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TennesseeSB 0799114th General Assembly (2025-2026)Senate

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 2, relative to elections.

Sponsored By: Jack Johnson (Republican)

Became Law

Election Laws

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Statewide parties must pick primaries

The law requires statewide political parties to choose nominees in primary elections for all partisan offices. Primaries take place at the regular August or November elections. In counties where a party used a non-primary method in 2022 or 2024, it may keep that method in that county. But nominees for Governor, members of the General Assembly, U.S. Senator, and U.S. House must be chosen by party primary at the regular August election. If a party in such a county later stops using the old method, it must switch to primaries going forward. The law also removes the general permission for parties to use non-primary methods for other offices. The act takes effect upon becoming law.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Jack Johnson

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Todd Gardenhire

    Republican • Senate

  • Tom Hatcher

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 95 • No: 29

House vote • 4/14/2025

FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/14/2025

Yes: 60 • No: 25

Senate vote • 4/9/2025

FLOOR VOTE: as Amended Third Consideration 4/9/2025

Yes: 27 • No: 3

Senate vote • 4/2/2025

SENATE STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE

Yes: 8 • No: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. Pub. Ch. 259

    4/29/2025

  2. Effective date(s) 04/24/2025

    4/29/2025

  3. Signed by Governor.

    4/24/2025Senate

  4. Signed by H. Speaker

    4/21/2025House

  5. Transmitted to Governor for action.

    4/21/2025Senate

  6. Signed by Senate Speaker

    4/17/2025Senate

  7. Enrolled and ready for signatures

    4/16/2025Senate

  8. Subst. for comp. HB.

    4/14/2025House

  9. Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - HA0348)

    4/14/2025House

  10. Passed H., Ayes 60, Nays 25, PNV 2

    4/14/2025House

  11. Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.

    4/10/2025House

  12. Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0329)

    4/9/2025Senate

  13. Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 26, Nays 3

    4/9/2025Senate

  14. Sponsor(s) Added.

    4/9/2025Senate

  15. Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

    4/9/2025Senate

  16. Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/9/2025

    4/7/2025Senate

  17. Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 8, Nays 1 PNV 0

    4/2/2025Senate

  18. Action deferred in Senate State and Local Government Committee to 4/2/2025

    4/1/2025Senate

  19. Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 4/2/2025

    4/1/2025Senate

  20. Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 4/1/2025

    3/26/2025Senate

  21. Sponsor(s) Added.

    3/26/2025Senate

  22. Sponsor change.

    3/11/2025Senate

  23. Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate State and Local Government Committee

    2/12/2025Senate

  24. Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

    2/10/2025Senate

  25. Filed for introduction

    2/4/2025Senate

Bill Text

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