KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to Tennessee

SB0013 • 2026

Boards and Commissions

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4 and Title 7, Chapter 86, Part 3, relative to the emergency communications board.

Active

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

Sponsor
Walley, Bricken
Last action
2025-03-18
Official status
Action deferred in Senate State and Local Government Committee to first calendar of 2026
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Emergency Communications Board Expansion

This bill changes Tennessee law to increase the number of members on the emergency communications board from nine to eleven and updates how these members are appointed.

What This Bill Does

  • Increases the number of members on the emergency communications board from nine to eleven.
  • Adds two representatives from county government, chosen by the Senate speaker.
  • Adds two representatives from city government, selected by the House speaker.
  • Changes the minimum number of members needed for a meeting (quorum) from five to six.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The emergency communications board in Tennessee
  • County and city governments in Tennessee

Terms To Know

Emergency Communications Board
A group that works on improving how emergencies are communicated about in Tennessee.
Quorum
The minimum number of members needed for a board to officially meet and make decisions.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not specify when the changes will start, but it is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.
  • It does not explain how existing board members will be adjusted to fit the new rules.

Bill History

  1. 2025-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate State and Local Government Committee to first calendar of 2026

  2. 2025-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/18/2025

  3. 2025-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate State and Local Government Committee to 3/18/2025

  4. 2025-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Taken off notice for cal in s/c Departments & Agencies Subcommittee of State & Local Government Committee

  5. 2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Departments & Agencies Subcommittee for 3/11/2025

  6. 2025-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/11/2025

  7. 2025-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate State and Local Government Committee to 3/11/2025

  8. 2025-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/4/2025

  9. 2025-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Departments & Agencies Subcommittee to 3/11/2025

  10. 2025-02-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Departments & Agencies Subcommittee for 2/25/2025

  11. 2025-01-28 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Departments & Agencies Subcommittee

  12. 2025-01-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Ref. to State & Local Government Committee

  13. 2025-01-15 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  14. 2025-01-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C held on desk, pending appointment of Standing Committees

  15. 2025-01-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  16. 2025-01-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  17. 2025-01-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  18. 2024-12-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HOUSE BILL 135
By Bricken

SENATE BILL 13
By Walley

SB0013
000217
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4 and
Title 7, Chapter 86, Part 3, relative to the
emergency communications board.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 7-86-302(b)(1), is amended by
deleting "The board shall be composed of nine (9) members" and substituting "The board shall
be composed of eleven (11) members".
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 7-86-302(b)(1), is amended by
deleting subdivisions (C) and (D) and substituting:
(C) Two (2) representatives of county government, appointed by the speaker of
the senate;
(D) Two (2) representatives of city government, appointed by the speaker of the
house of representatives;
SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 7-86-302(h), is amended by deleting
the subsection and substituting:
A quorum shall consist of six (6) or more members, and all official action of the
board requires a quorum.
SECTION 4. This act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it.