KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to Tennessee

HB1654 • 2026

State Government

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, relative to state government.

Active

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

Sponsor
Lafferty, Jackson
Last action
2026-01-21
Official status
P2C, caption bill, held on desk - pending amdt.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide details on what happens if the legislation is not forwarded on time or how it will affect existing processes for reviewing and approving legislation in Tennessee.

Legislation for State Government

This bill requires the governor of Tennessee to send proposed legislation that transfers functions between state departments to specific committee chairs in both houses of the legislature during the first regular session after such a transfer.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires the governor to forward proposed legislation to the government operations committees when it involves transferring functions between state departments.
  • Specifies that this must happen during the first regular session of the general assembly following any such transfer of functions.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The governor of Tennessee
  • Committee chairs in both houses of the legislature

Terms To Know

Tennessee Code Annotated
A collection of laws for the state of Tennessee organized by subject.
Executive order
An official directive issued by a governor or president to manage operations within their jurisdiction.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens if the legislation is not forwarded on time.
  • It's unclear how this will affect existing processes for reviewing and approving legislation in Tennessee.

Bill History

  1. 2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  2. 2026-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  3. 2026-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  4. 2026-01-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  5. 2026-01-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  6. 2026-01-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SENATE BILL 1729
By Jackson

HOUSE BILL 1654
By Lafferty
HB1654
010125
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4,
relative to state government.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:

SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 4-4-102, is amended by adding the
following new subsection:
The governor shall cause proposed legislation to be forwarded to the chair of the
government operations committee of the senate and the chair of the committee of the
house of representatives having jurisdiction over matters related to government
operations during the first regular session of the general assembly to meet following any
such transfer of functions. Such legislation must revise provisions of the Tennessee
Code Annotated to reflect any such changes made by executive order pursuant to this
section.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.