TennesseeHB 0888114th General Assembly (2025-2026)HouseWALLET

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 2, Chapter 10, relative to certain political campaign committees.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

Stiffer penalties and faster court process

The Registry of Election Finance can bring civil actions and must prove its case. Courts must hold a pre‑discovery probable‑cause hearing; no probable cause means dismissal with prejudice. If probable cause is found, trial is expedited. The court may review records in private, and the losing party gets a fast appeal with a stay. If a committee violates the law, it must refund the contribution within 30 days (or escrow during appeal); directors and officers are personally liable if the money cannot be returned. If an independent spender violates the law, it must disgorge the reported cost of the expenditure within 30 days (or escrow); the person or leaders can be personally liable if it is not paid. If the Registry wins, the court issues an injunction and may award up to twice the prohibited amount, and up to three times that amount for knowing or willful violations.

No foreign money in ballot measures

The law bans foreign influence in Tennessee ballot measures. A "foreign national" includes non‑citizens and non‑permanent residents, foreign governments and parties, and entities formed or based abroad. It can also include U.S. companies mostly owned by foreign nationals unless they use only U.S.‑generated funds and U.S. citizen or permanent‑resident decisionmakers. Foreign nationals are prohibited sources for donations or spending, and they cannot direct, join, or solicit decisions to influence a measure.

Stronger privacy for nonprofit donors

Lawful donors to tax‑exempt groups have a right to keep their names private. State or local governments and courts cannot collect or demand donor identities unless it is directly tied to an alleged violation. Public disclosure of a donor’s identity is barred unless there is a final finding the donor broke this law. Knowing or willful wrongful disclosure is a Class A misdemeanor. For these rules, a tax‑exempt group means a 501(c) organization exempt under 501(a); it does not include 527 political groups.

New compliance rules for committees and spenders

When a committee is formed, its treasurer must certify no preliminary work was funded by prohibited sources. After creation, a committee cannot knowingly receive or solicit contributions or spending from prohibited sources, directly or indirectly. Committees and independent spenders must keep contribution and spending records for at least two years after the election. For each contribution, the treasurer must get a donor affirmation that the donor is not a foreign national and did not accept over $100,000 from prohibited sources in the past four years. Within 48 hours of an independent expenditure, the spender must certify they did not accept over $100,000 from prohibited sources in the prior four years and will not for the rest of that calendar year.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Chris Todd
Republican • House

Cosponsors

G.A. Hardaway
Democrat • House
Dan Howell
Republican • House
Kelly Keisling
Republican • House
Bryan Terry
Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 129 • No: 17

Senate vote • 4/21/2025

FLOOR VOTE: Third Consideration 4/21/2025

Yes: 28 • No: 1

House vote • 4/16/2025

FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/16/2025

Yes: 75 • No: 15

House vote • 4/14/2025

HOUSE CALENDAR & RULES COMMITTEE

Yes: 0 • No: 0

House vote • 4/8/2025

HOUSE STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE

Yes: 20 • No: 0

House vote • 3/11/2025

HOUSE ELECTIONS & CAMPAIGN FINANCE SUBCOMMITTEE

Yes: 6 • No: 1

Actions Timeline

Pub. Ch. 506
5/27/2025
Effective date(s) 05/21/2025
5/27/2025
Signed by Governor.
5/21/2025
Transmitted to Governor for his action.
5/9/2025House
Signed by Senate Speaker
5/8/2025Senate
Signed by H. Speaker
4/30/2025House
Enrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker.
4/24/2025House
Senate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.
4/21/2025Senate
Passed Senate, Ayes 28, Nays 1, PNV 2
4/21/2025Senate
Received from House, Passed on First Consideration
4/17/2025Senate
Sponsor(s) Added.
4/16/2025House
Passed H., Ayes 75, Nays 15, PNV 0
4/16/2025House
Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.
4/16/2025House
Objected to on Consent Calendar.
4/14/2025House
H. Placed on Regular Calendar 4/16/2025
4/14/2025House
H. Placed on Consent Calendar for 4/14/2025
4/10/2025House
Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/10/2025
4/9/2025House
Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee
4/8/2025House
Action def. in State & Local Government Committee to 4/9/2025
4/2/2025House
Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 4/9/2025
4/2/2025House
Action def. in State & Local Government Committee to 4/2/2025
3/26/2025House
Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 4/2/2025
3/26/2025House
Action def. in State & Local Government Committee to 3/26/2025
3/19/2025House
Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 3/26/2025
3/19/2025House
Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 3/19/2025
3/12/2025House

Bill Text

Enrolled / Public Chapter
PDF
Fiscal Note
PDF
Introduced
PDF

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