KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to Tennessee

HB0581 • 2026

Campaigns and Campaign Finance

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 2; Title 39 and Title 47, relative to campaign finance.

Elections
Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Doggett, Taylor
Last action
2025-04-07
Official status
Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill text excerpt provided only shows the amendment to Section 2-10-206(a)(3) but does not provide details on other potential updates or changes in Titles 2, 39, and 47.

Campaign Finance Reporting Costs

This bill changes Tennessee's laws to limit how much money the election finance office can charge for providing copies of campaign finance reports.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes Tennessee's laws to prohibit the registry of election finance from charging a member of the public more than the actual costs incurred by the registry when providing copies of reports regarding required disclosure statements filed with the registry.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who ask for copies of campaign finance reports from the election finance office.
  • The election finance office that provides these reports.

Terms To Know

Campaign Finance
Money and other assets used in political campaigns to support candidates or issues.
Registry of Election Finance
The office that collects and provides information about campaign finances.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not specify how the actual costs are calculated.
  • It is unclear if this bill will pass or what changes might be made before it becomes law.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

Amendment 1-0 to HB0581

Plain English: This amendment to HB0581 adds new rules for online political contributions and third-party payment processors in Tennessee.

  • Establishes a registry of election finance that requires third-party payment processors (vendors) to register before accepting political donations through an online platform.
  • Limits candidates or their committees from receiving more than 50% of total campaign contributions via unregistered vendors' platforms.
  • Requires vendors to verify individual credit or debit card transactions by obtaining the CVV number.
  • The amendment text does not specify penalties for violations other than those mentioned in subsection (e) and (f).
Amendment 1-0 to SB0627

Plain English: This amendment adds new rules for online political contributions in Tennessee, including limits on how much candidates can receive through these platforms and requirements for third-party payment processors.

  • Sets a limit of no more than 50% of total campaign contributions to be received via online platforms during an election cycle.
  • Requires third-party payment processors (vendors) facilitating political donations to register with the state's registry of election finance and provide unique identification numbers.
  • Imposes penalties on vendors who violate these rules, including criminal charges for identity theft or illegal use of credit/debit cards.
  • The exact process for registering as a vendor is not detailed in this amendment text.

Bill History

  1. 2025-04-07 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee

  2. 2025-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Government Operations Committee for 4/7/2025

  3. 2025-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Government Operations Committee

  4. 2025-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 6, Nays 2 PNV 0

  5. 2025-03-31 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  6. 2025-03-28 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor change.

  7. 2025-03-28 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  8. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 4/2/2025

  9. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 4/1/2025

  10. 2025-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to State & Local Government Committee

  11. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Elections & Campaign Finance Subcommittee for 3/25/2025

  12. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Elections & Campaign Finance Subcommittee

  13. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Ref. to State & Local Government Committee - Government Operations for Review

  14. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate State and Local Government Committee

  15. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  16. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, caption bill, held on desk - pending amdt.

  17. 2025-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  18. 2025-01-31 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  19. 2025-01-29 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SENATE BILL 627
By Taylor

HOUSE BILL 581
By Doggett

HB0581
000880
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 2;
Title 39 and Title 47, relative to campaign finance.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 2-10-206(a)(3), is amended by
deleting the semicolon at the end of the subdivision and substituting:
, not to exceed the registry's actual cost of producing such copies;
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.