KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to Tennessee

SB1898 • 2026

General Assembly, Studies

AN ACT relative to a study on emergency communications.

Active

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

Sponsor
Walley, Bricken
Last action
2026-05-27
Official status
Effective date(s) 05/22/2026
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

General Assembly, Studies

This bill directs the Tennessee advisory commission on intergovernmental relations (TACIR) to perform a study of this state's emergency communications system.

What This Bill Does

  • This bill directs the Tennessee advisory commission on intergovernmental relations (TACIR) to perform a study of this state's emergency communications system.
  • The study must include all of the following:  An analysis of the current funding model for emergency communications systems in this state, and a comparison of the funding models of other states.
  •  An analysis of the different operating structures of emergency communications districts (ECDs), along with the benefits or disadvantages of each.
  •  An organizational chart of all ECDs from leadership down to the public safety answering points (PSAPs).

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Amendments

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

Amendment 1-0 to HB1702

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

  • House State & Local Government 1 Amendment No.
  • 1 to HB1702 Crawford Signature of Sponsor AMEND Senate Bill No.
  • 1898 House Bill No.
  • 1702* HA1094 013259 - 1 - by deleting SECTION 3 and substituting: SECTION 3.
Amendment 1-0 to SB1898

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

  • Senate State and Local Government 1 Amendment No.
  • 1 to SB1898 Briggs Signature of Sponsor AMEND Senate Bill No.
  • 1898 House Bill No.
  • 1702* SA0491 013259 - 1 - by deleting SECTION 3 and substituting: SECTION 3.

Bill History

  1. 2026-05-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Effective date(s) 05/22/2026

  2. 2026-05-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Pub. Ch. 1103

  3. 2026-05-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Comp. became Pub. Ch. 1103

  4. 2026-05-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Governor.

  5. 2026-05-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Transmitted to Governor for action.

  6. 2026-05-07 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by H. Speaker

  7. 2026-04-30 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Senate Speaker

  8. 2026-04-30 Tennessee General Assembly

    Enrolled and ready for signatures

  9. 2026-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed H., Ayes 93, Nays 0, PNV 0

  10. 2026-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - HA1094)

  11. 2026-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Subst. for comp. HB.

  12. 2026-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  13. 2026-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Comp. SB subst.

  14. 2026-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. Placed on Regular Calendar 2 for 4/22/2026

  15. 2026-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/22/2026

  16. 2026-04-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in Calendar & Rules Committee to 4/22/2026

  17. 2026-04-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/16/2026

  18. 2026-04-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee

  19. 2026-04-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Finance, Ways, and Means Committee for 4/15/2026

  20. 2026-04-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee

  21. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/14/2026

  22. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee to Next Calendar

  23. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/8/2026

  24. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee

  25. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee

  26. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 4/8/2026

  27. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in State & Local Government Committee to 4/8/2026

  28. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 3/31/2026

  29. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in State & Local Government Committee to 3/31/2026

  30. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  31. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  32. 2026-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  33. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  34. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  35. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  36. 2026-02-26 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  37. 2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  38. 2026-02-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

  39. 2026-02-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 32, Nays 0

  40. 2026-02-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0491)

  41. 2026-02-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  42. 2026-02-20 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 2/23/2026

  43. 2026-02-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in State & Local Government Committee to 3/4/2026

  44. 2026-02-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  45. 2026-02-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 9, Nays 0 PNV 0

  46. 2026-02-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 2/18/2026

  47. 2026-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  48. 2026-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  49. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Departments & Agencies Subcommittee for 2/10/2026

  50. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  51. 2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  52. 2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Departments & Agencies Subcommittee

  53. 2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to State & Local Government Committee

  54. 2026-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  55. 2026-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  56. 2026-01-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

This bill directs the Tennessee advisory commission on intergovernmental relations (TACIR) to perform a study of this state's emergency communications system. The study must include all of the following:



An analysis of the current funding model for emergency communications systems in this state, and a comparison of the funding models of other states.


An analysis of the different operating structures of emergency communications districts (ECDs), along with the benefits or disadvantages of each.


An organizational chart of all ECDs from leadership down to the public safety answering points (PSAPs).


Methods to increase operational and financial consistency and uniformity of all ECDs in this state.


A discussion regarding the consolidation of ECDs and analysis of ECD call sharing, particularly in rural areas.


The rationale behind maintaining multiple ECDs and whether a uniform, statewide system would be beneficial.


An analysis of requiring direct dispatch protocol at all PSAPs.


Any other related topic TACIR finds would be of interest to the general assembly, along with recommendations for legislation.

This bill requires TACIR to file the completed study with the speaker of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives on or before December 1, 2026.

ON FEBRUARY 23, 2026, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 1898, AS AMENDED.

AMENDMENT #1 changes the date TACIR must file the completed study with the speaker of the senate and speaker of the house of representatives from on or before December 1, 2026, to on or before January 31, 2027.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HOUSE BILL 1702
By Bricken

SENATE BILL 1898
By Walley
SB1898
009997
- 1 -

AN ACT relative to a study on emergency communications.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. The Tennessee advisory commission on intergovernmental relations
(TACIR) is directed to perform a study of this state's emergency communications system.
SECTION 2. The study required by Section 1 must include:
(1) An analysis of the current funding model for emergency communications
systems in this state, and a comparison of the funding models of other states;
(2) An analysis of the different operating structures of emergency
communications districts (ECDs), along with the benefits or disadvantages of each;
(3) An organizational chart of all ECDs from leadership down to the public safety
answering points (PSAPs);
(4) Methods to increase operational and financial consistency and uniformity of
all ECDs in this state;
(5) A discussion regarding the consolidation of ECDs and analysis of ECD call
sharing, particularly in rural areas;
(6) The rationale behind maintaining multiple ECDs and whether a uniform,
statewide system would be beneficial;
(7) An analysis of requiring direct dispatch protocol at all PSAPs; and
(8) Any other related topic TACIR finds would be of interest to the general
assembly, along with recommendations for legislation.
SECTION 3. TACIR shall file the completed study with the speaker of the senate and
the speaker of the house of representatives on or before December 1, 2026.

- 2 - 009997

SECTION 4. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.