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SB0617 • 2026

Campaigns and Campaign Finance

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 2, Chapter 10, relative to campaign funds.

Elections
Active

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

Sponsor
Kyle, Towns
Last action
2026-03-17
Official status
Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate State and Local Government Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide details about how much money can be used for fines and penalties or if this change will affect the amount of fines, fees, or penalties imposed on candidates.

Campaign Finance Changes

This bill changes Tennessee's campaign finance laws to allow candidates to use leftover campaign money for fines and penalties related to campaign rules or ethics violations.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the law so that a candidate can use extra campaign funds after an election to pay fines, fees, or penalties if they broke campaign finance or ethics rules.
  • Updates Tennessee's code about campaign funds to include this new rule.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Candidates running for public office in Tennessee

Terms To Know

campaign funds
Money collected by a candidate or political group to support their campaign activities.
fines, fees, penalties
Money that must be paid as punishment for breaking rules or laws.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how much money can be used for fines and penalties.
  • It is unclear if this change will affect the amount of fines, fees, or penalties imposed on candidates.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate State and Local Government Committee

  2. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/17/2026

  3. 2026-01-20 Tennessee General Assembly

    Taken off notice for cal in s/c Elections & Campaign Finance Subcommittee of State & Local Government Committee

  4. 2026-01-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Elections & Campaign Finance Subcommittee for 1/20/2026

  5. 2025-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate State and Local Government Committee

  6. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 4/1/2025

  7. 2025-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Elections & Campaign Finance Subcommittee to First Calendar 2026

  8. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Elections & Campaign Finance Subcommittee for 3/25/2025

  9. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  10. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  11. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Elections & Campaign Finance Subcommittee

  12. 2025-02-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to State & Local Government Committee

  13. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  14. 2025-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  15. 2025-01-31 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Present law requires a candidate for public
office in this state to allocate an unexpended balance of contributions after the election to one or a combination of destinations described in present law. However, using such funds for the payment of fines, fees, or penalties assessed pursuant to law
r
elative to campaign finances, ethics, or lobbying is prohibited. This bill removes the prohibition such that such funds may be used for such purposes.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HOUSE BILL 929
By Towns

SENATE BILL 617
By Kyle

SB0617
002512
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 2,
Chapter 10, relative to campaign funds.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 2-10-114(a), is amended by adding
the following as a new subdivision:
(9) The funds may be used for the payment of any fines, fees, or penalties
assessed pursuant to this chapter or title 3, chapter 6.
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 2-10-114(b)(2)(J), is amended by
deleting the subdivision.
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.