SB2703 • 2026

Hamblen County

AN ACT to amend Chapter 677 of the Private Acts of 1949; as amended by Chapter 434 of the Private Acts of 1968; and any other acts amendatory thereto, relative to the office of county attorney for Hamblen County.

Elections

Active

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

Sponsor: Southerland, Eldridge
Last action: 2026-04-15
Official status: Companion House Bill substituted
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Hamblen County County Attorney Act

This act changes how the Hamblen County attorney is appointed and paid.

What This Bill Does

Changes who picks the county attorney to be the Hamblen County Commission, not an election.
Sets a yearly pay of $1200 for the county attorney plus extra money for work done.
Requires the county attorney's expenses to be itemized and approved by the county legislative body.

Who It Names or Affects

Hamblen County Commission
Hamlen County Attorney

Terms To Know

County Attorney: A lawyer who works for a county government to give legal advice and handle lawsuits.
Legislative Body: The group of people in charge of making laws for Hamblen County.

Limits and Unknowns

This act needs approval from two-thirds of the Hamlen County legislative body to take effect.
It does not specify what happens if it is not approved by the county legislative body.

Bill History

2026-04-15 Tennessee General Assembly
Companion House Bill substituted
2026-04-15 Tennessee General Assembly
Passed Senate, Ayes 31, Nays 0
2026-04-15 Tennessee General Assembly
Senate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.
2026-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly
Received from House, Passed on First Consideration
2026-04-13 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate Local Calendar for 4/15/2026
2026-04-13 Tennessee General Assembly
Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.
2026-04-13 Tennessee General Assembly
Passed H., Ayes 94, Nays 0, PNV 0
2026-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly
H. Placed on Consent Calendar for 4/13/2026
2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/9/2026
2026-03-31 Tennessee General Assembly
Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee
2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 3/31/2026
2026-03-23 Tennessee General Assembly
Rec. for pass; ref to State & Local Government Committee
2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on cal. Private Acts Committee for 3/23/2026
2026-03-16 Tennessee General Assembly
Action def. in Private Acts Committee to 3/23/2026
2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on cal. Private Acts Committee for 3/16/2026
2026-03-09 Tennessee General Assembly
Action def. in Private Acts Committee to 3/16/2026
2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on cal. Private Acts Committee for 3/9/2026
2026-03-02 Tennessee General Assembly
Passed on Second Consideration, held on desk. Local Bill
2026-03-02 Tennessee General Assembly
P2C, ref. to Private Acts Committee - State & Local Government Committee
2026-02-26 Tennessee General Assembly
Introduced, Passed on First Consideration
2026-02-26 Tennessee General Assembly
Intro., P1C.
2026-02-24 Tennessee General Assembly
Filed for introduction
2026-02-23 Tennessee General Assembly
Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HOUSE BILL 2642
By Eldridge

SENATE BILL 2703
By Southerland
SB2703
010798
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Chapter 677 of the Private Acts of 1949; as
amended by Chapter 434 of the Private Acts of 1968;
and any other acts amendatory thereto, relative to the
office of county attorney for Hamblen County.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Chapter 677 of the Private Acts of 1949, as amended by Chapter 434 of
the Private Acts of 1968, and any other acts amendatory thereto, is amended by deleting
SECTION 1 and substituting:
SECTION 1. That there is hereby created the office of County Attorney for
Hamblen County. The County Attorney shall be elected by the Hamblen County
Commission annually at the September meeting designated for the election of
County Attorney.
SECTION 2. Chapter 677 of the Private Acts of 1949, and any other acts amendatory
thereto, is amended by deleting SECTION 2 and substituting:
SECTION 2. [Deleted by 2026 amendment]
SECTION 3. Chapter 677 of the Private Acts of 1949, as amended by Chapter 434 of
the Private Acts of 1968, and any other acts amendatory thereto, is amended by deleting
SECTION 3 and substituting:
SECTION 3. The County Attorney for services, shall be paid an annual retainer
fee of Twelve Hundred Dollars ($1200), payable in equal monthly installments
out of the general funds of the County, by warrant of the County Judge or
Chairman upon the trustee. For legal services performed on behalf of the
County, the County Attorney shall be entitled to receive additional reasonable
compensation and reimbursement for actual expenses incurred. All
compensation and reimbursement are subject to review by the County

- 2 - 010798

Legislative Body through the Consent Calendar. Claims for expenses shall be
itemized and certified by the County Attorney, upon standard County financial
policies, shall be paid in the same manner as the retainer and other fees.
SECTION 4. This act shall have no effect unless it is approved by a two-thirds (2/3) vote
of the legislative body of Hamblen County. Its approval or nonapproval shall be proclaimed by
the presiding officer of the legislative body and certified to the secretary of state.
SECTION 5. For the purpose of approving or rejecting the provisions of this act, it shall
be effective upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it. For all other purposes, it shall
become effective as provided in Section 4.