TennesseeTennessee law sets appointments and rules for technology development board
The Tennessee Technology Development Corporation has a 15-member board whose seats are filled by state leaders, the board itself, and the state economic development commissioner.
What it does
The Tennessee Technology Development Corporation has a 15-member board under rules effective July 1, 2026. State leaders appoint eight members, the board approves six nominees, and the state economic development commissioner serves.
Board members must disclose financial interests and possible conflicts each year. The board must meet four times each calendar year, including at least one meeting in person.
Appointed board members initially serve three-year or four-year terms. Later terms last four years, and members can serve again if the original appointing authority reappoints them.
Argument forAnnual financial disclosures could help reveal board members’ personal interests before those interests influence decisions about the corporation.
Argument againstAllowing the board to approve six members and members to serve repeated terms could limit outside influence over who governs the corporation.
More detail
The law provides for the Tennessee Technology Development Corporation to be reconstituted under a 15-member board. Ten seats represent the private sector, outside government. Four represent the public sector. The state commissioner of economic and community development holds the remaining seat. The governor appoints four members, each legislative speaker appoints two, and the board approves six private-sector nominees by majority vote. One governor-appointed public-sector member must come from lists submitted by interested local government organizations. The governor must consult those organizations. Appointing authorities must strive for equal representation from Tennessee’s three geographic regions. Members may serve successive terms if the original appointing authority reappoints them. Reconstitution takes effect July 1, 2026.
The Tennessee Technology Development Corporation’s board must meet regularly and adopt and carry out a policy for handling members’ conflicting interests. The board elects its officers and appoints five of its members to an executive committee that manages daily operations. The board chair also chairs that committee. Members must disclose financial interests and other possible conflicts in writing each year and confirm that they have read and understand the entire policy. Before appointment, prospective members must acknowledge that they do not conflict with the policy’s conditions. The executive committee meets as needed.
The law sets staggered initial terms and allows board members to serve again if reappointed. These terms cover the 14 appointed members of the Tennessee Technology Development Corporation’s board. Members may serve successive terms if reappointed by the original appointing authority. After the initial terms expire, four-year terms begin July 1 and end June 30 of the applicable year.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 26Pub. Ch. 1013Latest
- May 26Effective date(s) 05/19/2026
- May 19Signed by Governor Bill Lee.Became Law
- May 7Transmitted to Governor for his action.To Governor
- May 5Signed by Senate SpeakerMajor
- Apr 30Signed by H. SpeakerMajor
- Apr 27Enrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker.Minor
- Apr 21Senate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.Major
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: Third Consideration 4/21/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 21Amendment withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - SA0531)
- Apr 21Passed Senate, Ayes 29, Nays 0, PNV 2Passed Senate
- Apr 2Received from House, Passed on First ConsiderationMinor
- Mar 31Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.Minor
- Mar 30Sponsor(s) Added.Minor
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 3/30/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded HOUSE CALENDAR & RULES COMMITTEE: H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 3/30/2026 3/26/2026. Result: fail.Lower
- Mar 30H. adopted am. (Amendment 1 - HA0660)Major
- Mar 30Passed H., as am., Ayes 86, Nays 6, PNV 2Passed House
- Mar 26H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 3/30/2026
- Mar 25Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 3/26/2026
- Mar 23Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules CommitteeMinor
- Vote recorded HOUSE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS COMMITTEE: Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee 3/23/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 18Placed on cal. Government Operations Committee for 3/23/2026
- Mar 16Action def. in Government Operations Committee to 3/23/2026
- Mar 11Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Government Operations CommitteeMinor
- Vote recorded HOUSE COMMERCE COMMITTEE: Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Government Operations Committee 3/11/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 11Placed on cal. Government Operations Committee for 3/16/2026
- Mar 4Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Commerce CommitteeMinor
- Vote recorded HOUSE BUSINESS AND UTILITIES SUBCOMMITTEE: Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Commerce Committee 3/4/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 4Placed on cal. Commerce Committee for 3/11/2026
- Feb 25Placed on s/c cal Business & Utilities Subcommittee for 3/4/2026
- Feb 18Action Def. in s/c Business and Utilities Subcommittee to 3/4/2026
- Feb 11Placed on s/c cal Business & Utilities Subcommittee for 2/18/2026
- Feb 5P2C, ref. to Commerce Committee - Government Operations for ReviewMinor
- Feb 5Assigned to s/c Business & Utilities SubcommitteeMinor
- Feb 4Intro., P1C.Minor
- Feb 2Filed for introductionIntroduced
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