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TennesseeHB 0216114th General Assembly (2025-2026)HouseWALLET

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 29 and Title 66, relative to real property.

Sponsored By: Tim Rudd (Republican)

Became Law

Real Property

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

Quick sheriff removal from businesses

Starting July 1, 2025, owners of commercial property (or their agents) can ask the county sheriff to immediately remove unlawful occupants and restore possession. You must file the sworn complaint form and include a copy of your government ID, or proof of agent authority. This applies only if the property is commercial or a vacant lot zoned commercial, it was closed when entered, the person entered unlawfully and stayed, and you told them to leave. The person cannot be a current or former tenant, an immediate family member (spouse, parent, sibling, or child), and no lawsuit is pending between you and that person. The sheriff verifies ownership or authority, serves a notice by hand or posting, removes the occupants, and can check IDs and make arrests. If this conflicts with Title 66, Chapter 7, these rules control.

Protections and penalties for removals

Starting July 1, 2025, sheriffs are not liable for loss or damage from actions under this removal process. Property owners and their agents are also not liable, unless a court finds the removal was wrongful. If you were wrongfully removed, you can bring a fast case. The court can restore you to the property, award your actual costs and damages, court costs, and reasonable attorney fees. The court can also award statutory damages equal to three times the property's fair market rent.

Sheriff fees for removals

Starting July 1, 2025, the sheriff charges the same fee to serve the immediate-vacate notice as for a writ of possession. If you ask the sheriff to stand by while you change locks or remove property, you must pay a reasonable hourly rate set by the sheriff.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Tim Rudd

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Rick Eldridge

    Republican • House

  • G.A. Hardaway

    Democrat • House

  • William Lamberth

    Republican • House

  • Jake McCalmon

    Republican • House

  • Lowell Russell

    Republican • House

  • Mike Sparks

    Republican • House

  • Chris Todd

    Republican • House

  • Jr. Towns, Jr.

    Democrat • House

  • Greg Vital

    Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 156 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/17/2025

FLOOR VOTE: Motion to Adopt 3/17/2025

Yes: 32 • No: 0

House vote • 3/10/2025

HOUSE CALENDAR & RULES COMMITTEE

Yes: 0 • No: 0

House vote • 3/10/2025

FLOOR VOTE: CONSENT CALENDAR PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 3/10/2025

Yes: 95 • No: 0

House vote • 3/5/2025

HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

Yes: 21 • No: 0

House vote • 2/26/2025

HOUSE CIVIL JUSTICE SUBCOMMITTEE

Yes: 8 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Pub. Ch. 90

    4/4/2025

  2. Effective date(s) 07/01/2025

    4/4/2025

  3. Signed by Governor.

    3/28/2025

  4. Transmitted to Governor for his action.

    3/20/2025House

  5. Enrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker.

    3/19/2025House

  6. Signed by H. Speaker

    3/19/2025House

  7. Signed by Senate Speaker

    3/19/2025Senate

  8. Senate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.

    3/17/2025Senate

  9. Passed Senate, Ayes 32, Nays 0

    3/17/2025Senate

  10. Received from House, Passed on First Consideration

    3/13/2025Senate

  11. Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.

    3/11/2025House

  12. Sponsor(s) Added.

    3/10/2025House

  13. Passed H., Ayes 95, Nays 0, PNV 0

    3/10/2025House

  14. H. Placed on Consent Calendar for 3/10/2025

    3/6/2025House

  15. Sponsor(s) Added.

    3/6/2025House

  16. Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee

    3/5/2025House

  17. Sponsor(s) Added.

    3/5/2025House

  18. Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 3/6/2025

    3/5/2025House

  19. Sponsor(s) Added.

    2/26/2025House

  20. Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Judiciary Committee

    2/26/2025House

  21. Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 3/5/2025

    2/26/2025House

  22. Placed on s/c cal Civil Justice Subcommittee for 2/26/2025

    2/19/2025House

  23. P2C, ref. to Judiciary Committee

    2/3/2025House

  24. Assigned to s/c Civil Justice Subcommittee

    2/3/2025House

  25. Intro., P1C.

    1/27/2025House

Bill Text

  • Enrolled / Public Chapter

    PDF

  • Fiscal Note

    PDF

  • Introduced

    PDF

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