PRIA Logo™
TennesseeHB 2669114th General Assembly (2025-2026)House

AN ACT to amend Chapter 541 of the Private Acts of 1939; as amended and rewritten by Chapter 32 of the Private Acts of 1999; and any other acts amendatory thereto, relative to Benton County.

Sponsored By: Jay D. Reedy, Jay D. (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Benton County

Your PRIA Score

Score Hidden

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to start

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Public budget and school plan together

The law creates a Budget Committee of up to five County Legislative Body members. The chair appoints members, the body confirms them, and it sets their per diem. The committee starts the budget right after the second Monday in March for the year that begins July 1. The budget must be itemized, show last year’s appropriations and spending, list expected revenues (including borrowings), and include a balance sheet for each fund. Departments must give requested budget data, including the number of authorized positions, which go in the final budget. The School Board and the Director of Schools must file an itemized school budget so it can be presented with the county budget. The county must post a 12‑month receipts and itemized spending statement (ending June 30) before the July meeting or when the budget passes. In a state‑recognized emergency or a change in law, the county may temporarily change a deadline in this Act and must report the new date.

Stronger cash controls and investments

The County Mayor must keep accounts that show appropriations, spending to date, and unspent balances. County officials must issue a requisition and get a purchase order before spending; the order must show the unspent balance charged. If an official spends more than the county has or more than is appropriated, the official and bond sureties are personally liable, with interest from the warrant date. The County Legislative Body must set policies for investing idle cash, following Tennessee law.

Tougher ethics and removal rules

County legislators, budget committee members, board members, officials, employees, and their spouses cannot have a personal financial interest in county purchases. Any official or employee who violates this Act can face removal for official misconduct. The county attorney must investigate complaints and, with reasonable cause, ask a court to oust the official under state law.

Balanced budget rules and tax rate

A short budget synopsis must be posted, and at least one public hearing is required with five days’ notice. The County Legislative Body can return the budget twice; after a third failure, it must adopt its own budget. The body must pass a tax‑rate resolution to raise the money needed to balance the budget, using current tax‑collection experience. The budget should be approved by July 1, and the State Comptroller can extend the deadline beyond August 31 in extraordinary cases. The law requires full funding for debt service, bond principal due this year, and any cash deficit from unpaid bills. New appropriations not in the adopted budget can use only unassigned fund balance from an unappropriated tax rate and need a two‑thirds vote.

Takes effect only with local approval

This Act controls over any conflicting private acts in Benton County. It takes effect in the county only if approved by a two‑thirds vote of the County Legislative Body. The presiding officer must proclaim the result and certify it to the secretary of state.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Jay D. Reedy, Jay D.

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 151 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/23/2026

FLOOR VOTE: Motion to Adopt 4/23/2026

Yes: 33 • No: 0

House vote • 4/22/2026

HOUSE CALENDAR & RULES COMMITTEE

Yes: 0 • No: 0

House vote • 4/22/2026

FLOOR VOTE: CONSENT CALENDAR 2 PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/22/2026

Yes: 93 • No: 0

House vote • 4/22/2026

HOUSE STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE

Yes: 16 • No: 0

House vote • 4/22/2026

HOUSE PRIVATE ACTS COMMITTEE

Yes: 9 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Pr. Ch. 73

    5/27/2026

  2. Signed by Governor.

    5/21/2026

  3. Transmitted to Governor for his action.

    5/11/2026House

  4. Signed by Senate Speaker

    5/5/2026Senate

  5. Signed by H. Speaker

    4/30/2026House

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

    4/29/2026House

  7. Senate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.

    4/23/2026Senate

  8. Passed Senate, Ayes 33, Nays 0

    4/23/2026Senate

  9. Placed on cal. Private Acts Committee for 4/22/2026

    4/22/2026House

  10. Rec. for pass; ref to State & Local Government Committee

    4/22/2026House

  11. Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 4/22/2026

    4/22/2026House

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

    4/22/2026House

  13. Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/22/2026

    4/22/2026House

  14. H. Placed on Consent Calendar 2 for 4/22/2026

    4/22/2026House

  15. Passed H., Ayes 93, Nays 0, PNV 0

    4/22/2026House

  16. Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.

    4/22/2026House

  17. P2C, ref. to Private Acts Committee - State & Local Government Committee

    4/20/2026House

  18. Intro., P1C.

    4/16/2026House

  19. Filed for introduction

    4/15/2026House

Bill Text

  • Enrolled / Public Chapter

    PDF

  • Introduced

    PDF

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation