Open Meetings - As enacted, authorizes local governmental bodies to conduct certain community meetings via electronic means of communication. - Amends TCA Title 5; Title 6; Title 7 and Title 8, Chapter 44. SB1944 has bee, the official text

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                              PUBLIC CHAPTER NO. 895

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 1944

                                                             By Briggs

                                           Substituted for: House Bill No. 1858

                                                 By Wright, Crawford, Davis

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 5; Title 6; Title 7 and Title 8, Chapter 44,
          relative to community meetings conducted with electronic participation.

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

          SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 8-44-108(a), is amended by adding the
following new subdivisions:

                    ( ) "Community meeting" means the convening of members of a community in a
          political subdivision to discuss and receive information about community public business;

                    ( ) "Local governing body" means a local governmental public body that consists of
          two (2) or more members with the authority to make decisions for or recommendations to a
          public body on policy or administration;

          SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 8-44-108, is amended by adding the
following as a new subsection:

                    (i) A local governing body may allow participation in community meetings by
          electronic means of communication. A local governing body holding a community meeting
          with a member or members of the local governing body participating by electronic means of
          communication shall:

                              (1) Allow members of the public to:

                                        (A) View and listen to the community meeting by electronic means in
                              real time if the community meeting is conducted using video conference, or
                              listen to the community meeting by electronic means in real time if the meeting
                              is conducted using audio conference with no video; and

                                        (8) Participate by electronic means of communication, if participation
                              would normally be allowed at the community meeting;

                              (2) Provide notice of the community meeting by publishing:

                                        (A) A statement that the meeting will include members of the local
                              governing body participating by electronic means of communication;

                                        (B) The address of the physical location where members of the public
                              may attend the meeting, if there is to be an in-person component of the
                              community meeting; and

                                        (C) Information necessary for members of the public to access the
                              community meeting by electronic means of communication to participate,
                              view, or listen;

                              (3) Make a recording of the community meeting, and post the recording or a
                    link to the recording on the local governing body's website. The local governing body
SB 1944
                   shall post the recording or link to the recording as soon as possible but no later than
                   four (4) business days after the community meeting. The governing body shall
                   continue to publish on its website the recording or link to the recording for at least one
                   (1) year, and shall retain the recording for at least three (3) years after the recording
                   was created;
                             (4) Ensure that each member of the local governing body participating by
                   electronic means of communication is able to simultaneously hear each other and
                   speak to each other during the meeting. A member participating by electronic means
                   of communication shall identify the persons present in the room from which the
                   member is participating;
                             (5) Ensure that members of the local governing body participating in a
                   community meeting by electronic means are identifiable by name to the public
                   throughout the duration of the meeting; and
                             (6) Not vote on any matter during a community meeting where the members
                   are participating by electronic means.

         SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.

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         SENATE BILL NO. 1944

PASSED:  April 16, 2026

                                   RANDY McNALlY

                         SPEAKER OF THE SENA

                         CAMEROWSEXTON,SPEAKER

                         HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

'!3:_ APPROVED this  day of ~  2026

         -~

         BILL LEE, GOVERNOR