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TennesseeSB 2473114th General Assembly (2025-2026)Senate

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 7 and Title 42, relative to airport authorities.

Sponsored By: Sponsor information unavailable

Signed by Governor

Regional Authorities and Special Districts

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Airport authorities pay state audit costs

Beginning July 1, 2026, covered metropolitan and regional airport authorities must keep timely books and prepare financial statements satisfactory to Tennessee. They must repay all state costs for reviewing and auditing their finances. Authorities must also give quarterly activity and planning reports or briefings before capital expansion or improvements. Recipients include participating local governments, the governor, and legislative leaders; cross-border authorities also report to participating out-of-state governments. The law sets no dollar amount for audit costs and does not require passenger fees or other household charges.

New boards for Tennessee airport authorities

Beginning July 1, 2026, the law replaces existing metropolitan airport boards with nine members. The House speaker, Senate speaker, and governor each appoint two members. The creating municipality’s executive appoints three, with local governing-body approval. Legislative appointees represent the airport county and surrounding region; governor appointees live in the surrounding region. Municipal appointees live in the creating municipality, and participating municipalities can submit qualified nominee lists for specified seats. The covered regional authority involving cross-border participation gets a 12-member board appointed by state and local leaders. Its local appointments need governing-body approval, and seat allocations follow airport location, participating governments, and cross-border residency rules. Officials must seek geographic and demographic representation, including at least one woman on each board. Professional fields include engineering, architecture, law, business, public safety, aviation, and finance. Engineers and architects need Tennessee licenses and active practice within the past five years. Lawyers need at least five years licensed before Tennessee’s highest court. Members cannot hold financial interests in airports or their concessions; metropolitan members also cannot be municipal officers or employees. Initial terms last two, three, four, or five years; later terms run four years, July 1 through June 30. Appointing officials can remove members with or without cause and fill vacancies in their seats. Boards elect their officers, need a majority for a quorum, and retain powers not expressly changed. Members receive no salary, only repayment of necessary expenses. A separate membership rule now counts arrangements including five or more local governments, rather than appointments by their legislative bodies. Appointment provisions take effect when the act becomes law; board replacement and other provisions take effect July 1, 2026. The law also preserves employees’ vested or accrued retirement, pension, insurance, leave, and other fringe benefits.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

There is no primary sponsor on record.

Cosponsors

  • Todd Gardenhire

    Republican • Senate

  • Paul Rose

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 454 • No: 145

House vote • 4/23/2026

FLOOR VOTE: MESSAGE CALENDAR 2 PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/23/2026

Yes: 73 • No: 21

House vote • 4/23/2026

FLOOR VOTE: MESSAGE CALENDAR 2 PREVIOUS QUESTION PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/23/2026

Yes: 74 • No: 21

House vote • 4/20/2026

FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/20/2026

Yes: 70 • No: 22

House vote • 4/20/2026

FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR PREVIOUS QUESTION AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/20/2026

Yes: 67 • No: 25

House vote • 4/20/2026

FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/20/2026

Yes: 70 • No: 22

House vote • 4/20/2026

FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR PREVIOUS QUESTION AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/20/2026

Yes: 67 • No: 25

Senate vote • 4/13/2026

FLOOR VOTE: as Amended Third Consideration 4/13/2026

Yes: 25 • No: 8

Senate vote • 3/25/2026

TRANSPORTATION AND SAFETY COMMITTEE

Yes: 8 • No: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective date(s) 05/19/2026, 07/01/2026

    5/27/2026

  2. Pub. Ch. 978

    5/27/2026

  3. Signed by Governor.

    5/19/2026Senate

  4. Transmitted to Governor for action.

    5/11/2026Senate

  5. Signed by H. Speaker

    5/7/2026House

  6. Signed by Senate Speaker

    5/6/2026Senate

  7. Enrolled and ready for signatures

    5/5/2026Senate

  8. Passed H., Ayes 73, Nays 21, PNV 0

    4/23/2026House

  9. H. Am. 2 reconsidered, withdrawn.

    4/23/2026House

  10. Motion to reconsider adopted.

    4/23/2026House

  11. Motion to lift from table adopted.

    4/23/2026House

  12. H. Placed on Message Calendar #2 for 4/22/26

    4/22/2026House

  13. Senate refused to concur in amendment

    4/22/2026Senate

  14. Placed on Senate Message Calendar for 4/22/2026

    4/21/2026Senate

  15. Sponsor(s) Added.

    4/20/2026Senate

  16. Placed on Senate Message Calendar for 4/22/2026

    4/20/2026Senate

  17. Passed H., as am., Ayes 70, Nays 22, PNV 4

    4/20/2026House

  18. H. adopted am. (Amendment 2 - HA0835)

    4/20/2026House

  19. Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - HA0640)

    4/20/2026House

  20. Subst. for comp. HB.

    4/20/2026House

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

    4/15/2026House

  22. Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

    4/13/2026Senate

  23. Sponsor(s) Added.

    4/13/2026Senate

  24. Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 25, Nays 8

    4/13/2026Senate

  25. Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0854)

    4/13/2026Senate

Bill Text

  • HA0835

    4/20/2026

    PDF

  • Enrolled / Public Chapter

    PDF

  • Fiscal Note

    PDF

  • HA0640

    PDF

  • Introduced

    PDF

  • SA0854

    PDF

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