AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 7, Chapter 56, Part 2 and Title 64, Chapter 2, relative to railroad authorities.

New railroad authority for northeast Tennessee

Effective upon becoming law, the act creates the North East Tennessee railroad authority in Anderson, Campbell, and Scott counties. Its purpose is to keep railroad service running and support member counties’ economies. Claiborne, Union, and Grainger counties can join only after all three meet the membership requirements. Each county must approve membership by a two-thirds vote. Each approval must be proclaimed, countersigned by the county’s presiding officer, and certified to the Tennessee Secretary of State. All three counties must also state their willingness to fund administration alongside existing members; no funding amount is set. The authority must follow county contracting rules. Covered purchases, acquisitions, and construction, installation, repair, or improvement work above the applicable state-law threshold require advertising for bids. Purchases of similar items count together toward that threshold. Advertising is not required when an emergency demands immediate supplies or services.