Tennessee House Bill HB0050

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 12/19/24
• Refer: 1/16/25
• Refer: 2/10/25
• Refer: 2/19/25
• Chaptered: 3/21/25
• Passed: 3/21/25

Caption

AN ACT to amend Chapter 90 of the Private Acts of 1991; as amended by Chapter 207 of the Private Acts of 1992; Chapter 1 of the Private Acts of 2009 and Chapter 54 of the Private Acts of 2022; and any other acts amendatory thereto, relative to City of Celina.

Summary

HB0050 is a private act for the City of Celina that updates the city charter’s governing structure and election provisions. It replaces outdated language tied to a 1993 election with a new requirement that, on the first Tuesday in June 2025, voters will elect a mayor and five aldermen at large for four-year terms. The bill also revises the composition of the board of mayor and aldermen to reflect the expanded five-member body. The measure further changes the voting threshold for city legislative action. Under the amended charter, a majority of the board, rather than only two members, will be required to pass a motion, resolution, or ordinance. The bill does not alter statewide law generally; instead, it amends Celina’s private act charter and becomes effective only if approved by a two-thirds vote of the city’s legislative body, with certification to the secretary of state. The bill appears to have been received favorably throughout the legislative process. It passed the House Private Acts Committee, the House State & Local Government Committee, and the House floor on consent calendar with unanimous or near-unanimous support, indicating little formal opposition in the General Assembly. The absence of committee transcript material suggests no recorded substantive debate in the available record. The main policy change is local governance reform for Celina: expanding the board from three to five aldermen and adjusting the voting rule to a majority standard. Potential points of contention, if any, would likely center on local control, the size of the governing body, and whether the new voting threshold makes it easier or harder for city business to move forward. However, the recorded votes show no visible legislative controversy at the state level.

Impact

This act amends Celina’s private charter in Chapter 90 of the Private Acts of 1991, as previously amended, by updating the city’s election schedule, increasing the number of aldermen from three to five, and changing the board action threshold from two affirmative votes to a majority of the board. Its legal effect is limited to the City of Celina and does not broadly change Tennessee municipal law. The act is contingent on approval by a two-thirds vote of Celina’s legislative body and certification to the secretary of state.

Sentiment

The bill’s legislative reception was strongly positive. It advanced through committee and passed the House on the consent calendar with 89 yeas and 0 nays, suggesting broad agreement and no meaningful opposition in the recorded state legislative process. No committee transcript was provided, and the available voting history indicates the measure was treated as a routine local charter amendment.

Contention

There is no recorded substantive contention in the available committee or floor materials. The only likely areas of policy interest are local: expanding the board from three to five aldermen, shifting from a super-minority style voting rule to a majority-vote requirement, and resetting the election language for the city’s governing body. Any disagreement would most likely come from local officials or residents concerned about representation, governance efficiency, or the balance of power within Celina’s board, but such concerns are not reflected in the state-level record provided.