Open Meetings - As enacted, requires a local governing body subject to the open meetings laws to reserve a period of public comment to provide the public with the opportunity to comment on any matter germane to the juris, the official text

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~tate of \lrennessee

PUBLIC CHAPTER NO. 620

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 22

         By Representatives Davis, Sparks, Cepicky, Fritts, McCalmon, Rudd, Capley,
                                Greg Martin, Howell, Reneau, Hardaway, Todd

                                        Substituted for: Senate Bill No. 178

                                           By Senators Lowe, Bailey, Seal

         AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 8, Chapter 44, relative to public
meetings.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:

          SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 8-44-112, is amended by designating
subsection (a) as subdivision (a)(1) and by adding the following as subdivision (a)(2):

                    (2)

                              (A) A local governing body shall, for each public meeting, reserve a
                    period for public comment to provide the public with the opportunity to comment:

                                        (i) On matters that are germane to the items on the agenda for the
                              meeting; and

                                        (ii) On any matter that is germane to the jurisdiction of the local
                              governing body, regardless of whether such matter is an item on the
                              agenda for the meeting.

                              (B) As used in this subdivision (a)(2), "local governing body" means the
                    governing body of an incorporated city or town, county, metropolitan government,
                    school district, regional authority, or other political subdivision of this state other
                    than a state governmental agency or entity.

          SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.
         HOUSE BILL NO. - -22 - -

PASSED:  March 12, 2026

                         CAMER'ON SEXTON, SPEAKER
                         HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

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                         \•          RANDY. MdNALLy

                         SPEAKER OF THE SENATE

APPROVED this ~ t i day of rv) aY<L  2026

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BILL LEE, GOVERNOR