to order the flags flown on county or municipal property to be lowered to half-staff to honor the death of a prominent citizen of that county or municipality.

As introduced, requires public libraries established by a county, city, or town to adopt a materials reconsideration policy that provides a process by which any legal resident of the county where the library is located may request that the library withdraw an item from the library's collection or reclassify or move the item to a different area in the library.

As introduced, requires the executive head of each state department or agency, local government, and public institution of higher education to submit an annual attestation to the comptroller of the treasury that such entity has not implemented a discriminatory preference to increase diversity, equity, or inclusion.

As amended, removes the mandate municipal elections become partisan and instead requires all municipal elections be held on either the August or November general elections. As introduced, requires the legislative body of each municipality to change the date of municipal elections to coincide with the August primary or November general election; makes municipal elections partisan.

As introduced, requires proposed contingent fee contracts for legal services between a political subdivision of this state and a private-sector attorney to be approved by the attorney general and reporter prior to execution of the contract.

As amended, requires the Tennessee Advisory Commission of Intergovernmental Relations to perform an exhaustive study and make recommendations on posting of public notices by local governments within this state. As introduced, authorizes a local government to publish certain notices electronically online for the purposes of satisfying public notice requirements. This is a TML sponsored bill.

As introduced, authorizes a political subdivision to enter into a cost-sharing agreement with a developer for the development of certain public infrastructure.

As introduced, prohibits an employee of a local government from serving on the legislative body of the local government for which the employee works.

As introduced, prohibits a local government from increasing a real property tax rate by an amount that would cause the local government to realize an increase in total revenue exceeding inflation plus 2%, or that would cause the local government to realize an increase in total revenue exceeding inflation plus 2% over the preceding three years, except by a referendum election. This bill requires the governing body of a local government to direct the county election commission to hold a referendum election to raise a real property tax rate by an amount that exceeds the limitations described above, upon the adoption of a resolution or ordinance by a two-thirds majority vote. 

Requires a law enforcement agency to communicate with local government entities and officials to submit quarterly reports to the Centralized Immigration
Enforcement Division (CIED) within the Department of Safety (DOS) regarding illegal activities, including criminal gang activities and violations of federal immigration laws, of persons who are not lawfully present in the United States. Creates a Class A misdemeanor offense for a law enforcement employee or official that fails to report an individual to the CIED, who is not a United States citizen or qualified alien who has been charged or convicted of a criminal offense.

As introduced, prohibits an employee of a local government from serving on the legislative body of the local government for which the employee works.

As introduced, prohibits the state or a county or municipal government, in connection to a development property, from requiring a landowner, developer, or builder to fund, build, or contribute to the development of: (1) nonessential infrastructure that is not contiguous or adjacent to a development property of a landowner, developer, or builder; or (2) nonessential infrastructure beyond the anticipated infrastructure needed for the development property as
estimated at the start of the development of the development property. Specifies that “development of a property” constitutes any point from the initial planning stage through to the completion of the development property.

As introduced, authorizes certain counties to adopt a resolution prohibiting a municipality or regional zoning commission from exercising zoning authority outside of the boundaries of the municipality. 

As introduced, removes the requirement that industrial, commercial, or other businesses, permitted to operate under zoning regulations or exceptions thereto, immediately preceding a change in zoning, may only destroy present facilities and reconstruct new facilities necessary to the conduct of such industry or business, subsequent to the zoning change. Removes the requirement that any structure rebuilt on a site conform to existing zoning regulations as to setbacks, height, bulk, or requirements as to the physical location of a structure upon the site.

As introduced, eliminates liability for rollback taxes on agricultural, forest, or open space land with a greenbelt classification when the land is sold; requires that a buyer of property with a greenbelt classification submit a new application to renew the property's greenbelt classification.

As introduced, requires just compensation to be paid for the acquisition or removal of an outdoor advertising device lawfully erected; prohibits the use of amortization to provide such just compensation.

As introduced, expands the length of the existing Independence Day and New Year sales periods and adds new Memorial Day and Labor Day sales periods for seasonal retailers of fireworks for the 2026 retail period; increases the seasonal retailer permit fee from $100 to $150 for calendar year 2026; and authorizes the state fire marshal to promulgate rules to effectuate the act.

As introduced, repeals the criminal offenses of unlawfully carrying a firearm or club with the intent to go armed and carrying or possessing a weapon in or on public parks, playgrounds, civic centers, and other public recreational buildings and grounds; allows persons convicted of stalking or a misdemeanor domestic violence offense to possess a firearm after five years from the date of conviction.

As introduced, enacts the "Tennessee Transactional Gold and Silver Act," which recognizes gold and silver as legal tender for private transactions and, when accepted, for paying state and local taxes or fees; authorizes the creation of a secure bullion depository and an electronic payment system to support the use of gold and silver; exempts gold and silver transactions from state and local taxation.

Proposes an amendment to Article VI, Section 4 of the Constitution of Tennessee to change the residency requirements for a judge from being a resident of the circuit or district for one year to being a resident of a county of the respective circuit or district to which the judge is to be assigned for one year.

As introduced, removes the criminal offense of possession of a weapon in a building or on property that is properly posted; removes the requirement that the department of safety suspend or revoke a handgun carry permit for a violation of that offense by a handgun permit holder.