HB1940 • 2026

Landlord and Tenant

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 10, Chapter 7, Part 5; Title 29, Chapter 18 and Title 66, relative to unlawful detainer actions.

Housing

Did Not Pass

The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.

Sponsor: Johnson, Campbell
Last action: 2026-03-18
Official status: Failed in s/c Business and Utilities Subcommittee of Commerce Committee
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Confidentiality of Unlawful Detainer Actions

This bill makes certain court records related to unlawful detainer actions confidential under specific conditions.

What This Bill Does

Makes records of unlawful detainer cases filed on or after July 1, 2026, confidential if the case was dismissed by a party or the court and no appeal is pending.
Requires that at least three years have passed since the filing date for confidentiality to apply unless all parties agree in writing to shield the records from public inspection.
Allows courts and involved parties to access these records even when they are confidential.

Who It Names or Affects

Courts handling unlawful detainer cases
Parties involved in unlawful detainer actions

Terms To Know

unlawful detainer action: A legal process used by landlords to remove tenants who have not paid rent or violated lease terms.
confidentiality: Keeping information private and not sharing it with the public.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill did not pass in its current session.
It does not specify what happens if an appeal is pending or if less than three years have passed since filing.

Bill History

2026-03-23 Tennessee General Assembly
Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Judiciary Committee
2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly
Failed in s/c Business and Utilities Subcommittee of Commerce Committee
2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/23/2026
2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on s/c cal Business & Utilities Subcommittee for 3/18/2026
2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly
Action Def. in s/c Business and Utilities Subcommittee to 3/18/2026
2026-03-09 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on s/c cal Business & Utilities Subcommittee for 3/11/2026
2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee
2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly
Assigned to s/c Business & Utilities Subcommittee
2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly
P2C, ref. to Commerce Committee
2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly
Intro., P1C.
2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly
Introduced, Passed on First Consideration
2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly
Filed for introduction
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 2016
By Campbell

HOUSE BILL 1940
By Johnson
HB1940
011336
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 10,
Chapter 7, Part 5; Title 29, Chapter 18 and Title
66, relative to unlawful detainer actions.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 29, Chapter 18, is amended by adding
the following as a new section:
(a) Notwithstanding another law to the contrary, the records of an unlawful
detainer action are confidential and shielded from public disclosure if:
(1) The action was filed on or after July 1, 2026;
(2) The case was dismissed by the court or a party;
(3) An appeal is not pending in the case; and
(4)
(A) At lease three (3) years have passed since the date on which
the action was filed; or
(B) All parties to the action have filed a written stipulation with the
court indicating an agreement to shield the records from public disclosure.
(b) Court records shielded from public disclosure pursuant to subsection (a) are
not open to the public for inspection pursuant to title 10, chapter 7, part 5.
(c) This section does not limit the court, court staff, or the parties to the action
from accessing any records or databases created or maintained by the courts. Records
shielded from public disclosure under subsection (a) may be accessed by the court or
the parties involved in the case at any time.

- 2 - 011336

SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 10-7-504, is amended by adding the
following as a new subsection:
(gg) Notwithstanding § 10-7-503, records of an unlawful detainer action meeting
the criteria under SECTION 1 are confidential and are not open for public inspection.
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.