Statutes of Limitations and Repose

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not specify the exact financial impact on the state and local governments.

Tennessee Statutes of Limitations for State Actions

This act changes Tennessee law so that certain time limits for bringing civil lawsuits apply to the state and its local governments, just like they do for regular people.

What This Bill Does

• Removes a rule that said the state could sue without any time limit.
• Adds a new rule saying the state must follow time limits when suing, unless there's an exception.
• Lists specific types of lawsuits where the state and local governments will have to follow time limits starting July 1, 2026.

Who It Names or Affects

• The state of Tennessee
• Local governments in Tennessee
• People who sue the state or local governments

Terms To Know

statutes of limitation

Legal rules that set time limits for when a lawsuit can be filed.

political subdivisions

Local government units like cities, counties, and towns within a state.

Limits and Unknowns

• The exact financial impact on the state and local governments is not known.
• This act only applies to causes of action accruing after July 1, 2026.

Official Summary Text

Present law provides several limitations on various civil actions. However, none of the limitations
apply to actions brought by the state
,
unless
so
expressly provided.
This bill removes this provision and, instead, provides that
certain limitation
s
in civil matters apply to the state and the state's political subdivisions
. For c
auses of action accruing on or after July 1, 2026
, this bill applies all of the following limitations on actions brought by the state and its subdivisions:



Adverse possession of real property


Actions against
a
personal representative

of a decedent


Slander actions


Personal tort actions


A
ctions against certain professionals
, such as
a real estate appraiser


Property tort actions


Recovery of gambling losses


Actions for usury


Actions against sureties of collecting officer


Rent
actions,
official misconduct
,

and actions on
title insurance
policies


Actions on public officers' and fiduciary bonds


Open accounts of merchants


Mutual accounts between persons not merchants


Municipal bonds


Actions for faulty surveying


Attaching or executing against art
w
ork


Action
s
for injury or illness based on child sexual abuse


Limitation of liability for injuries occurring on land while entering or exiting from or using public greenway


Actions for
sexual assault


Actions for defective improvement of real estate


Limitations on utility charges

Current Bill Text

HOUSE BILL 1855
By Rudd

SENATE BILL 2123
By Bowling
SB2123
009295
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 9;
Title 28 and Title 29, relative to limitations on
proceedings.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 28-1-113, is amended by deleting the
section and substituting:
Statutes of limitation in this title apply to the state and the state's political
subdivisions, unless otherwise expressly provided.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it, and
applies to causes of action accruing on or after that date.