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HB1531 • 2026

Flags

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, relative to flag display protocols.

Crime
Active

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

Sponsor
Miller, Lamar
Last action
2026-04-13
Official status
Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Tennessee Flag Display for Legislators

This bill requires the governor to declare a day of mourning and fly the state flag at half-staff over the capitol when a current or former member of the Tennessee General Assembly dies, unless they were convicted of a felony.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires the governor to proclaim a statewide day of mourning if a current or former member of the Tennessee General Assembly passes away.
  • Orders the state flag to be flown at half-staff over the state capitol during the period of mourning for a deceased legislator.
  • Exempts members who were convicted of a felony from this requirement.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The governor
  • Current and former members of the Tennessee General Assembly

Terms To Know

Felony
A serious crime that can result in a prison sentence of more than one year.
Half-staff
Lowering the flag to show respect or mourning, usually halfway down the pole.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how long the day of mourning should last.
  • It is unclear if there are any penalties for not following this requirement.

Amendments

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

Amendment 1-0 to HB1531

Plain English: The amendment adds rules about when the governor can order the state flag to be flown at half-staff in honor of deceased members or former members of the general assembly.

  • Adds new subsection (c) to Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 4-1-406, which allows the governor to proclaim a statewide day of mourning and order the state flag to be flown at half-staff over the state capitol when a current or former member of the general assembly dies.
  • Specifies that the governor cannot order the flag to be flown at half-staff if the deceased was convicted of a felony unless pardoned, or if they were expelled from office and not reelected.
  • The amendment text does not specify how long the period of mourning would last.
  • It is unclear what happens in cases where the conditions for not flying the flag at half-staff are met but there is public demand to honor the deceased member or former member.
Amendment 1-0 to SB1995

Plain English: The amendment adds rules about when the governor can order the state flag to be flown at half-staff in honor of deceased members or former members of the general assembly.

  • Adds new subsection (c) to Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 4-1-406, which allows the governor to proclaim a statewide day of mourning and order the state flag to be flown at half-staff over the state capitol when a current or former member of the general assembly dies.
  • Specifies that the governor cannot issue such proclamations if the deceased was convicted of a felony (unless pardoned) or expelled from office without being reelected.
  • The amendment does not specify what happens in cases where the conditions for flying the flag at half-staff are unclear.
  • It is not clear how often this new rule will be applied or its impact on current practices.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules Committee

  2. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 4/13/2026

  3. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in State & Local Government Committee to the Next Calendar

  4. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 4/8/2026

  5. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in State & Local Government Committee to 4/8/2026

  6. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 3/31/2026

  7. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in State & Local Government Committee to 3/31/2026

  8. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 3/24/2026

  9. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in State & Local Government Committee to 3/24/2026

  10. 2026-03-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Re-refer to Senate Calendar Committee

  11. 2026-03-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Failed to pass Senate, Ayes 14, Nays 15, PNV 1

  12. 2026-03-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 3/16/2026

  13. 2026-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 3/18/2026

  14. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in State & Local Government Committee to 3/18/2026

  15. 2026-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee

  16. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 3/11/2026

  17. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in State & Local Government Committee to 3/11/2026

  18. 2026-03-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/10/2026

  19. 2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 3/4/2026

  20. 2026-02-18 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  21. 2026-02-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Public Service Subcommittee for 2/18/2026

  22. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  23. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  24. 2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  25. 2026-01-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Public Service Subcommittee

  26. 2026-01-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to State & Local Government Committee

  27. 2026-01-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  28. 2026-01-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SENATE BILL 1995
By Lamar

HOUSE BILL 1531
By Miller
HB1531
008872
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4,
relative to flag display protocols.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 4-1-406, is amended by adding the
following as a new subsection:
(c) If a current or former member of the general assembly dies, the governor
shall proclaim a statewide day of mourning and order the state flag to be flown at half-
staff over the state capitol during such period of mourning. The governor is not required
to take action under this section if the member or former member had been convicted of
a felony.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.