SB1956 • 2026

Secretary of State

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 8; Title 48 and Title 67, relative to corporate entities.

Labor

Active

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

Sponsor: Pody, Cepicky
Last action: 2026-04-14
Official status: Signed by Senate Speaker
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and text do not provide information on what happens after January 1, 2027, beyond the repeal of this section.

Report Requirement for Nonprofit Corporate Registrations

This bill requires the Secretary of State to compile and publish a report on nonprofit corporate registrations that were revoked due to violations in the past three years.

What This Bill Does

Requires the Secretary of State to use existing resources to create a report about nonprofit corporations whose registrations have been canceled for breaking laws over the last three years.
The report must include the number of such cancellations and be sent to specific officials by December 31, 2026.

Who It Names or Affects

The Secretary of State
Nonprofit corporations in Tennessee

Terms To Know

Secretary of State: A state government official responsible for various administrative duties, including overseeing corporate registrations.
Nonprofit corporation: An organization that operates for a purpose other than making money and does not distribute its profits to owners or shareholders.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill only requires reporting on cancellations due to violations of the title, not all reasons for cancellation.
It is unclear how many nonprofit corporate registrations have been revoked in previous years.

Amendments

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

HA0918

Amendment 1-0 to HB1884

Plain English: The amendment adds a new section to Tennessee Code Annotated that allows state agencies to deny, revoke, or refuse certifications, registrations, licenses, or permits for corporate entities if they provide support to certain groups designated as terrorist organizations.

State agencies can now deny, revoke, or refuse certifications, registrations, licenses, or permits to a corporate entity if the agency receives proof that an officer, director, or employee of the entity provides material support or resources to designated terrorist entities or groups found guilty by U.S. courts of terrorism.
The amendment defines 'corporate entity' as including corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships, and nonprofit organizations.
It also specifies what constitutes 'material support or resources,' which includes property, services, financial assistance, training, advice, and more.

The exact impact of this amendment on specific corporate entities is unclear without knowing the current practices of state agencies in Tennessee.

SA0553

Amendment 1-0 to SB1956

Plain English: The amendment adds a new section to Tennessee Code Annotated that prevents state agencies from issuing certifications, registrations, licenses, or permits to corporate entities if their officers, directors, or employees support certain groups or organizations.

Adds a new law stating that state agencies cannot issue certifications, registrations, licenses, or permits to corporate entities if the entity's officers, directors, or employees provide material support or resources to designated terrorist groups or organizations.
Defines 'corporate entity' as including corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships, and nonprofit entities.
Specifies what constitutes 'material support or resources,' which includes property, services, financial assistance, and other forms of aid.

The amendment does not specify the consequences for corporate entities that violate this new law.

Bill History

2026-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly
Signed by Senate Speaker
2026-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly
Enrolled and ready for signatures
2026-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly
Concurred, Ayes 24, Nays 4 (Amendment 1 - HA0918)
2026-04-07 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate Message Calendar for 4/9/2026
2026-04-06 Tennessee General Assembly
Passed H., as am., Ayes 86, Nays 10, PNV 0
2026-04-06 Tennessee General Assembly
H. adopted am. (Amendment 1 - HA0918)
2026-04-06 Tennessee General Assembly
Subst. for comp. HB.
2026-04-06 Tennessee General Assembly
Comp. SB subst.
2026-04-06 Tennessee General Assembly
Sponsor(s) Added.
2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly
H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/6/2026
2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/2/2026
2026-03-31 Tennessee General Assembly
Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules Committee
2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 3/31/2026
2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly
Action def. in State & Local Government Committee to 3/31/2026
2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 3/24/2026
2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly
Action def. in State & Local Government Committee to 3/24/2026
2026-03-16 Tennessee General Assembly
Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.
2026-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly
Sponsor(s) Added.
2026-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly
Engrossed; ready for transmission to House
2026-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly
Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 27, Nays 5
2026-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly
Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0553)
2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 3/18/2026
2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly
Action def. in State & Local Government Committee to 3/18/2026
2026-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 3/12/2026
2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 3/11/2026
2026-03-03 Tennessee General Assembly
Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 6, Nays 0 PNV 2
2026-03-03 Tennessee General Assembly
Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to State & Local Government Committee
2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on s/c cal Departments & Agencies Subcommittee for 3/3/2026
2026-02-24 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/3/2026
2026-02-20 Tennessee General Assembly
Assigned to s/c Departments & Agencies Subcommittee
2026-02-20 Tennessee General Assembly
Ref. to State & Local Government Committee
2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate State and Local Government Committee
2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly
P2C, caption bill, held on desk - pending amdt.
2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly
Introduced, Passed on First Consideration
2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly
Intro., P1C.
2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly
Filed for introduction
2026-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly
Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

ON MARCH 12, 2026, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 1956, AS AMENDED.

AMENDMENT #1 rewrites the bill to, instead, prohibit a state agency from issuing or renewing a certification, registration, license, or permit to a corporate entity if an officer, director, or employee of the corporate entity provides material support or
resources, meeting spaces, or other forums to any of the following for the purpose of soliciting material support or recruiting new members:



A designated entity by the United States department of state as a foreign terrorist organization in accordance with federal law.


A group or organization that has been found by a court of competent jurisdiction within the United States to have engaged in an act of terrorism.


A group or organization that receives financial or other support from a designated entity.

ON APRIL 6, 2026, THE HOUSE SUBSTITUTED SENATE BILL 1956 FOR HOUSE BILL 1884, ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1, AND PASSED SENATE BILL 1956, AS AMENDED.

AMENDMENT #1 requires a state agency to deny, revoke, or refuse or renew a certification, registration, license, or permit issued to a corporate entity if the state agency receives satisfactory proof that an officer, director, or employee of the corporat
e entity provides material support or resources to any of the following listed within the amendment, or provides meeting spaces or other forums, including electronic and print platforms, to any of the following listed within the amendment for the purpose
of
soliciting material support or resources or recruiting new members.

ON APRIL 9, 2026, THE SENATE CONCURRED IN HOUSE AMENDMENT #1.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HOUSE BILL 1884
By Cepicky

SENATE BILL 1956
By Pody
SB1956
011341
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4;
Title 8; Title 48 and Title 67, relative to corporate
entities.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 48, Chapter 51, Part 4, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:
(a) The secretary of state shall utilize existing resources to compile and publish
a report to the general assembly on the number of nonprofit corporate registrations
administratively revoked for a violation of this title within each of the last three (3)
calendar years. The secretary shall, no later than December 31, 2026, transmit a copy
of the report to the chief clerk of the senate, the chief clerk of the house of
representatives, and the legislative librarian. Publication and transmission of the report
may be accomplished by electronic means.
(b) This section is repealed on January 1, 2027.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.