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HB1488 • 2026

County Government

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 5, relative to county legislative bodies.

Active

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

Sponsor
Moon, Jackson
Last action
2026-03-23
Official status
Effective date(s) 03/18/2026
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide details on what happens if the rules are not adopted within 90 days or how existing rules will be handled when new bodies take office.

County Government Procedures

This bill requires newly elected county legislative bodies in Tennessee to adopt local rules of procedure within 90 days by majority vote and any changes thereafter must be approved by a two-thirds majority.

What This Bill Does

  • Defines 'local rules of procedure' as formal, written regulations adopted by a legislative body to govern its internal business.
  • Requires newly elected county legislative bodies to adopt local rules of procedure within 90 days by majority vote.
  • States that changes to the local rules must be approved by two-thirds of the members.
  • If questions arise not covered in the local rules, Robert's Rules of Order will apply.

Who It Names or Affects

  • County legislative bodies in Tennessee

Terms To Know

Local rules of procedure
Formal, written regulations adopted by a county legislative body to govern its internal business.
Robert's Rules of Order
A standard set of procedures for meetings and decision-making in organizations.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify the consequences if local rules are not adopted within 90 days.
  • It is unclear how existing local rules will be handled when new county legislative bodies take office.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Effective date(s) 03/18/2026

  2. 2026-03-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Pub. Ch. 599

  3. 2026-03-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Comp. became Pub. Ch. 599

  4. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Governor.

  5. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Transmitted to Governor for his action.

  6. 2026-03-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Senate Speaker

  7. 2026-03-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by H. Speaker

  8. 2026-02-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Enrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker.

  9. 2026-02-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed Senate, Ayes 32, Nays 0

  10. 2026-02-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Senate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.

  11. 2026-02-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Companion House Bill substituted

  12. 2026-02-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Consent Calendar 2 for 2/26/2026

  13. 2026-02-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee

  14. 2026-02-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Received from House, Passed on First Consideration

  15. 2026-02-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.

  16. 2026-02-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  17. 2026-02-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed H., Ayes 94, Nays 0, PNV 0

  18. 2026-02-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 2/24/2026

  19. 2026-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. Placed on Consent Calendar for 2/19/2026

  20. 2026-02-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 2/12/2026

  21. 2026-02-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee

  22. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 2/11/2026

  23. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  24. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  25. 2026-01-28 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Cities & Counties Subcommittee for 2/4/2026

  26. 2026-01-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Meeting Canceled

  27. 2026-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Cities & Counties Subcommittee for 1/28/2026

  28. 2026-01-15 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  29. 2026-01-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Cities & Counties Subcommittee

  30. 2026-01-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to State & Local Government Committee

  31. 2026-01-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  32. 2026-01-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  33. 2026-01-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  34. 2026-01-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

This bill clarifies that the
local rules of procedure adopted by a county legislative body become the temporary local rules of procedure for a newly elected county legislative body until acted upon
as provided below. As used in this bill, "local
rules of procedure" means a set of formal, written regulations adopted by a legislative body to govern the conduct of its own internal business.

Within 90 days of convening a newly elected county legislative body,
this bill requires
the county legislative body
to
adopt local rules of procedure by majority vote.

If changes to the local rules of procedure are proposed during that term after
such
adoption,
then
the changes must be approved by a 2/3 majority vote of the county legislative body.

If a question arises that is not addressed in the local rules of procedure,
then
the question is governed by the latest edition of Robert's Rules of Order.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SENATE BILL 1617
By Jackson

HOUSE BILL 1488
By Moon
HB1488
009222
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 5,
relative to county legislative bodies.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 5, Chapter 1, Part 1, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:
(a) As used in this section:
(1) "County" includes a county with a metropolitan or charter form of
government; and
(2) "Local rules of procedure" means a set of formal, written regulations
adopted by a legislative body to govern the conduct of its own internal business.
(b) The local rules of procedure adopted by a county legislative body become
the temporary local rules of procedure for a newly elected county legislative body until
acted upon pursuant to subsection (c).
(c) Within ninety (90) days of convening a newly elected county legislative body,
the county legislative body shall adopt local rules of procedure by majority vote.
(d) If changes to the local rules of procedure are proposed during that term after
the adoption pursuant to subsection (c), the changes must be approved by a two-thirds
(2/3) majority vote of the county legislative body.
(e) If a question arises that is not addressed in the local rules of procedure, the
question is governed by the latest edition of Robert's Rules of Order.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.