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HB2511 • 2026

Appropriations

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 9, to clarify the appropriation of funds to certain debt issuers for debt service payments. This act makes appropriations for debt service obligations for an indefinite period of time.

Budget
Active

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

Sponsor
Sexton, Bailey
Last action
2026-04-09
Official status
H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/13/2026
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details about the duration of the appropriation or the extent to which debts are not considered state liabilities.

Clarifying Debt Service Payments for Airport Authorities

This bill amends Tennessee law to allow airport authorities to make direct and continuous debt service payments without these debts being considered state liabilities.

What This Bill Does

  • Amends the Tennessee Code to clarify that airport authorities can manage their own debt service payments directly.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Airport authorities in Tennessee

Terms To Know

Debt service
The process of paying back loans, including both the principal and interest.
Liability
A financial responsibility or obligation that a person or organization must fulfill.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not specify how much money can be used for debt service payments.
  • The bill does not change the total amount of debt airport authorities can have.
  • It is unclear what happens if an airport authority runs out of funds to pay its debts.

Amendments

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

Amendment 1-0 to HB2511

Plain English: The amendment adds specific airport authorities to a list of entities that can receive funds for debt service payments.

  • Adds regional and metropolitan airport authorities to the list of organizations allowed to receive funds for debt service payments.
  • The exact impact on current funding practices is not detailed in the amendment text.
Amendment 1-0 to SB2454

Plain English: The amendment adds specific airport authorities to a list of entities that can receive funds for debt service payments.

  • Adds regional and metropolitan airport authorities to the list of entities allowed to receive funds for debt service payments.
  • The exact impact on current funding practices is not detailed in the amendment text.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/15/2026

  2. 2026-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/13/2026

  3. 2026-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/9/2026

  4. 2026-03-31 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 9, Nays 2 PNV 0

  5. 2026-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 3/31/2026

  6. 2026-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Reset on Final cal. of Calendar & Rules Committee

  7. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 3/12/2026

  8. 2026-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  9. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Finance, Ways, and Means Committee for 3/10/2026

  10. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee

  11. 2026-03-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  12. 2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 3/4/2026

  13. 2026-02-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee

  14. 2026-02-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee

  15. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  16. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee

  17. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  18. 2026-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  19. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  20. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SENATE BILL 2454
By Bailey

HOUSE BILL 2511
By Sexton
HB2511
011261
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 9, to
clarify the appropriation of funds to certain debt
issuers for debt service payments. This act makes
appropriations for debt service obligations for an
indefinite period of time.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 9-4-5107(a), is amended by adding
the language "by an airport authority under title 42, chapter 3 or 4," immediately after the
language "by the housing development agency in title 13,".
SECTION 2. This act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it.