Tennessee legislation · 114th General Assembly
Tennessee HB1858: 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.
Status: Chaptered, May 18, 2026
Fiscal Summary NOT SIGNIFICANT Bill Summary This bill authorizes a local governing body to allow participation in community meetings by electronic means of communication. However, local governing bodies are prohibited from voting on any matter during a community meeting where the members are participating by electronic means of communication. As used in this bill, a "local governing body" means a local governmental public body that consists of two or more members with the authority to make decisions for, or recommendations to, a public body on policy or administration. PARTICIPATION – IDENTIFICATION This bill requires that each member of a local governing body participating by electronic means of communication be able to simultaneously hear and speak to each other during the meeting. Additionally, the local governing body must allow members of the public to view and listen to the community meeting by electronic means in real time and participate by electronic means of communication, if participation would normally be allowed. This bill requires any person in the room from which a member is participating in the meeting to be identified. Further, any member participating electronically must be identifiable by name to the public throughout the duration of the meeting. NOTICE – RECORD This bill requires the local governing body to provide notice of the meeting by publishing a statement that the meeting will include members participating by electronic means of communication; the address of the physical location where members of the public may attend the meeting; and information necessary to access the community meeting by electronic means of communication. This bill requires a recording of the community meeting to be made and posted on the local governing body's website no later than four business days after the meeting.
What the bill says
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.
From the introduced text:
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. 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 HB1858 (B) Participate by electronic means …
Sponsors
- Wright, Dave (R, 19) · primary sponsor
- Crawford, John (R, 1)
- Davis, Elaine (R, 18)
Latest actions
- : Comp. became Pub. Ch. 895
- : Comp. SB subst.
- : H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/14/2026
- : Sponsor(s) Added.
- : Objected to on Consent Calendar.
- : H. Placed on Consent Calendar for 4/13/2026
- : Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/9/2026
- : Rec. for pass; 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
Votes
- FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION (April 16, 2026): 66 yea, 16 nay, passed
- HOUSE STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE: Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee (April 8, 2026): 16 yea, 0 nay, passed
- FLOOR VOTE: Motion to Adopt (March 2, 2026): 32 yea, 0 nay, passed
- SENATE STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE: Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee (February 17, 2026): 9 yea, 0 nay, passed
- HOUSE PUBLIC SERVICE SUBCOMMITTEE: Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to State & Local Government Committee (February 11, 2026): 6 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: Archives, Publications, My Bills
Common questions
- What is HB1858?
- HB1858 is a bill in the Tennessee Legislature (114th General Assembly): 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.
- What does HB1858 do?
- In its own words: 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.
- What is the status of HB1858?
- Chaptered as of May 18, 2026. Latest action: Comp. became Pub. Ch. 895 (May 18, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB1858?
- Wright, Dave (R, 19), with 2 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB1858?
- On the Tennessee Legislature website: https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/Default?BillNumber=HB1858&GA=114
Source: official Tennessee record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.