Tennessee legislation · 114th General Assembly
Tennessee HB659: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 2, Chapter 7, relative to polling places.
Status: Chaptered, May 27, 2026
Fiscal Summary NOT SIGNIFICANT Bill Summary Present law requires the county election commission to designate entrances to the building in which an election is to be held that are for the use of voters. The officer of elections must measure off 100 feet from the designated entrances and place boundary signs at that distance. Within such boundary, and the building in which the polling place is located, the display of campaign posters, signs, or other campaign materials; distribution of campaign materials; and solicitation of votes for or against any person, political party, or position on a question are prohibited. This bill authorizes a county election commission to designate restroom facilities in a building in which an election is to be held that are for the use of workers or volunteers working for a campaign. Workers and volunteers of a campaign working outside of a polling place may use restroom facilities in the building in which the election is held that have been designated for use by such workers or volunteers but must not enter the polling place. Additionally, such a worker or volunteer must cover or remove clothing or accoutrements bearing campaign material before entering the boundary designated under present law. A worker or volunteer of a campaign who enters the boundary without covering or removing campaign material, or who attempts to solicit votes within the boundary, may be subject to punishment for committing a Class C misdemeanor. ON APRIL 21, 2026, THE HOUSE SUBSTITUTED SENATE BILL 232 FOR HOUSE BILL 659, ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1, AND PASSED SENATE BILL 232, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 changes the effective date of the bill from July 1, 2025, to July 1, 2026. ON APRIL 23, 2026, THE SENATE CONCURRED IN HOUSE AMENDMENT #1.
What the bill says
An act to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 2, Chapter 7, relative to polling places.
From the introduced text:
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 2, Chapter 7, relative to polling places. SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 2-7-111, is amended by adding the following as a new subsection: (e) A county election commission may designate restroom facilities in a building in which the election is to be held that are for the use of workers or volunteers working for a campaign. Workers and volunteers of a campaign working outside of a polling place may use restroom facilities in the building in which the election is held that have been designated for use by workers or volunteers working for a campaign, but shall not enter the polling place. A worker or volunteer of a campaign shall cover or remove clothing or accoutrements bearing campaign material before entering the boundary designated under subsection (a). A worker or volunteer of a campaign who enters the boundary without covering or removing campaign material, or who attempts to solicit votes within the boundary, may be subject to punishment under § 2-19-119. SECTION 2. This act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it. HB0659
Sponsors
- Chism, Jesse (D, 85) · primary sponsor
- Clemmons, John Ray (D, 55)
- Camper, Karen D. (D, 87)
Latest actions
- : Comp. became Pub. Ch. 1050
- : Sponsor(s) Added.
- : Comp. SB subst.
- : H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/16/2026
- : Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/14/2026
- : Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules Committee
- : Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 4/8/2026
- : Action def. in State & Local Government Committee to 4/8/2026
- : Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 3/31/2026
- : Action def. in State & Local Government Committee to 3/31/2026
Votes
- FLOOR VOTE: Motion to Concur House Amendment # 1 (April 23, 2026): 31 yea, 0 nay, passed
- FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION (April 21, 2026): 86 yea, 0 nay, passed
- HOUSE STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE: Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules Committee (April 8, 2026): 20 yea, 0 nay, passed
- HOUSE ELECTIONS & CAMPAIGN FINANCE SUBCOMMITTEE: Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to State & Local Government Committee (March 3, 2026): 7 yea, 0 nay, passed
- FLOOR VOTE: Motion to Adopt (March 17, 2025): 32 yea, 0 nay, passed
- SENATE STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE: Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee (March 11, 2025): 9 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: Archives, Publications, My Bills
Common questions
- What is HB659?
- HB659 is a bill in the Tennessee Legislature (114th General Assembly): AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 2, Chapter 7, relative to polling places.
- What does HB659 do?
- In its own words: An act to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 2, Chapter 7, relative to polling places.
- What is the status of HB659?
- Chaptered as of May 27, 2026. Latest action: Comp. became Pub. Ch. 1050 (May 27, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB659?
- Chism, Jesse (D, 85), with 2 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB659?
- On the Tennessee Legislature website: https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/Default?BillNumber=HB0659&GA=114
Source: official Tennessee record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.