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SB1788 • 2026

Local Government, General

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 5; Title 6; Title 7 and Title 71, Chapter 5, relative to the relocation of homeless persons.

Housing
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Reeves, Rudd
Last action
2026-04-17
Official status
Transmitted to Governor for action.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and text do not provide details on how violations will be enforced or what consequences local governments might face if they violate the rules.

Restrictions on Relocating Homeless Individuals

This bill restricts local governments from moving homeless people to other areas without permission and limits using public money for such moves unless housing is available in the new area, with exceptions for reunification programs.

What This Bill Does

  • Prohibits local government entities from relocating homeless individuals to another jurisdiction without written consent from the receiving jurisdiction.
  • Prevents local governments from spending public funds on moving homeless people to other areas unless they confirm there's enough housing and support services available in the new area.
  • Allows local governmental entities to relocate homeless individuals back to their original home area if they have substantial ties there, through a program established by the entity for reunification purposes.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Local governmental entities in Tennessee
  • Homeless individuals

Terms To Know

Substantial ties
Strong connections to a place, like family or previous residence.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens if local governments do not follow the rules.
  • It is unclear how this will be enforced without the attorney general's ability to seek penalties.

Amendments

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

Amendment 1-0 to HB1671

Plain English: House State & Local Government 1 Amendment No.

  • House State & Local Government 1 Amendment No.
  • 1 to HB1671 Crawford Signature of Sponsor AMEND Senate Bill No.
  • 1788 House Bill No.
  • 1671* HA0788 013232 - 1 - by deleting all language after the enacting clause and substituting: SECTION 1.
Amendment 2-0 to HB1671

Plain English: Amendment No.

  • Amendment No.
  • 2 to HB1671 Rudd Signature of Sponsor AMEND Senate Bill No.
  • 1788 House Bill No.
  • 1671* HA0983 017167 - 1 - by deleting all language after the enacting clause and substituting: SECTION 1.
Amendment 1-0 to SB1788

Plain English: Senate State and Local Government 1 Amendment No.

  • Senate State and Local Government 1 Amendment No.
  • 1 to SB1788 Briggs Signature of Sponsor AMEND Senate Bill No.
  • 1788 House Bill No.
  • 1671* SA0630 015465 - 1 - by deleting all language after the enacting clause and substituting: SECTION 1.
Amendment 2-0 to SB1788

Plain English: Amendment No.

  • Amendment No.
  • 2 to SB1788 Reeves Signature of Sponsor AMEND Senate Bill No.
  • 1788 House Bill No.
  • 1671* SA0844 016467 - 1 - by deleting all language after the enacting clause and substituting: SECTION 1.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Transmitted to Governor for action.

  2. 2026-04-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by H. Speaker

  3. 2026-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Senate Speaker

  4. 2026-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Enrolled and ready for signatures

  5. 2026-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Concurred, Ayes 25, Nays 4 (Amendment 2 - HA0983)

  6. 2026-04-07 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Message Calendar for 4/9/2026

  7. 2026-04-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed H., as am., Ayes 76, Nays 20, PNV 0

  8. 2026-04-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - HA0788)

  9. 2026-04-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. adopted am. (Amendment 2 - HA0983)

  10. 2026-04-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Subst. for comp. HB.

  11. 2026-04-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  12. 2026-04-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Comp. SB subst.

  13. 2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/6/2026

  14. 2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Reset on next avail. cal.

