Back to Tennessee

HB1921 • 2026

Election Laws

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 2, relative to members of the general assembly.

Elections
Active

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

Sponsor
Miller, Lamar
Last action
2026-03-17
Official status
Taken off notice for cal in s/c Elections & Campaign Finance Subcommittee of State & Local Government Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide specific details on the immediate effectiveness of the changes, but it states that the act takes effect upon becoming a law.

Election Law Changes for Tennessee Legislators

This bill allows long-serving Tennessee legislators to collect signatures from voters in their county for nominating petitions.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the law so that senators who have served at least eight consecutive years can use voter signatures from anywhere in their county, not just within their district, for nominating petitions.
  • Allows representatives with ten or more consecutive years of service to collect signatures for nominating petitions from voters across their entire county, not just those in their specific district.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Senators who have served at least eight consecutive years
  • Representatives who have served at least ten consecutive years

Terms To Know

nominating petition
A document used by candidates to officially start their campaign for a political office.
consecutive years
Years that follow each other without any breaks or gaps.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens if the senator or representative leaves office before reaching the required service time.
  • It is unclear how this change will affect voter participation and election fairness.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate State and Local Government Committee

  2. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  3. 2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Taken off notice for cal in s/c Elections & Campaign Finance Subcommittee of State & Local Government Committee

  4. 2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate State and Local Government Committee to 3/24/2026

  5. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Elections & Campaign Finance Subcommittee for 3/17/2026

  6. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/17/2026

  7. 2026-03-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Reset on Final cal. of Elections & Campaign Finance Subcommittee

  8. 2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Elections & Campaign Finance Subcommittee for 3/3/2026

  9. 2026-02-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Elections & Campaign Finance Subcommittee to Next Calendar

  10. 2026-02-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Elections & Campaign Finance Subcommittee for 2/17/2026

  11. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  12. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Elections & Campaign Finance Subcommittee

  13. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to State & Local Government Committee

  14. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  15. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  16. 2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  17. 2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
SENATE BILL 1997
By Lamar

HOUSE BILL 1921
By Miller
HB1921
011866
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 2,
relative to members of the general assembly.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 2-5-101(b), is amended by adding
the following as a new subdivision:
(4) Notwithstanding subdivision (b)(1), the nominating petition of a member of
the senate who has held office for at least eight (8) consecutive years or a member of
the house of representatives who has held office for at least ten (10) consecutive years
may be signed by registered voters who are not eligible to vote to fill that member's
office if the registered voters reside in the county in which the district lies.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.