Tennessee commission must negotiate to buy the Polk Home

The Tennessee Historical Commission must negotiate in good faith to buy and take legal title to the James K. Polk Home. The property is the Polk Home at West Seventh and South High Streets in Columbia. The commission must notify the code commission in writing when the purchase and transfer occur.

The commission may spend available funds on repairs, restoration, and improvements to the home and grounds. The work may improve the property for use by the general public. The law does not provide money. Funds may be obligated or spent only if specifically appropriated in the general appropriations act. These provisions took effect July 1, 2026.

The commission may give a qualifying Tennessee nonprofit custody and control of the property to manage it for the public. The property includes the Polk Home and its grounds. The commission keeps legal title. The nonprofit must be formed to restore, maintain, and operate the home and grounds, and must follow commission guidelines or its contract with the commission. These provisions took effect July 1, 2026.

The commission must report each year on its duties under this law. The commission must send the report to the governor and the speakers of the Senate and House. The law states that the home is intended to operate as a public museum and be preserved for current and future generations. These provisions took effect July 1, 2026.

The law deletes subdivision (31) from Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 4-29-248(a). The deletion concerns the James K. Polk Home provisions identified in the act. This deletion takes effect upon conveyance of the home to the commission.