All Roll Calls
Yes: 247 • No: 251
TennesseeHB 1271114th General Assembly (2025-2026)House
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 1; Title 3; Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7 and Title 8, relative to biological sex.
Sponsored By: Sponsor information unavailable
Signed by Governor
State Government
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 2 mixed.
Tennessee governments must use birth-based sex definitions
The law defines sex and gender as fixed male or female reproductive-system traits, based on anatomy and genetics at birth. Beginning July 1, 2026, Tennessee state and local governments cannot adopt new rules or policies using conflicting definitions. They must update existing rules, policies, procedures, ordinances, and resolutions by January 1, 2027. Covered bodies include state agencies, public higher education institutions, counties, cities, school districts, utility districts, and other political subdivisions. Accepting a valid birth certificate or other lawfully issued identification alone does not violate the law. State entities do not have to adopt rules, policies, or procedures that violate federal law.
State sex-definition complaints can trigger funding penalties
Beginning January 1, 2027, anyone can complain to Tennessee's comptroller about a state entity's compliance with the sex-definition requirements. The comptroller may investigate credible complaints and gives an entity found noncompliant written notice and 90 days to comply. Continued noncompliance blocks eligible state entities from entering grant contracts with Tennessee's Department of Economic and Community Development until the comptroller certifies compliance. Public higher education institutions and other entities ineligible for those contracts face a different penalty process. Continued noncompliance brings notice to Finance and Administration and the Joint Government Operations Committee chairs. The first Finance and Administration notice warns of possible funding withholding. The second notice triggers withholding of 10% of the entity's total general fund revenue for the next fiscal year. The third notice triggers 20% withholding for the next fiscal year. The money stays in escrow until the comptroller certifies compliance. After a third notice, the entity's leader or governing body must appear before the committee, which recommends action to legislative leaders.
Local sex-definition disputes can block grants
Beginning January 1, 2027, residents can file a chancery-court complaint about their local government's compliance with the sex-definition requirements. The resident must show that noncompliance is more likely than not. If the court finds a violation, it must order compliance and can take other steps within its authority. If the court finds continued noncompliance 90 days after its order, the local government cannot enter new grant contracts with Tennessee's Department of Economic and Community Development. That restriction lasts until the government complies and the court certifies compliance.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
There is no primary sponsor on record.
Cosponsors
Gino Bulso
Republican • House
Kip Capley
Republican • House
David B. Hawk
Republican • House
Susan M. Lynn
Republican • House
Aron Maberry
Republican • House
Greg Martin
Republican • House
Debra Moody
Republican • House
Powers
Affiliation unavailable
Michele Reneau
Republican • House
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 4/22/2026
FLOOR VOTE: Third Consideration 4/22/2026
Yes: 24 • No: 6
House vote • 3/30/2026
FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR PREVIOUS QUESTION AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 3/30/2026
Yes: 72 • No: 19
House vote • 3/30/2026
FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR MOTION TO ADOPT AMENDMENT # 4 BY SALINAS AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 3/30/2026
Yes: 14 • No: 71
House vote • 3/30/2026
FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR MOTION TO ADOPT AMENDMENT # 3 BY BEHN AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 3/30/2026
Yes: 23 • No: 66
House vote • 3/30/2026
FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 3/30/2026
Yes: 72 • No: 16
House vote • 3/30/2026
HOUSE CALENDAR & RULES COMMITTEE
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • 3/30/2026
FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR MOTION TO ADOPT AMENDMENT # 2 BY BEHN AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 3/30/2026
Yes: 20 • No: 68
House vote • 3/23/2026
HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE
Yes: 16 • No: 4
House vote • 3/19/2025
HOUSE CIVIL JUSTICE SUBCOMMITTEE
Yes: 6 • No: 1
Actions Timeline
Effective date(s) 05/07/2026
5/15/2026Pub. Ch. 938
5/15/2026Signed by Governor.
5/7/2026Transmitted to Governor for his action.
5/6/2026HouseSigned by Senate Speaker
5/5/2026SenateSigned by H. Speaker
4/30/2026HouseEnrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker.
4/28/2026HousePassed Senate, Ayes 24, Nays 6
4/22/2026SenateAmendment withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - SA0147)
4/22/2026SenateSenate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.
4/22/2026SenateReceived from House, Passed on First Consideration
4/2/2026SenateEngrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.
3/31/2026HousePassed H., as am., Ayes 72, Nays 16, PNV 0
3/30/2026HouseSponsor(s) Added.
3/30/2026HouseFailed to adopt am (Amendment 4 - HA0894), Ayes 14, Nays 71, PNV 0
3/30/2026HouseFailed to adopt am. (Amendment 3 - HA0890), Ayes 23, Nays 66, PNV 0
3/30/2026HouseFailed to adopt am. (Amendment 2 - HA0889), Ayes 20, Nays 68, PNV 0
3/30/2026HouseH. adopted am. (Amendment 1 - HA0763)
3/30/2026HouseH. Placed on Regular Calendar for 3/30/2026
3/26/2026HousePlaced on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 3/26/2026
3/25/2026HouseRec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules Committee
3/23/2026HousePlaced on cal. Judiciary Committee for 3/23/2026
3/18/2026HouseAction def. in Judiciary Committee to 3/25/2026
3/18/2026HousePlaced on cal. Judiciary Committee for 3/18/2026
3/11/2026HouseTaken off notice for cal. in Judiciary Committee
1/21/2026House
Bill Text
HA0763 (Substitute)
3/30/2026
Enrolled / Public Chapter
Fiscal Note
HA0889
HA0890
HA0894
Introduced
SA0147
Related Bills
HB 0794, AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 8; Title 12; Title 13; Title 29; Title 54; Title 64; Title 65; Title 68 and Title 69, relative to municipal utilities.
HB 0489, AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 38; Title 39; Title 40 and Title 55, relative to criminal law.
HB 0162, AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 67, relative to taxes.
SB 2733, AN ACT to amend Chapter 33 of the Private Acts of 1985; as amended by Chapter 85 of the Private Acts of 2004; and any other acts amendatory thereto, relative to the City of Gleason.
SB 2702, AN ACT to amend Chapter 154 of the Private Acts of 1955; as amended by Chapter 158 of the Private Acts of 1988; Chapter 204 of the Private Acts of 1990; and any other acts amendatory thereto, relative to the City of Charlotte.
SB 2690, AN ACT to make appropriations for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the state government for the fiscal years beginning July 1, 2025, and July 1, 2026, in the administration, operation and maintenance of the legislative, executive and judicial branches of the various departments, institutions, offices and agencies of the state; for certain state aid and obligations; for capital outlay, for the service of the public debt, for emergency and contingency; to repeal certain appropriations and any acts inconsistent herewith; to provide provisional continuing appropriations; and to establish certain provisions, limitations and restrictions under which appropriations may be obligated and expended. This act makes appropriations for the purposes described above for the fiscal years beginning July 1, 2025, and July 1, 2026.