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HB0886 • 2026

Election Laws

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 2, relative to elections.

Children Elections
Active

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

Sponsor
Todd, Lowe
Last action
2026-04-08
Official status
Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/14/2026
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide details on enforcement mechanisms or consequences for non-compliance, leaving these aspects uncertain.

Changing Sign Removal Time After Elections

This bill changes the time limit for removing campaign signs from three weeks to two weeks after an election.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the time limit for removing campaign signs, posters, or placards advocating a candidate's candidacy from not exceeding three weeks to not exceeding two weeks after the election.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Candidates who run in elections
  • People and organizations that put up campaign signs

Terms To Know

Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 2
The part of Tennessee's laws that deals with election rules.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not specify what happens if signs are not removed by the new deadline.
  • It is unclear how this change will be enforced or monitored.

Amendments

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

Amendment 1-0 to HB0886

Plain English: The amendment adds new requirements for voter registration in Tennessee, including options to register with a political party or as unaffiliated and rules for changing party affiliation.

  • Adds an option on voter registration forms for individuals to select their political party affiliation, including statewide parties, recognized minor parties, or being unaffiliated.
  • Specifies that if a voter does not choose a party or chooses one that is not recognized, they will be recorded as unaffiliated.
  • Establishes rules for existing voters to affiliate with a party by November 1, 2025, and outlines the process for changing party affiliation before primary elections.
  • The amendment text does not specify all details about how changes will be implemented or enforced beyond November 1, 2025.
Amendment 1-0 to SB0777

Plain English: The amendment adds new requirements for voter registration in Tennessee, including options to register with a political party or as unaffiliated and rules for updating voter records.

  • Adds a section to the permanent voter registration form that requires voters to select a political party affiliation or remain unaffiliated.
  • Specifies that if a voter does not choose an affiliated party, their record will be updated to show they are unaffiliated.
  • Allows existing registered voters to change their party affiliation starting from February 1, 2027.
  • The amendment text is detailed and technical, making it challenging to summarize all changes without potential oversimplification.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/14/2026

  2. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed behind the budget

  3. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/8/2026

  4. 2026-03-31 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee Ayes 6, Nays 3 PNV 0

  5. 2026-03-30 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/31/2026

  6. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/31/2026

  7. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate State and Local Government Committee to 3/31/2026

  8. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/25/2026

  9. 2026-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/25/2026

  10. 2026-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate State and Local Government Committee to 3/25/2026

  11. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/24/2026

  12. 2026-01-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  13. 2026-01-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  14. 2025-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/14/2025

  15. 2025-04-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  16. 2025-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  17. 2025-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Failed in Senate State and Local Government Committee

  18. 2025-03-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  19. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed behind the budget

  20. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  21. 2025-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  22. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 3/26/2025

  23. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee

  24. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee

  25. 2025-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  26. 2025-03-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  27. 2025-03-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  28. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 3/19/2025

  29. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  30. 2025-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  31. 2025-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  32. 2025-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  33. 2025-03-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  34. 2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Elections & Campaign Finance Subcommittee for 3/11/2025

  35. 2025-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Elections & Campaign Finance Subcommittee to 3/11/2025

  36. 2025-02-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Elections & Campaign Finance Subcommittee for 3/4/2025

  37. 2025-02-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Elections & Campaign Finance Subcommittee

  38. 2025-02-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Ref. to State & Local Government Committee

  39. 2025-02-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  40. 2025-02-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  41. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  42. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  43. 2025-02-06 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  44. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  45. 2025-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  46. 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 777
By Lowe

HOUSE BILL 886
By Todd

HB0886
002780
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 2,
relative to elections.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 2-1-116, is amended by deleting the
language "not to exceed three (3) weeks" in subsection (a) and substituting instead "not to
exceed two (2) weeks".
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.