Tennessee legislation · 114th General Assembly
Tennessee HB7001: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 2, relative to the 2026 congressional elections.
Status: Chaptered, July 27, 2026
Fiscal Summary NOT SIGNIFICANT Bill Summary In order to qualify as a candidate in a primary election for congress, present law requires, among other things, that the person resided in the county or district for one year immediately preceding the elections. This amendment creates an exception to such present law requirement for the 2026 primary election for the office of United States representative. ON MAY 7, 2026, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 7001, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 adds the following if the general assembly revises the composition of one or more congressional districts in this state after March 10, 2026, for the 2026 primary or general election: (1) Requires the coordinator of elections to provide notice of the revised congressional districts and the special qualifying deadline prescribed by this amendment to the qualified candidates and county election commissions, and publish notice of the revisions to the composition of congressional districts, the qualified candidates, and the special qualifying deadline on the secretary of state's official website; (2) Requires each county election commission in which all or any portion of a redrawn congressional district is located to publish notice on the county election commission's official website, if one exists. Such publication satisfies all statutory notice requirements; (3) Grandfathers candidates who qualified for election in a redrawn district designated by the same district number. A candidate who previously qualified but now wishes to run in a different district after districts are redrawn will be required to notify the coordinator of elections no later than 12:00 noon on May 15, 2026. A candidate who previously qualified may withdraw by notifying the coordinator of elections by 12:00 noon on May 15, 2026; (4) Establi
What the bill says
From the amended text:
Senate State and Local Government 1 Amendment No. 1 to SB7001 Briggs Signature of Sponsor AMEND S e n ate Bill No. 7001 House Bill No. 7001* by deleting all language after the enacting clause and substituting: SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 2, Chapter 16, is amended by designating the chapter as part 1 and adding the following new part 2: Part 2 2026 Congressional Elections 2-16-201. Definitions. As used in this part, "2026 primary or general election" means the primary or general election held in 2026 for a congressional district office of the house of representatives in the United States congress. 2-16-202. Application of part. This part applies to the 2026 primary or general election if the general assembly revises by law the composition of one (1) or more congressional districts in this state after the qualifying deadline under § 2-5-101 for the 2026 primary or general election. 2-16-203. Notice of congressional redistricting. (a) Upon the revision of the composition of one (1) or more congressional districts as described in § 2-16-202, the coordinator of elections shall provide notice of the revised congressional districts and the special qualifying deadline prescribed by § 216-204 to the qualified candidates at their addresses of record and county election commissions as soon as practicable after the effective date of the revised composition …