All Roll Calls
Yes: 219 • No: 46
TennesseeSB 0229114th General Assembly (2025-2026)SenateWALLET
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 2; Title 3 and Title 67, relative to the bureau of ethics and campaign finance.
Sponsored By: Sponsor information unavailable
Signed by Governor
Campaigns and Campaign Finance
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
9 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 3 costs, 3 mixed.
Candidates can fund more legal expenses
Candidates can use campaign money to defend civil lawsuits involving their nomination or election. Candidates and officeholders can also pay public relations, consulting, and legal expenses involving criminal matters concerning them. These expenses are not treated as personal use of campaign funds.
Party-controlled committees gain contribution limit exemption
Campaign committees controlled by a political party or its state legislative caucus are exempt from specified contribution limits. A party connection alone does not qualify. Associated committees remain subject to those limits unless the party or caucus directly establishes, finances, maintains, or controls them.
State leaders receive annual ethics training
Beginning January 1, 2026, the Tennessee Ethics Commission must provide annual training for department commissioners and the governor's cabinet-level staff. Training must be offered while the General Assembly is in session, with the ethics manual available to attendees. Commission staff coordinate with the governor's ethics counsel to identify attendees and choose the location.
Campaign committees pay new annual fee
Beginning January 1, 2026, political campaign committees registered with Tennessee's Registry of Election Finance must pay $150 annually. Payment is due at registration and by January 31 each later year. Candidates for elective office are exempt. The fee helps cover regulatory costs.
Campaign filers face stricter filing rules
Campaign-finance statements covered by this law must be signed under penalty of perjury. Online filers must also acknowledge that penalty during filing. Local candidates whose elections cover multiple counties must file their political-treasurer certification with each county's election commission.
Campaign investigations require records and cooperation
The Registry of Election Finance can order investigations or audits when complaints are legally and factually sufficient and circumstances warrant. Accused people must provide required records and answer proper requests honestly and fully. The Registry can also proceed directly to a hearing requiring the accused to explain their conduct. The Ethics Commission can investigate sufficient sworn complaints, refer them to the attorney general, or decide probable cause without investigation. When asked to investigate, the attorney general must finish and report findings before the commission decides probable cause.
Campaign committees face updated dollar thresholds
The law sets specified campaign-finance amounts at $5,000 for committees participating in statewide elections. It sets $3,000 for committees participating in other state or local elections. A separate campaign-finance threshold rises from $100 to $250, and its language adds an entity's commercial premises. The supplied provisions do not fully explain the rules these amounts govern, so their practical effects are unclear.
Candidates gain fundraising time, face gift limits
Successful state or local candidates with no reported loans or obligations can keep raising money for officeholder expenses. This ends when the reporting period after their successor's election closes, excluding the period containing that election. Candidates and elected officials can accept money beyond election debts from election day through the next reporting period's close. That means the period immediately after the one containing their election. After election day, election-related noncash gifts are barred unless convertible to money used to pay outstanding election debts and obligations.
Ethics records open, with privacy protections
Sworn ethics complaint proceedings and records, including preliminary-investigation records, are generally open to the public. The accused person's personal or professional financial records remain private. Candidate complaint information stays private from 30 days before voting starts through election day. Candidates can request disclosure in writing. Knowing violations of these disclosure rules are grounds for immediate staff firing or commission member removal.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
There is no primary sponsor on record.
Cosponsors
Paul Bailey
Republican • Senate
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 4/22/2025
FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/22/2025
Yes: 73 • No: 21
House vote • 4/22/2025
FLOOR VOTE: MESSAGE CALENDAR MOTION TO ADOPT CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT 4/22/2025
Yes: 78 • No: 13
Senate vote • 4/22/2025
FLOOR VOTE: Motion to Adopt Conference Committee Report 4/22/2025
Yes: 23 • No: 6
Senate vote • 4/22/2025
FLOOR VOTE: as Amended Third Consideration 4/22/2025
Yes: 28 • No: 3
Senate vote • 4/21/2025
SENATE FINANCE, WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE
Yes: 9 • No: 2
Senate vote • 2/18/2025
SENATE STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE
Yes: 8 • No: 1
Actions Timeline
Effective date(s) 05/09/2025, 01/01/2026
5/15/2025Pub. Ch. 415
5/15/2025Signed by Governor.
5/9/2025SenateTransmitted to Governor for action.
5/1/2025SenateSigned by H. Speaker
4/30/2025HouseSigned by Senate Speaker
4/29/2025SenateEnrolled and ready for signatures
4/28/2025SenateSponsor(s) Added.
4/23/2025SenateConf. comm. report adopted, Ayes 78, Nays 13 PNV 0
4/22/2025HouseConference Committee report adopted, Ayes 23, Nays 6, PNV 1
4/22/2025SenateConf. comm. appointed ( T. Hicks, Atchley, Gant, Love)
4/22/2025HouseConference Committee appointed.
4/22/2025SenateSenate refused to recede from its non-concurrence.
4/22/2025SenateH. refused to recede from H. am. no. 1
4/22/2025HouseSenate refused to concur in amendment
4/22/2025SenatePlaced on Senate Message Calendar 2 for 4/22/2025
4/22/2025SenatePassed H., as am., Ayes 73, Nays 21, PNV 0
4/22/2025HouseH. adopted am. (Amendment 1 - HA0511)
4/22/2025HouseSubst. for comp. HB.
4/22/2025HouseEngrossed; ready for transmission to House
4/22/2025SenatePassed Senate as amended, Ayes 28, Nays 3
4/22/2025SenateSenate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0450)
4/22/2025SenatePlaced on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/22/2025
4/21/2025SenateRecommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 8, Nays 2 PNV 0
4/21/2025SenatePlaced on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/21/2025
4/17/2025Senate
Bill Text
HA0511
4/22/2025
Enrolled / Public Chapter
Fiscal Note
Introduced
SA0450
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