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HB2255 • 2026

Criminal Offenses

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 8; Title 13; Title 16; Title 38; Title 43; Title 49; Title 50; Title 54; Title 58; Title 63; Title 64; Title 65; Title 68; Title 69; Title 70 and Title 71, relative to appointments.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Wright, Reeves
Last action
2026-04-09
Official status
Transmitted to Governor for his action.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not specify which titles in the Tennessee Code Annotated are being amended, leaving this detail uncertain.

Filling Vacancies on State Boards and Authorities

This bill changes how vacancies are filled for certain state boards, authorities, and task forces in Tennessee.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires all board, authority, and task force members to fill any empty positions the same way they were originally appointed.
  • Removes the requirement that some members of the Tennessee Local Development Authority be nominated by specific groups.
  • Clarifies that only governor-appointed members of the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission need Senate and House confirmation.

Who It Names or Affects

  • State boards, authorities, and task forces in Tennessee
  • Governor and other state officials who appoint board members

Terms To Know

Vacancy
An empty position on a board or committee that needs to be filled.
Confirmation
The process where the Senate and House of Representatives approve appointments made by the governor.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not specify which titles in the Tennessee Code Annotated are being amended.
  • It is unclear how this bill will be enforced or what happens if a vacancy is not filled properly.
  • The exact effective date of the bill has not been set.

Amendments

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

Amendment 1-0 to HB2255

Plain English: This amendment changes how certain government positions are filled when there is an opening during an unexpired term or when new members join specific committees.

  • Adds that all vacancies must be filled for the remainder of an unexpired term in several sections of Tennessee Code Annotated.
  • Modifies the membership requirements and appointment process for certain state boards, including specifying how appointed members are chosen by the speaker of the senate and house representatives.
  • Updates language regarding appointments made by the governor to clarify that these positions do not require confirmation unless specified.
  • The amendment text does not provide specific details on all changes, making it hard to fully explain every aspect without additional context.
Amendment 1-0 to SB2562

Plain English: This amendment changes how certain government positions are filled when there is an opening during their term.

  • Adds that all vacancies in specified roles must be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term.
  • Modifies the membership requirements and appointment process for a specific board, including adding new appointees by the Senate and House speakers.
  • Updates language regarding appointments made by the governor to clarify who can make these appointments.
  • The amendment text does not specify all details about how or when certain changes will be implemented, which could lead to some uncertainty in practical application.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Transmitted to Governor for his action.

  2. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Senate Speaker

  3. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by H. Speaker

  4. 2026-04-07 Tennessee General Assembly

    Enrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker.

  5. 2026-04-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed Senate, Ayes 32, Nays 0

  6. 2026-04-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Amendment withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - SA0532)

  7. 2026-04-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Senate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.

  8. 2026-04-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  9. 2026-04-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Companion House Bill substituted

  10. 2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/6/2026

  11. 2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Senate Reset on calendar for 4/6/2026

  12. 2026-03-31 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/2/2026

  13. 2026-03-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee

  14. 2026-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Received from House, Passed on First Consideration

  15. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/16/2026

  16. 2026-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.

  17. 2026-03-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed H., as am., Ayes 92, Nays 0, PNV 2

  18. 2026-03-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. adopted am. (Amendment 1 - HA0580)

  19. 2026-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 3/9/2026

  20. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 3/5/2026

  21. 2026-03-02 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  22. 2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Government Operations Committee for 3/2/2026

  23. 2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee Ayes 8, Nays 0 PNV 0

  24. 2026-02-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Ref. to Government Operations Committee

  25. 2026-02-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Government Operations Committee calendar for 2/25/2026

  26. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  27. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Government Operations Committee

  28. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  29. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  30. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  31. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

ON MARCH 9, 2026, THE
HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 2255, AS AMENDED.

AMENDMENT #1 rewrites the bill to, instead, require all vacancies in the following board, authorities, and task forces to be filled for the balance of the unexpired term:



The state capitol commission.


The Tennessee local development authority.


The advisory task force on state reimbursement.

Present law establishes the Tennessee local development authority. The membership of such authority consists of the governor, the secretary of state, the state treasurer, the comptroller of the treasury, the commissioner of finance and administration, o
ne member appointed by the speaker of the senate nominated by the Tennessee county services association, and one member appointed by the speaker of the house nominated by the Tennessee municipal league. This amendment removes the requirement that the aut
ho
rity members appointed by the speakers of the house of representatives and senate be nominated by the Tennessee county services association or the Tennessee municipal league.

Present law establishes the Tennessee fish and wildlife commission consisting of 13 members. Nine such members must be appointed by the governor. This amendment clarifies that only the members appointed by the governor must be confirmed by the senate a
nd the house of representatives.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SENATE BILL 2562
By Reeves

HOUSE BILL 2255
By Wright
HB2255
012673
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4;
Title 8; Title 13; Title 16; Title 38; Title 43; Title 49;
Title 50; Title 54; Title 58; Title 63; Title 64; Title
65; Title 68; Title 69; Title 70 and Title 71, relative
to appointments.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 4-3-3002, is amended by designating
the existing language as subsection (a) and adding the following as a new subsection (b):
(b) All vacancies must be filled for the balance of the unexpired term in the same
manner as the original appointments.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.