Tennessee House Bill HB0840

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/4/25
• Refer: 2/6/25
• Failed: 3/19/25

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 3, Chapter 1, relative to members of the general assembly.

Summary

HB0840 amends Tennessee law governing compensation for members of the General Assembly. The bill increases a statutory dollar amount in Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 3-1-106(f)(1), from $1,250 to $2,250. It also changes the year referenced in Section 3-1-106(f)(3) from 2024 to 2026, indicating a delayed or updated implementation timeline tied to legislative compensation provisions. In practical terms, the bill would affect the compensation structure or related allowances for legislators under Title 3, Chapter 1 of the Tennessee Code. By raising the amount specified in the statute and extending the referenced year, it would modify the legal framework applicable to members of the General Assembly and any administrative or payroll processes that rely on that section. The act is set to take effect on November 3, 2026. The available voting history suggests the bill faced mixed to unfavorable reception in committee. It was first deferred in the House Public Service Subcommittee and then failed in that same subcommittee by a 3-3 vote, indicating that support was not sufficient to advance it at that stage. No committee transcript is available, so the record does not show detailed debate or stated rationale from members. The main point of contention appears to be the proposed increase in the statutory amount for legislators, which may have raised concerns about compensation, timing, or public spending. Because the bill concerns members of the General Assembly themselves, it is likely to draw scrutiny over self-benefit and legislative pay policy. The narrow and ultimately unsuccessful committee vote suggests that these issues divided members rather than producing broad consensus.

Impact

The bill would amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 3, Chapter 1, by increasing a specified dollar amount from $1,250 to $2,250 and changing a referenced year from 2024 to 2026. This would alter the statutory compensation or allowance provisions applicable to members of the General Assembly and could affect how legislative payments or related benefits are administered under state law.

Sentiment

The overall sentiment appears mixed to negative based on the committee action. The bill was deferred and then failed in the House Public Service Subcommittee by a narrow vote, suggesting limited support and some opposition. With no transcript available, the specific arguments are not documented, but the voting outcome indicates the proposal did not command consensus.

Contention

The likely area of contention is the increase in the amount tied to legislative compensation or allowances, especially because the bill directly affects members of the General Assembly. Opponents may have viewed the change as an unnecessary pay increase or a self-interested adjustment, while supporters likely saw it as a statutory update. The 3-3 committee split shows the issue was divisive, but the record does not identify individual arguments.