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SB0599 • 2026

State Government

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, relative to state government.

Budget
Active

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

Sponsor
Hensley, Cepicky
Last action
2026-02-23
Official status
Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official bill summary and text do not support the claims made in the candidate explanation regarding changes to reporting periods for nonprofits partnering with the Governor's Books from Birth Fund. The bill primarily deals with amendments related to the James K. Polk Memorial Association and Tennessee Historical Commission.

Terms To Know

Nonprofit public benefit corporation
An organization that operates for a charitable purpose and does not distribute its profits to owners or shareholders.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill summary text provided does not support the candidate explanation's claims about changes related to the Governor's Books from Birth Fund. The official digest text mentions this amendment but it is unclear if it aligns with the rest of the bill content.
  • The bill primarily focuses on amendments regarding the James K. Polk Memorial Association and the Tennessee Historical Commission.

Amendments

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

Amendment 1-0 to HB0519

Plain English: This amendment changes Tennessee law to allow the state historical commission to purchase and manage a specific property known as the James K. Polk Home in Columbia.

  • The Tennessee Historical Commission can now negotiate for the purchase of the James K. Polk Home located at West Seventh Street and South High Street in Columbia, TN.
  • The Commission may use funds to repair and maintain the home and manage it through a nonprofit corporation if needed.
  • Annual reports on the management of the property must be submitted to state officials.
  • Details about specific funding or how the transfer will occur are not provided in this amendment text.
Amendment 1-0 to SB0599

Plain English: This amendment changes Tennessee law to allow the state historical commission to purchase and manage a specific property known as the James K. Polk Home in Columbia.

  • The Tennessee Historical Commission can now negotiate for the purchase of the James K. Polk Home located at West Seventh Street and South High Street in Columbia, TN.
  • The Commission may use funds to repair and maintain the home and manage it through a nonprofit corporation if needed.
  • Annual reports on the management of the property must be submitted to state officials.
  • Some parts of the amendment are technical and might not be fully clear without additional context about current laws or specific terms used.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/14/2026

  2. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed behind the budget

  3. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 3/18/2026

  4. 2026-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  5. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee

  6. 2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 3/4/2026

  7. 2026-02-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.

  8. 2026-02-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

  9. 2026-02-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 30, Nays 2

  10. 2026-02-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0472)

  11. 2026-02-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to State & Local Government Committee

  12. 2026-02-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 2/19/2026

  13. 2026-02-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Public Service Subcommittee for 2/18/2026

  14. 2026-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  15. 2026-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 2/10/2026

  16. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor change.

  17. 2026-01-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Public Service Subcommittee

  18. 2026-01-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Ref. to State & Local Government Committee

  19. 2025-10-28 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor change.

  20. 2025-10-28 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) withdrawn.

  21. 2025-09-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  22. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  23. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  24. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  25. 2025-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  26. 2025-01-31 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  27. 2025-01-29 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

ON FEBRUARY 19, 2026, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 599, AS AMENDED.

AMENDMENT #1 rewrites the bill to, instead, terminate the James K. Polk Memorial Association and require the Tennessee historical commission ("commission") to enter into good faith negotiations for the purchase and transfer of the James K. Polk Home in C
olumbia. Present law conveyed the James K. Polk home to the James K. Polk Memorial Association in trust for the restoration and preservation of the property. This amendment authorizes the commission to expend funds appropriated or available to it for th
e
repair, renovation, and restoration of the James K. Polk Home, and the improvement of the premises.

This amendment provides that the commission will hold legal title to the James K. Polk Home. However, the commission may assign actual custody and control of the property to a Tennessee nonprofit corporation organized for the express
purpose of restoring, maintaining, and operating the James K. Polk Home and its premises.
Such a nonprofit corporation may operate and manage the James K. Polk Home on behalf of the commission for the general public and to keep the James K. Polk Home and property in a high s
tate of improvement and repair in a manner consistent with guidelines promulgated by the commission.

Present law requires the James K. Polk Memorial Associate to make an annual report to the governor of its performance in restoring and maintaining the James K. Polk Home. This amendment requires the commission to make such an annual report to the govern
or and the speakers of the senate and house of representatives.

This amendment clarifies that it is not an appropriation of funds, and that funds must not be obligated or expended pursuant to it unless the funds are specifically appropriated by the general appropriations act.

This amendment requires the commission to notify the executive secretary of the Tennessee code commission in writing of the purchase and transfer of the James K. Polk Home.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HOUSE BILL 519
By Cepicky

SENATE BILL 599
By Hensley
SB0599
002205
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4,
relative to state government.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 4-52-109, is amended by deleting the
language "ninety (90) days" and substituting "one hundred eighty (180) days".
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.