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HB0845 • 2026

Open Meetings

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 8, Chapter 44, relative to public meetings.

Did Not Pass

The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.

Sponsor
Reneau, Bowling
Last action
2025-04-09
Official status
Failed in State & Local Government Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The candidate explanation included a claim about immediate effectiveness which was not supported by the official source material. The bill text specifies that the act takes effect upon becoming law, but does not explicitly state 'immediately' without further context.

Increasing Time for Open Records Counsel to Review Meeting Plans

This bill changes the time limit for Tennessee's office of open records counsel to acknowledge and approve plans submitted by local government bodies from 30 days to 45 days.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the time limit for the office of open records counsel to acknowledge and approve a plan submitted by a governing body from 30 days to 45 days.
  • Updates Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 8, Chapter 44, Section 109(c) to reflect this change.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The office of open records counsel in Tennessee
  • Local government bodies in Tennessee

Terms To Know

governing body
A group that makes decisions for a city, county, or other local area.
open records counsel
An office in Tennessee responsible for reviewing plans about public meetings to ensure they follow the law.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens if a plan is submitted after the new deadline.
  • This bill did not pass in its current session and needs further action to become law.

Amendments

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

Amendment 1-0 to HB0845

Plain English: The amendment changes how Tennessee governing bodies handle public comments during meetings by setting rules on time limits and notice requirements for speakers.

  • Removes previous restrictions on public comment periods and sets new guidelines for governing bodies to place reasonable limitations on the number of speakers, their speaking times, and advance notice requirements.
  • Allows governing bodies to waive or change restrictions if a large number of people want to speak at a meeting.
  • Requires governing bodies to consider the number of people wanting to speak when deciding on reasonable restrictions.
  • The amendment does not specify how many speakers are considered 'reasonable' or what constitutes a 'large number' of public members desiring to comment, leaving these details up to individual governing bodies.
  • It is unclear how the submission and incorporation of written comments will be enforced or monitored.
Amendment 1-0 to SB1037

Plain English: The amendment changes how Tennessee governing bodies can set rules for public comments and rebuttals during meetings.

  • Governing bodies may now place reasonable restrictions on when people can comment or respond to statements made at a meeting, including setting limits on the number of speakers and their speaking time.
  • If many people want to speak but the usual rules don't allow it, governing bodies can change those rules for that specific meeting.
  • Governing bodies must ensure fair representation of different viewpoints when making these restrictions.
  • The amendment does not specify how governing bodies should handle written comments from people who are not given a chance to speak during the meeting, leaving some details unclear.

Bill History

  1. 2025-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Failed in State & Local Government Committee

  2. 2025-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 4/9/2025

  3. 2025-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in State & Local Government Committee to 4/9/2025

  4. 2025-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 5, Nays 4 PNV 0

  5. 2025-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 4/2/2025

  6. 2025-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate State and Local Government Committee to 4/2/2025

  7. 2025-03-27 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

    Action def. in State & Local Government Committee to 4/2/2025

  10. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  11. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 3/26/2025

  12. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  13. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Public Service Subcommittee for 3/19/2025

  14. 2025-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Public Service Subcommittee

  15. 2025-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Ref. to State & Local Government Committee

  16. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  17. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  18. 2025-02-06 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  19. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  20. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  21. 2025-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SENATE BILL 1037
By Bowling

HOUSE BILL 845
By Reneau

HB0845
002669
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 8,
Chapter 44, relative to public meetings.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 8-44-109(c), is amended by deleting
"thirty (30) days" and substituting "forty-five (45) days".
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.