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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
2026-02-26
Official status
Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The candidate explanation includes a claim about discussing call sharing in rural areas, which is not explicitly mentioned in the official source material.

Study on Emergency Communications in Tennessee

This bill requires TACIR to study Tennessee's emergency communication system and submit findings by January 31, 2027.

What This Bill Does

  • Tells TACIR to look at how Tennessee handles emergency communications.
  • Includes checking funding models compared to other states.
  • Looks into different ways ECDs operate and their pros and cons.
  • Needs an organizational chart of all ECDs down to PSAPs.
  • Seeks methods for making ECD operations more consistent across the state.
  • Discusses if it's better to have one big system or many smaller ones.
  • Analyzes requiring direct dispatch protocol at all PSAPs.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (TACIR)
  • Emergency Communications Districts (ECDs) in Tennessee
  • Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs)

Terms To Know

Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (TACIR)
A group that studies and advises on issues between different levels of government in Tennessee.
Emergency Communications Districts (ECDs)
Areas within Tennessee responsible for managing emergency communications systems.
Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs)
Locations where 911 calls are received and handled by trained operators.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how TACIR will conduct the study.
  • It is unclear what specific recommendations TACIR might make based on their findings.
  • There is no mention of funding for conducting this study.

Amendments

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

Amendment 1-0 to HB1702

Plain English: The amendment changes when a study on emergency communications must be submitted to state leaders.

  • Changes the deadline for submitting the completed study from an unspecified date to January 31, 2027.
  • The original bill's section being replaced is not provided in the amendment text, so details about what was there before are unknown.
Amendment 1-0 to SB1898

Plain English: The amendment changes when a study on emergency communications must be submitted to state leaders.

  • Changes the deadline for submitting the completed study from an unspecified date to January 31, 2027.
  • The original bill's section being replaced is not provided in the amendment text, so details about what was there before are unknown.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  2. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  3. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  4. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  5. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  6. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  7. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  8. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  9. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  10. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  11. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  12. 2026-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  13. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  14. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  15. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  16. 2026-02-26 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  17. 2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  18. 2026-02-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

  19. 2026-02-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 32, Nays 0

  20. 2026-02-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0491)

  21. 2026-02-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  22. 2026-02-20 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 2/23/2026

  23. 2026-02-18 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  24. 2026-02-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  25. 2026-02-17 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  26. 2026-02-11 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  27. 2026-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  28. 2026-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  29. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  30. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  31. 2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  32. 2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Departments & Agencies Subcommittee

  33. 2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to State & Local Government Committee

  34. 2026-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  35. 2026-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  36. 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.