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SB0524 • 2026

General Assembly

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 3, relative to the general assembly.

Elections
Active

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

Sponsor
Lamar
Last action
2025-02-20
Official status
Withdrawn.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill was withdrawn and its status is uncertain.

Increase in Salary and Expenses for Tennessee General Assembly Members

This bill increases the base salary and office expenses for members of the Tennessee General Assembly starting with the 115th General Assembly.

What This Bill Does

  • Increases the annual base salary for each member of the general assembly to $48,999, effective from the election of the 115th General Assembly.
  • Raises the annual base office expenses from $1,250 to $2,000 for each member.
  • Increases the reimbursement amount for per diem by 25% starting with the 115th General Assembly.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Members of the Tennessee General Assembly

Terms To Know

General Assembly
The legislative body of Tennessee, consisting of two chambers: the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Per Diem
A daily allowance given to members for expenses related to their work.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This bill was withdrawn on February 20, 2025, and its status is uncertain.
  • The exact impact of the salary adjustments depends on future state employee pay increases.

Bill History

  1. Date Tennessee General Assembly

  2. 2025-02-20 Tennessee General Assembly

    Withdrawn.

  3. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  4. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  5. 2025-01-30 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
<BillNo> <Sponsor>

SENATE BILL 524
By Lamar

SB0524
000745
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 3,
relative to the general assembly.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 3-1-107, is amended by deleting
subdivision (a)(1) and substituting:
(1) Beginning with the election of the One Hundred Fifteenth General Assembly,
each member shall receive an annual salary of forty-eight thousand nine hundred ninety-
nine dollars ($48,999), payable in equal monthly installments and subject to adjustment
pursuant to subsection (c).
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 3-1-107, is amended by deleting
subsection (c) and substituting:
(c) For the fiscal year beginning in 2027, and for each subsequent fiscal year,
the base salary fixed in subdivision (a)(1) must be adjusted to reflect the average
percentage pay increase provided for state employees by the general appropriations act.
However, any adjustments occurring during a term of the general assembly must not
take effect until the election of the next general assembly. On or before November 1 of
each year, the comptroller of the treasury shall certify to the office of legislative
administration such average increase in state employee's compensation during that
fiscal year.
SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 3-1-106(f), is amended by deleting
from subdivision (1) the language "one thousand two hundred fifty dollars ($1,250)" and
substituting "two thousand dollars ($2,000)", and is further amended by deleting from

- 2 - 000745

subdivision (3) the language "On the date of the statewide general election in 2024" and
substituting "On the date of the statewide general election in 2026".
SECTION 4. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 3-1-106, is amended by deleting
subsection (g) and substituting:
(g) Beginning with the election of the One Hundred Fifteenth General Assembly,
the base reimbursement amount for expense and mileage allowances authorized under
this section for members of the general assembly must be increased by twenty-five
percent (25%).
SECTION 5. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.