General Assembly

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide additional details beyond what is already included in the candidate explanation.

Limiting Expense Allowance for Tennessee General Assembly Members

This bill sets a limit on how much the expense allowance for members of the Tennessee General Assembly can increase every two years.

What This Bill Does

• Limits the biennial (every two years) increase in office expense allowances for general assembly members to no more than 50% of their current amount.
• Requires that any adjustment to the expense allowance must be based on the percentage increase in the average consumer price index over the previous two-year period.
• Specifies that each adjustment must be rounded up to the nearest multiple of $100.

Who It Names or Affects

• Members of the Tennessee General Assembly who receive office expense allowances.

Terms To Know

Biennial

Happening every two years.

Consumer Price Index (CPI)

A measure that examines the weighted average of prices of a basket of consumer goods and services, providing an indication of inflation.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill was withdrawn on January 22, 2026, so it is not currently in effect.
• It only affects future adjustments to expense allowances after November 3, 2026, if the bill were to be reinstated and passed.

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

<BillNo> <Sponsor>

HOUSE BILL 1651
By Miller
HB1651
010398
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 3,
relative to the general assembly.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 3-1-106(f)(3), is amended by deleting
the subdivision and substituting:
(3) On the date of the statewide general election in 2026, and on the date of the
statewide general election every two (2) years thereafter, the expense allowance
established in subdivision (f)(1) must be adjusted to reflect the percentage increase in
the average consumer price index (all items-city average), as published by the United
States department of labor, bureau of labor statistics, for the immediately preceding two-
year period. Each such adjustment under this subdivision (f)(3) must be rounded up to
the nearest multiple of one hundred dollars ($100). The total adjustment must not
exceed fifty percent (50%) of the principal amount of the current allowance.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect November 3, 2026, the public welfare requiring it.