TennesseeSardis would hold town elections every four years
If two-thirds of Sardis's legislative body approves, the town would hold mayor and alderman elections every four years, starting in August 2026.
What it does
Sardis would elect its mayor and five aldermen every four years, and each would serve a four-year term, if the town's legislative body approves the act.
Sardis's mayor and aldermen would set their salaries by ordinance, but could not change a salary during the official's term, if the town approves the act.
Sardis's mayor and aldermen would set when and where they meet by ordinance, while still meeting at least once a month, if the town approves the act.
Legal voters living in Sardis would be eligible to vote in town elections. Some nonresidents who own taxable property in town could also vote, with a two-person limit per tract, if the town approves the act.
Argument forSetting salaries and meeting dates by ordinance could let town officials adjust these local rules without changing the charter.
Argument againstFour-year terms could make voters wait longer between chances to replace the mayor or aldermen.
More detail
The mayor and five aldermen would serve four-year terms, with elections every four years. This applies to Sardis's mayor and five aldermen. The act takes effect only if two-thirds of Sardis's legislative body approves it. The first election is set for the first Thursday in August 2026, with elections every four years after that.
Sardis's mayor and aldermen would set their own salaries by ordinance. This applies to the mayor and members of Sardis's Board of Aldermen. They could not change an official's salary before that official's term ends. The act takes effect only if two-thirds of Sardis's legislative body approves it. The salary rule applies when the act takes effect following the town's approval.
The mayor and aldermen would set regular meeting times and places by ordinance. This applies to regular meetings of Sardis's Mayor and Board of Aldermen. The board must still meet at least once each month. The act takes effect only if two-thirds of Sardis's legislative body approves it. The meeting rule applies when the act takes effect following the town's approval.
Legal voters who live in Sardis would be entitled to vote in town elections. The provision covers legal qualified voters living within Sardis and certain nonresident property owners. Nonresidents who own taxable real estate in town worth at least $100 may also vote. No more than two people may vote based on any one property tract. The act takes effect only if two-thirds of Sardis's legislative body approves it. The voter provisions apply when the act takes effect following the town's approval.
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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. 63Latest
- 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 15Senate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.Major
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: Motion to Adopt 4/15/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 15Passed Senate, Ayes 31, Nays 0Passed Senate
- Apr 14Received from House, Passed on First ConsiderationMinor
- Apr 13H. adopted am. (Amendment 1 - HA1034)Major
- Vote recorded HOUSE CALENDAR & RULES COMMITTEE: H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/13/2026 4/9/2026. Result: fail.Lower
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/13/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 13Passed H., as am., Ayes 90, Nays 0, PNV 1Passed House
- Apr 13Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.Minor
- Apr 9H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/13/2026
- Apr 8Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/9/2026
- Apr 1Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules CommitteeMinor
- Vote recorded HOUSE STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE: Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules Committee 4/1/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 25Action def. in State & Local Government to 3/31/2026
- Mar 25Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 3/31/2026
- Mar 18Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 3/24/2026
- Mar 16Rec. for pass; ref to State & Local Government CommitteeMinor
- Vote recorded HOUSE PRIVATE ACTS COMMITTEE: Rec. for pass; ref to State & Local Government Committee 3/16/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 11Placed on cal. Private Acts Committee for 3/16/2026
- Mar 9P2C, ref. to Private Acts Committee - State & Local Government CommitteeMinor
- Mar 5Intro., P1C.Minor
- Mar 3Filed for introductionIntroduced
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