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HB2637 • 2026

Athens

AN ACT to amend Chapter 455 of the Private Acts of 1953; as amended by Chapter 136 of the Private Acts of 1971; Chapter 121 of the Private Acts of 1986; Chapter 164 of the Private Acts of 1998 and Chapter 60 of the Private Acts of 2024; and any other acts amendatory thereto, relative to the City of Athens.

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Cochran, Lowe
Last action
2026-04-07
Official status
Transmitted to Governor for his action.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not specify that a two-thirds vote is required for approval, only that it must be approved by such a vote.

Amends Athens City Compensation Rules

This bill changes how the mayor and council members of Athens are paid by allowing the city council to set their salaries through ordinances instead of fixed amounts.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the way the mayor and council members' pay is determined in Athens.
  • Allows the City Council to decide compensation for these positions through local ordinances.
  • Does not change the current pay rates for the existing mayor or council members until new ordinances are passed.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The mayor and council members of Athens
  • The City Council of Athens

Terms To Know

Ordinance
A local law or regulation made by a city government.
Legislative body
The group that makes laws for the city, such as the City Council.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This bill only affects Athens and does not change compensation rules for other cities.
  • It requires local approval before it can take effect.
  • Current pay rates remain unchanged until new ordinances are passed.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-07 Tennessee General Assembly

    Transmitted to Governor for his action.

  2. 2026-04-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Senate Speaker

  3. 2026-04-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by H. Speaker

  4. 2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Enrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker.

  5. 2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed Senate, Ayes 31, Nays 0

  6. 2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Senate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.

  7. 2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Received from House, Passed on First Consideration

  8. 2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Companion House Bill substituted

  9. 2026-03-31 Tennessee General Assembly

    Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.

  10. 2026-03-31 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Local Calendar for 4/2/2026

  11. 2026-03-30 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed H., Ayes 82, Nays 1, PNV 10

  12. 2026-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. Placed on Consent Calendar for 3/30/2026

  13. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 3/26/2026

  14. 2026-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee

  15. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 3/24/2026

  16. 2026-03-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass; ref to State & Local Government Committee

  17. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Private Acts Committee for 3/16/2026

  18. 2026-02-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Private Acts Committee - State & Local Government Committee

  19. 2026-02-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, held on desk. Local Bill

  20. 2026-02-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  21. 2026-02-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  22. 2026-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  23. 2026-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SENATE BILL 2699
By Lowe

HOUSE BILL 2637
By Cochran
HB2637
010787
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Chapter 455 of the Private Acts of 1953; as
amended by Chapter 136 of the Private Acts of 1971;
Chapter 121 of the Private Acts of 1986; Chapter 164 of
the Private Acts of 1998 and Chapter 60 of the Private
Acts of 2024; and any other acts amendatory thereto,
relative to the City of Athens.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Chapter 455 of the Private Acts of 1953, as amended by Chapter 136 of
the Private Acts of 1971, Chapter 121 of the Private Acts of 1986, Chapter 164 of the Private
Acts of 1998, and any other acts amendatory thereto, is amended by deleting Article V, Section
4 and substituting:
Section 4. Be it further enacted. The compensation of the Mayor and Council members
shall be established from time to time by ordinance duly adopted by the City Council,
subject to any limitations imposed by Tennessee law. No change in compensation shall
take effect during the term for which the Mayor or any Councilmember was elected;
however, such changes may take effect for subsequent terms of office.
SECTION 2. This act shall have no effect unless it is approved by a two-thirds (2/3) vote
of the legislative body of the City of Athens. Its approval or nonapproval shall be proclaimed by
the presiding officer of and certified to the secretary of state.
SECTION 3. For the purpose of approving or rejecting the provisions of this act, it shall
be effective upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it. For all other purposes, it shall
become effective as provided in Section 2.