Tennessee House Bill HB1431

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/11/25
• Refer: 3/17/25
• Refer: 3/24/25
• Refer: 4/8/25
• Engrossed: 4/14/25
• Enrolled: 4/23/25
• Passed: 5/21/25
• Chaptered: 6/4/25

Caption

AN ACT to amend Chapter 568 of the Private Acts of 1939; as amended by Chapter 107 of the Private Acts of 1981; Chapter 129 of the Private Acts of 2006; Chapter 66 of the Private Acts of 2014; and any other acts amendatory thereto, relative to the City of Portland.

Summary

HB1431 is a private act amendment affecting the charter or governing private acts for the City of Portland, Tennessee. The bill replaces the referenced Article XII in Chapter 568 of the Private Acts of 1939, as previously amended, by deleting it and substituting new language that states “Article IX [Repealed by 2025 Amendment].” In practical terms, the measure updates and simplifies the city’s private act framework by repealing a specified article and leaving the city’s governing private act in a revised form. The bill is local in scope and does not create a statewide policy change. Its legal effect is limited to the City of Portland and depends on local approval: it takes effect only if approved by a two-thirds vote of Portland’s legislative body, with certification to the secretary of state. Until that local approval occurs, the amendment does not fully operate for all purposes, though it is effective immediately for the purpose of considering approval or rejection.

Impact

HB1431 amends a series of private acts governing the City of Portland by deleting and replacing a specified article, thereby changing the city’s special legislative framework rather than the general Tennessee Code. The bill affects only Portland’s municipal governance structure and any rights, duties, or procedures established by the referenced private acts. Because it is a private act, its implementation is contingent on local legislative approval by the city council or equivalent legislative body.

Sentiment

The bill appears to have been received very favorably and without visible opposition. It moved through committee with unanimous recommendations for passage and passed floor consideration by wide margins, including a 94-0 consent calendar passage on third consideration and a 33-0 motion to adopt. The voting history suggests broad bipartisan support and little controversy in the legislative process.

Contention

There is little evidence of substantive contention in the available record. No committee transcript excerpts are provided, and every recorded vote was unanimous or overwhelmingly supportive. The only procedural point of note is the local approval requirement, which gives the City of Portland’s legislative body the final say on whether the private act amendment takes effect, but no opposition to that condition is reflected in the votes.