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SB1825 • 2026

Election Laws

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 2, relative to elections for federal office.

Elections
Active

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

Sponsor
Taylor, Garrett
Last action
2026-03-25
Official status
Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate State and Local Government Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official summary and text do not provide details about enforcement mechanisms or consequences of violations, leaving these aspects uncertain.

Election Rules for Federal Candidates

This bill changes Tennessee's election laws by prohibiting people with dual citizenship or who are not natural-born U.S. citizens from qualifying as candidates in primary elections for federal offices.

What This Bill Does

  • Adds a new rule that stops anyone with dual citizenship from qualifying as a candidate in the primary election for federal office.
  • Adds another rule that stops anyone who is not a natural-born citizen of the United States from qualifying as a candidate in the primary election for federal office.
  • Defines 'dual citizenship' as having legal status in two countries at once.
  • Explains what 'natural-born citizen' means, which includes people born in the U.S. or abroad to parents who are U.S. citizens.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People running for federal office in primary elections in Tennessee
  • The election officials and boards responsible for enforcing these rules

Terms To Know

dual citizenship
Being a citizen of two countries at the same time.
natural-born citizen
A person who is born in the United States or abroad to parents who are U.S. citizens and automatically becomes a U.S. citizen from birth.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens if someone violates these rules.
  • It's unclear how this law will be enforced by election officials.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate State and Local Government Committee

  2. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/25/2026

  3. 2026-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/25/2026

  4. 2026-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate State and Local Government Committee to 3/25/2026

  5. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/24/2026

  6. 2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate State and Local Government Committee to 3/24/2026

  7. 2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  8. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  9. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Elections & Campaign Finance Subcommittee for 3/17/2026

  10. 2026-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate State and Local Government Committee to 3/17/2026

  11. 2026-03-03 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  12. 2026-03-03 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  13. 2026-02-24 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  14. 2026-02-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  15. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Elections & Campaign Finance Subcommittee

  16. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to State & Local Government Committee

  17. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  18. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  19. 2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  20. 2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  21. 2026-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
HOUSE BILL 2036
By Garrett

SENATE BILL 1825
By Taylor
SB1825
011453
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 2,
relative to elections for federal office.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 2, Chapter 13, Part 2, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:
(a) A person shall not qualify as a candidate in a primary election for federal
office who:
(1) Holds dual citizenship; or
(2) Is not a natural-born citizen of the United States.
(b) As used in this section:
(1) "Dual citizenship" means a legal status where a person is
simultaneously recognized as a citizen of the United States and of another
country; and
(2) "Natural-born citizen" means an individual who is a United States
citizen at birth by being born in the United States or born abroad to parents who
are United States citizens.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.