  15. 2026-03-30 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  16. 2026-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

  17. 2026-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  18. 2026-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 23, Nays 4, PNV 1

  19. 2026-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Amendment withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - SA0630)

  20. 2026-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 2 - SA0844)

  21. 2026-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/2/2026

  22. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 3/26/2026

  23. 2026-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 3/26/2026

  24. 2026-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules Committee

  25. 2026-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  26. 2026-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Senate Reset on calendar for 3/26/2026

  27. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 3/24/2026

  28. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in State & Local Government Committee to 3/24/2026

  29. 2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 3/19/2026

  30. 2026-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 3/18/2026

  31. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in State & Local Government Committee to 3/18/2026

  32. 2026-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 6, Nays 3 PNV 0

  33. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 3/11/2026

  34. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in State & Local Government Committee to 3/11/2026

  35. 2026-03-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/10/2026

  36. 2026-03-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate State and Local Government Committee to 3/10/2026

  37. 2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  38. 2026-02-24 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  39. 2026-02-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate State and Local Government Committee to 3/3/2026

  40. 2026-02-18 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  41. 2026-02-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 2/24/2026

  42. 2026-02-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate State and Local Government Committee to 2/24/2026

  43. 2026-02-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Cities & Counties Subcommittee for 2/18/2026

  44. 2026-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 2/17/2026

  45. 2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  46. 2026-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  47. 2026-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Cities & Counties Subcommittee

  48. 2026-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to State & Local Government Committee

  49. 2026-01-20 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  50. 2026-01-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  51. 2026-01-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

This bill prohibits a local governmental entity from doing either of the following:



Relocating a homeless individual to another jurisdiction, unless the local governmental entity receives written consent for such relocation from the receiving jurisdiction.



Using public funds to relocate homeless individuals to other jurisdictions, unless the local governmental entity verifies that housing and other necessary services are available for the homeless individuals in the receiving jurisdiction.

This bill authorizes the attorney general to seek civil penalties of up to $10,000 from a local governmental entity for each violation of this bill. A jurisdiction that is affected by such a violation may seek damages and injunctive relief against the e
ntity.

ON MARCH 26, 2026, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #2 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 1788, AS AMENDED.

AMENDMENT #2 adds that a
local governmental entity may relocate a homeless individual to another jurisdiction, and use public funds for such relocation, if the relocation is made through a program established by the local governmental entity for the purpose of reuniting homeless
individuals with their place of origin when proof of substantial ties to the place of origin exists.

This amendment exempts local law enforcement agencies from this bill.

This amendment removes this bill's authorization for the attorney general and reporter to seek civil penalties for violations.

ON APRIL 6, 2026, THE HOUSE SUBSTITUTED SENATE BILL 1788 FOR HOUSE BILL 1671, ADOPTED AMENDMENT #2, AND PASSED SENATE BILL 1788, AS AMENDED.

AMENDMENT #2 makes a technical clarification to indicate that this bill prohibits a local governmental entity from relocating a homeless individual to another jurisdiction unless:

(1) The local governmental entity receives written consent for such relocation from the receiving jurisdiction; and

(2) The relocation is made through a program established by the local governmental entity
for the purpose of reuniting homeless individuals with their place of origin when proof of substantial ties to the place of origin exists.

ON APRIL 9, 2026, THE SENATE CONCURRED IN HOUSE AMENDMENT #
2
.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HOUSE BILL 1671
By Rudd

SENATE BILL 1788
By Reeves
SB1788
009919
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 5;
Title 6; Title 7 and Title 71, Chapter 5, relative to
the relocation of homeless persons.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 7, Chapter 51, is amended by adding
the following as a new part:
7-51-2801.
A local governmental entity shall not relocate a homeless individual to another
jurisdiction, unless the local governmental entity receives written consent for such
relocation from the receiving jurisdiction.
7-51-2802.
A local governmental entity shall not use public funds to relocate homeless
individuals to other jurisdictions, unless the local governmental entity verifies that
housing and other necessary services are available for the homeless individuals in the
receiving jurisdiction.
7-51-2803.
(a) The attorney general and reporter may seek civil penalties of up to ten
thousand dollars ($10,000) from a local governmental entity for each violation of § 7-51-
2801 or § 7-51-2802.
(b) A jurisdiction that is affected by a violation of § 7-51-2801 or § 7-51-2802
may seek damages and injunctive relief against the local governmental entity.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.