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SB1040 • 2026

Campaigns and Campaign Finance

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 2 and Title 3, relative to campaign finances.

Elections
Did Not Pass

The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.

Sponsor
Bowling, Barrett
Last action
2025-04-02
Official status
Failed in Senate State and Local Government Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and text do not provide details about consequences for violations, leaving this aspect uncertain.

Campaign Finance Rules for Tennessee

This bill stops out-of-state political groups from giving money to help candidates in primary elections for the Republican Party in Tennessee.

What This Bill Does

  • Adds a new rule that says out-of-state political committees cannot give money or things of value to Tennessee candidates during primary elections for the Republican Party.
  • Out-of-state committees also can't give money to other groups if the goal is to influence primary elections for the Republican Party in Tennessee.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Out-of-state political committees
  • Tennessee candidates running in primary elections for the Republican Party

Terms To Know

primary election
A voting event where voters choose the party nominees for an upcoming general election.
statewide political party
The statewide political party in control of both houses of Tennessee's state government on July 1, 2025.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill only affects primary elections for the Republican Party and not general or special elections.
  • It does not specify what happens if an out-of-state committee accidentally violates the rule.

Bill History

  1. 2025-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Failed in Senate State and Local Government Committee

  2. 2025-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 4/2/2025

  3. 2025-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate State and Local Government Committee to 4/2/2025

  4. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  5. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  6. 2025-02-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor change.

  7. 2025-02-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) withdrawn.

  8. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  9. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Elections & Campaign Finance Subcommittee

  10. 2025-02-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to State & Local Government Committee

  11. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  12. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  13. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  14. 2025-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HOUSE BILL 868
By Dixie

SENATE BILL 1040
By Bowling

SB1040
002570
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 2 and
Title 3, relative to campaign finances.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 2, Chapter 10, Part 1, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:
(a) Notwithstanding another law, a political campaign committee that is
headquartered or domiciled in another state, country, or territory shall not make a
contribution, including an in-kind contribution:
(1) To a candidate in a primary election in this state;
(2) To another political campaign committee for purposes of engaging in
activity described in subdivision (a)(1) or (a)(3); or
(3) For any other purpose with the intent of influencing a primary election
in this state.
(b) As used in this section:
(1) "Primary election" means a state or local primary election held in this
state for a statewide political party; and
(2) "Statewide political party" means the statewide political party in
control of both houses of the general assembly on July 1, 2025.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it.