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PUBLIC CHAPTER NO. 1054
SENATE BILL NO. 599
By Hensley
Substituted for: House Bill No. 519
By Cepicky, White
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, relative to state government.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 4-13-201, is amended by deleting the
section and substituting:
The Tennessee historical commission shall enter into good faith negotiations for the
purchase and transfer of a tract of land in the second ward of the city of Columbia, located on
the corner of West Seventh Street and South High Street, known as the James K. Polk
Home, originally conveyed to this state by George L. Reynolds and Bessie F. Reynolds by
deed dated January 8, 1929, recorded in the registrar's office of Maury County, Tennessee,
book 177, page 71, and subsequently conveyed in trust to the James K. Polk Memorial
Association for its general welfare and maintenance, such trust now being terminated by the
general assembly in accordance with § 4-13-204, as that section existed on June 30, 2026.
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 4-13-202, is amended by deleting the
section and substituting:
(a) The Tennessee historical commission may expend funds appropriated or
available to it in the repair, renovation, and restoration of the James K. Polk Home, and the
improvement of the premises for use by the general public.
(b) The Tennessee historical commission will hold legal title to the property, but may
assign actual custody and control of the property to a Tennessee nonprofit corporation
organized for the express purpose of restoring, maintaining, and operating the James K. Polk
Home and its premises. Such corporation has the right to operate and manage the property
on behalf of the Tennessee historical commission for the benefit of the general public, and to
keep the property and improvements in a high state of improvement and repair, and to
operate and maintain the grounds improved by the Tennessee historical commission in a
manner consistent with such guidelines as may be promulgated by the Tennessee historical
commission, or as the Tennessee historical commission may contract with the corporation.
SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 4-13-203, is amended by deleting the
section and substituting:
The Tennessee historical commission shall make an annual report to the governor
and the speakers of the senate and house of representatives of the performance of its duties
under this part.
SECTION 4. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 4-13-204, is amended by deleting the
section and substituting:
It is the intent of this part that the James K. Polk Home be operated as a museum
house open to the general public and preserved for the citizens of this state and future
generations.
SB 599
SECTION 5. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 4-29-248(a)(31 ), is amended by deleting
the subdivision.
SECTION 6. This act is not an appropriation of funds, and funds must not be obligated or
expended pursuant to this act unless the funds are specifically appropriated by the general
appropriations act.
SECTION 7. The Tennessee historical commission shall notify the executive secretary of the
code commission in writing of the purchase and transfer of the James K. Polk Home to the
Tennessee historical commission in accordance with Section 1.
SECTION 8.
(a) Section 5 takes effect upon conveyance of the James K. Polk Home in
accordance with § 4-13-201, the public welfare requiring it.
(b) For all other purposes, this act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare
requiring it.
2
SENATE BILL NO. 599
PASSED: April 21, 2026
RANDY flcNALLY
SPEAKER OF THE'sENA TE
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CAMERON SEXTON, SPEAKER
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
APPROVED this ;l)......,_ day of (V\°'i 2026
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