TennesseeHaywood County sets county attorney rules, pending local approval
If Haywood County’s legislative body approves the act by a two-thirds vote, the county attorney must hold a state law license and advise county officials.
What it does
If Haywood County’s legislative body approves the act by a two-thirds vote, its county attorney must have a Tennessee law license. Hiring preference goes to a county resident, but residency is not required.
If locally approved, the county attorney advises and represents Haywood County officials on legal matters tied to their official duties, including county bonds. When officials make conflicting requests, the attorney must act in the county’s best interest.
If locally approved, the County Commission may hire other lawyers when it considers extra or specialized legal help necessary or appropriate.
If locally approved, references to the old county court and judge titles are replaced with “County Commission” and “County Mayor” throughout the county’s private act and its amendments.
Argument forIf locally approved, county officials could get legal advice tied to their duties, including help with county bonds and conflicting requests.
Argument againstIf locally approved, hiring extra or specialized lawyers could add costs for county taxpayers when the Commission considers that help necessary or appropriate.
More detail
The county attorney must have a Tennessee law license, and hiring preference goes to a Haywood County resident. This applies to the Haywood County attorney. Living in Haywood County is not required. These provisions have no effect unless Haywood County’s legislative body approves the act by a two-thirds vote. Before taking office, the attorney must swear to uphold the U.S. and Tennessee constitutions and perform the job according to law and to the best of the attorney’s ability. The approval condition applies to the act’s other provisions as well.
The county attorney serves as legal counsel to county government and advises and represents county officials on legal matters tied to their official duties. Covered officials include County Commission and County Mayor members, other elected, appointed, or confirmed officials, and chairs of county boards and commissions. If county officials make conflicting requests, the attorney must act in Haywood County’s best interest. These provisions have no effect unless Haywood County’s legislative body approves the act by a two-thirds vote. When asked by the County Mayor or County Commission, the attorney must prepare and complete the legal papers needed to issue and sell county bonds.
The County Commission may hire legal counsel other than or in addition to the county attorney. This applies to Haywood County legal counsel. The Commission may do this when it considers additional or specialized counsel necessary or appropriate. This provision has no effect unless Haywood County’s legislative body approves the act by a two-thirds vote.
References to “Quarterly County Court” are replaced with “County Commission,” and references to “County Judge” are replaced with “County Mayor.” The replacements apply wherever those terms appear in Chapter 350 of the Private Acts of 1945, as amended, and acts that amend it. These replacements have no effect unless Haywood County’s legislative body approves the act by a two-thirds vote.
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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 27Pr. Ch. 69Latest
- May 21Signed by Governor Bill Lee.Became Law
- May 11Transmitted to Governor for his action.To Governor
- May 5Signed by Senate SpeakerMajor
- Apr 30Signed by H. SpeakerMajor
- Apr 29Enrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker.Minor
- Apr 23Senate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.Major
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: Motion to Adopt 4/23/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 23Passed Senate, Ayes 33, Nays 0Passed Senate
- Apr 22Sponsor(s) Added.Minor
- Vote recorded HOUSE CALENDAR & RULES COMMITTEE: Action def. in Calendar & Rules Committee to 4/22/2026 4/16/2026. Result: fail.Lower
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/22/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 22Passed H., Ayes 92, Nays 0, PNV 1Passed House
- Apr 22Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.Minor
- Apr 22Received from House, Passed on First ConsiderationMinor
- Apr 16H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/22/2026
- Apr 15Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules CommitteeMinor
- Vote recorded HOUSE STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE: Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee 4/15/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 15Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/16/2026
- Apr 13Rec. for pass; ref to State & Local Government CommitteeMinor
- Vote recorded HOUSE PRIVATE ACTS COMMITTEE: Rec. for pass; ref to State & Local Government Committee 4/13/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 13Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 4/15/2026
- Apr 8Placed on cal. Private Acts Committee for 4/13/2026
- Apr 6P2C, ref. to Private Acts Committee - State & Local Government CommitteeMinor
- Apr 2Intro., P1C.Minor
- Mar 31Filed for introductionIntroduced
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