Historical Commission

Plain English Breakdown

The bill does not specify how much money will be spent on repairs and improvements, leaving this detail uncertain.

James K. Polk Home Transfer Act

This bill changes how the James K. Polk Home is managed by transferring its ownership from a nonprofit association to the Tennessee Historical Commission.

What This Bill Does

• Removes the current trust agreement that gave the James K. Polk Memorial Association responsibility for managing the home.
• Requires the Tennessee Historical Commission to negotiate and purchase the James K. Polk Home with approval from the state building commission.
• Allows the Tennessee Historical Commission to spend money on repairing, renovating, and improving the property.
• Gives the Tennessee Historical Commission legal ownership of the property but allows it to give day-to-day control to a nonprofit corporation that will manage the home for public use.
• Requires the Tennessee Historical Commission to report annually about its management of the James K. Polk Home.

Who It Names or Affects

• The Tennessee Historical Commission
• Nonprofit corporations in Tennessee
• Visitors and citizens of Tennessee

Terms To Know

Tennessee Historical Commission

A state agency responsible for preserving historical sites.

Trust agreement

An arrangement where a nonprofit organization manages property on behalf of the public.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify how much money will be spent on repairs and improvements.
• It is unclear if there will be an increase in state revenue from museum admissions.
• The exact date when the transfer of ownership happens depends on future actions by the Tennessee Historical Commission.

Official Summary Text

JAMES K. POLK HOME

Present law
conveyed in trust to the James K. Polk Memorial Association
("association")
the James K. Polk Home.

This conveyance in trust
wa
s made so tha
t the
a
ssociation
could
restore and preserve the property conveyed as a permanent memorial to James K. Polk, governor of Tennessee and eleventh president of the United States, and as a shrine of American patriotism.

The
association must
make an annual rep
ort to the governor of its performance of the duties imposed, and of its compliance with the terms of the uses and trust created.
However, if
the
a
ssociation or its successors in trust fail to execute the provisions of th
e
trust, the trust
is
terminable b
y the general assembly.

TRUST TERMINATED
–
TRANSFER TO TENNESSEE HISTORICAL COMMISSION

This bill removes the provisions above and, instead, requires the
Tennessee historical commission
("commission")
, with approval from the state building commission,
to
enter into good faith negotiations for the purchase and transfer of the James K. Polk Home
as this bill terminates

the
trust
described above.
The commission may expend funds appropriated or available to it in the repair, renovation, and restoration of th
e James K. Polk Home, and the improvement of the premises for use by the general public.

This bill provides that the
commission will hold legal title to the property but may assign actual custody and control of the property to a Tennessee nonprofit corpo
ration organized for the express purpose of restoring, maintaining, and operating the James K. Polk Home and its premises. Such corporation has the right to operate and manage the property on behalf of the commission for the benefit of the general public,
and to keep the property and improvements in a high state of improvement and repair, and to operate and maintain the grounds improved by the commission in a manner consistent with such guidelines as may be promulgated by
the
commission, or as the commissi
on may contract with the corporation.

This bill requires the
commission
to
make an annual report to the governor and the speakers of the senate and house of representatives of the performance of its duties under this
bill
.

This bill clarifies that it
i
s the intent of this
bill
that the James K. Polk Home be operated as a museum house open to the general public and preserved for the citizens of
this state
and future generations.

Current Bill Text

<BillNo> <Sponsor>

SENATE BILL 1402
By Hensley

SB1402
003356
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4,
relative to the James K. Polk Home.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 4-13-201, is amended by deleting the
section and substituting:
The Tennessee historical commission, with approval from the state building
commission, shall enter into good faith negotiations for the purchase and transfer of a
tract of land in the second ward of the city of Columbia, located on the corner of West
Seventh Street and South High Street, known as the James K. Polk Home, originally
conveyed to this state by George L. Reynolds and Bessie F. Reynolds by deed dated
January 8, 1929, recorded in the registrar's office of Maury County, Tennessee, book
177, page 71, and subsequently conveyed in trust to the James K. Polk Memorial
Association for its general welfare and maintenance, such trust now being terminated by
the general assembly in accordance with § 4-13-204, as that section existed on June 30,
2025.
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 4-13-202, is amended by deleting the
section and substituting:
(a) The Tennessee historical commission may expend funds appropriated or
available to it in the repair, renovation, and restoration of the James K. Polk Home, and
the improvement of the premises for use by the general public.
(b) The Tennessee historical commission will hold legal title to the property, but
may assign actual custody and control of the property to a Tennessee nonprofit
corporation organized for the express purpose of restoring, maintaining, and operating

- 2 - 003356

the James K. Polk Home and its premises. Such corporation has the right to operate
and manage the property on behalf of the Tennessee historical commission for the
benefit of the general public, and to keep the property and improvements in a high state
of improvement and repair, and to operate and maintain the grounds improved by the
Tennessee historical commission in a manner consistent with such guidelines as may be
promulgated by the Tennessee historical commission, or as the Tennessee historical
commission may contract with the corporation.
SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 4-13-203, is amended by deleting the
section and substituting:
The Tennessee historical commission shall make an annual report to the
governor and the speakers of the senate and house of representatives of the
performance of its duties under this part.
SECTION 4. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 4-13-204, is amended by deleting the
section and substituting:
It is the intent of this part that the James K. Polk Home be operated as a
museum house open to the general public and preserved for the citizens of Tennessee
and future generations.
SECTION 5. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 4-29-248(a)(28), is amended by
deleting the subdivision, effective upon conveyance of the James K. Polk Home in accordance
with § 4-13-201.
SECTION 6. This act is not an appropriation of funds, and funds must not be obligated
or expended pursuant to this act unless the funds are specifically appropriated by the general
appropriations act.
SECTION 7. This act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it.