TennesseeSB 2018114th General Assembly (2025-2026)SenateWALLET

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 8, Chapter 25; Title 8, Chapter 34; Title 8, Chapter 35 and Title 8, Chapter 36, relative to retirement.

Sponsored By: Bobby Harshbarger (Republican)

Became Law

Pensions and Retirement Benefits

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.

Final month check for retirees and beneficiaries

Monthly retirement payments stop in the month the payee dies, unless other rules in these chapters say otherwise. If a retired member did not choose an optional allowance, the system still issues the payment for the month of death and pays it to the member. If a beneficiary was getting an optional allowance, the payment for the month the beneficiary dies is still issued and paid to that beneficiary. Payments stop after that month.

Tax corrections for rehired retirees

If you returned to temporary reemployment and your retirement date was between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2027, the system treats your payments as in‑service distributions if it later finds you did not have a bona fide break in service. The retirement system must correct past tax reporting to reflect this. After the temporary reemployment period when this is found, you cannot keep getting in‑service distributions. You must have a bona fide separation before starting another temporary reemployment period. The law also deletes subsection (b) of the separation statute.

Simpler subpoena process for plan records

For deferred compensation and public retirement records, a non‑party custodian can comply with a subpoena by filing true copies within 14 days. Delivery can be by hand, certified or registered mail, or electronic transmission. The copies must include a custodian affidavit or declaration and are treated as true unless a judge finds otherwise. A judge can require in‑person attendance only to resolve a good‑faith dispute about accuracy. The subpoena must clearly state these rules and when personal attendance may be required.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Bobby Harshbarger
Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 136 • No: 0

House vote • 3/19/2026

FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 3/19/2026

Yes: 95 • No: 0

Senate vote • 2/23/2026

FLOOR VOTE: Motion to Adopt 2/23/2026

Yes: 32 • No: 0

Senate vote • 2/17/2026

SENATE STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE

Yes: 9 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

Pub. Ch. 658
4/6/2026
Effective date(s) 04/01/2026
4/6/2026
Signed by Governor.
4/1/2026Senate
Signed by H. Speaker
3/24/2026House
Transmitted to Governor for action.
3/24/2026Senate
Signed by Senate Speaker
3/23/2026Senate
Subst. for comp. HB.
3/19/2026House
Passed H., Ayes 95, Nays 0, PNV 0
3/19/2026House
Enrolled and ready for signatures
3/19/2026Senate
Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.
2/26/2026House
Passed Senate, Ayes 32, Nays 0
2/23/2026Senate
Engrossed; ready for transmission to House
2/23/2026Senate
Placed on Senate Consent Calendar 2 for 2/23/2026
2/20/2026Senate
Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee
2/17/2026Senate
Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 2/17/2026
2/10/2026Senate
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate State and Local Government Committee
2/5/2026Senate
Introduced, Passed on First Consideration
2/2/2026Senate
Filed for introduction
1/22/2026Senate

Bill Text

Enrolled / Public Chapter
PDF
Fiscal Note
PDF
Introduced
PDF

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