TennesseeSB 0229114th General Assembly (2025-2026)Senate

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: Richard Briggs (Republican)

Became Law

Campaigns and Campaign Finance

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Stronger audits and stricter filing rules

If the registry finds a sufficient complaint, it can order an investigation or an investigative audit, and the accused must provide records and cooperate. The registry can also order a show‑cause hearing. All required statements, including electronic filings, must be signed under penalty of perjury, with an on‑screen acknowledgment. In multi‑county local races, candidates must file their treasurer certification in each county.

Campaign funds can pay legal defense

Campaign committees may use funds to defend civil lawsuits tied to a candidate’s nomination or election. They may also pay for public relations, consulting, and legal costs in a criminal matter involving the candidate or officeholder.

Annual ethics training for top officials

Starting January 1, 2026, the Tennessee Ethics Commission provides yearly ethics training to department commissioners and the governor’s cabinet staff. The commission coordinates with the governor’s ethics counsel, offers the training while the legislature is in session, and gives a training manual to attendees. All other parts of the law are already in effect.

New $150 annual fee for committees

Beginning January 1, 2026, each political campaign committee registered with the state pays a $150 annual fee. It is due at registration and then by January 31 each year. Candidates for elective office do not pay this fee.

Complaint process and privacy rules updated

Most commission complaint records are public. Personal or professional financial records remain confidential. Complaints about a candidate are confidential from 30 days before voting starts through election day unless the candidate asks for release. The commission may investigate, send a complaint to the attorney general, or decide probable cause without an investigation. If the attorney general investigates, the commission waits for that report before deciding probable cause. Knowing leaks of protected information can lead to removal.

New limits, party-run committees exempt

The law sets dollar thresholds used in committee rules at $5,000 for statewide campaigns and $3,000 for other state or local campaigns. Committees run by a political party or its caucus are not subject to the usual contribution caps. Committees only linked to a party, but not run by it, must still follow those caps. The law also raises a listed trigger from $100 to $250 and adds coverage for an entity’s commercial premises.

Post-election fundraising: longer window, new limits

A winning candidate with no outstanding loans or obligations may keep taking contributions for officeholder expenses until the close of the reporting period after the successor is elected. They may not take them during the reporting period that includes the election. Between election day and the close of the next reporting period, any candidate may accept contributions that exceed outstanding debts. After the election, in‑kind gifts are allowed only if they can be turned into money to pay election debts.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Richard Briggs
Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

Paul Bailey
Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 218 • No: 46

House vote • 4/22/2025

FLOOR VOTE: MESSAGE CALENDAR MOTION TO ADOPT CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT 4/22/2025

Yes: 78 • No: 13

House vote • 4/22/2025

FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/22/2025

Yes: 73 • No: 21

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: 8 • No: 2

Senate vote • 2/18/2025

SENATE STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE

Yes: 8 • No: 1

Actions Timeline

Pub. Ch. 415
5/15/2025
Effective date(s) 05/09/2025, 01/01/2026
5/15/2025
Signed by Governor.
5/9/2025Senate
Transmitted to Governor for action.
5/1/2025Senate
Signed by H. Speaker
4/30/2025House
Signed by Senate Speaker
4/29/2025Senate
Enrolled and ready for signatures
4/28/2025Senate
Sponsor(s) Added.
4/23/2025Senate
Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0450)
4/22/2025Senate
Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 28, Nays 3
4/22/2025Senate
Engrossed; ready for transmission to House
4/22/2025Senate
Subst. for comp. HB.
4/22/2025House
H. adopted am. (Amendment 1 - HA0511)
4/22/2025House
Passed H., as am., Ayes 73, Nays 21, PNV 0
4/22/2025House
Placed on Senate Message Calendar 2 for 4/22/2025
4/22/2025Senate
Senate refused to concur in amendment
4/22/2025Senate
H. refused to recede from H. am. no. 1
4/22/2025House
Senate refused to recede from its non-concurrence.
4/22/2025Senate
Conference Committee appointed.
4/22/2025Senate
Conf. comm. appointed ( T. Hicks, Atchley, Gant, Love)
4/22/2025House
Conference Committee report adopted, Ayes 23, Nays 6, PNV 1
4/22/2025Senate
Conf. comm. report adopted, Ayes 78, Nays 13 PNV 0
4/22/2025House
Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 8, Nays 2 PNV 0
4/21/2025Senate
Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/22/2025
4/21/2025Senate
Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/21/2025
4/17/2025Senate

Bill Text

Enrolled / Public Chapter
PDF
Fiscal Note
PDF
HA0511
PDF
Introduced
PDF
SA0450
PDF

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