TennesseeGoverning bodies may interview department leaders in private sessions
Governing bodies may interview applicants for certain department leadership jobs in private, but must make hiring decisions in an open, publicly noticed meeting.
What it does
Governing bodies may interview applicants for certain department leadership jobs in private sessions without public notice. They must make hiring decisions and vote at an open, publicly noticed meeting.
Argument forPrivate interviews without public notice may give applicants and governing bodies room to discuss candidates before members decide in an open meeting.
Argument againstKeeping unselected applicants’ materials and interviews confidential on request could make it harder for the public to learn who sought these government jobs.
More detail
A governing body may interview applicants for director-level jobs in a private session without public notice. These jobs are filled by a mayor, a governing body’s vote, or a mayor with the body’s confirmation, and oversee a government department, agency, or division. The chief of police is excluded. The body may not decide whom to hire or deliberate in the private session; it must deliberate and vote at an open meeting with public notice. At an applicant’s request, application materials must be kept confidential. Once an applicant is selected, the application materials and any recorded interview become public records that may be requested. An unselected applicant’s materials and interview must remain confidential upon request. Minutes must name everyone who attended except applicants being interviewed. Attendance is limited to body members, relevant staff invited by the body, and applicants. The act took effect upon becoming law.
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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 27Pub. Ch. 1048Latest
- May 27Effective date(s) 05/21/2026
- 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 20Enrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker.Minor
- Apr 15Received from House, Passed on First ConsiderationMinor
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: Third Consideration 4/15/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 15Senate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.Major
- Apr 15Amendment withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - SA0950)
- Apr 15Passed Senate, Ayes 28, Nays 3, PNV 1Passed Senate
- Apr 14H. adopted am. (Amendment 1 - HA1101)Major
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/14/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 14Passed H., as am., Ayes 61, Nays 24, PNV 6Passed House
- Apr 14Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.Minor
- Apr 13
- Vote recorded HOUSE CALENDAR & RULES COMMITTEE: H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/13/2026 4/9/2026. Result: fail.Lower
- Apr 9H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/13/2026
- Apr 8Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Government Operations CommitteeMinor
- Vote recorded HOUSE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS COMMITTEE: Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee 4/8/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded HOUSE STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE: Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Government Operations Committee 4/8/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 8Placed on cal. Government Operations Committee for 4/8/2026
- Apr 8Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules CommitteeMinor
- Apr 8Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/9/2026
- Apr 1Action def. in State & Local Government Committee to 4/8/2026
- Apr 1Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 4/8/2026
- Mar 25Sponsor(s) withdrawn.Minor
- Mar 25Sponsor change.Minor
- Mar 25Action def. in State & Local Government Committee to 3/31/2026
- Mar 25Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 3/31/2026
- Mar 18Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to State & Local Government CommitteeMinor
- Vote recorded HOUSE PUBLIC SERVICE SUBCOMMITTEE: Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to State & Local Government Committee 3/18/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 18Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 3/24/2026
- Mar 16Sponsor(s) Added.Minor
- Mar 11Placed on s/c cal Public Service Subcommittee for 3/18/2026
- Feb 5P2C, ref. to State & Local Government CommitteeMinor
- Feb 5Assigned to s/c Public Service SubcommitteeMinor
- Feb 4Intro., P1C.Minor
- Feb 3Filed for introductionIntroduced
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