Tennessee House Bill HB1613

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/13/26
• Refer: 1/21/26
• Refer: 2/2/26
• Chaptered: 3/16/26
• Passed: 3/16/26

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 29 and Title 4, Chapter 3, Part 7, relative to the Tennessee-Ireland trade commission.

Summary

HB1613 makes a narrow technical change to Tennessee law concerning the Tennessee-Ireland Trade Commission. The bill removes the commission from one section of the Tennessee Code that lists entities subject to automatic termination review and adds it to the section that continues the commission in law, reflecting that the commission is intended to remain active. In practical terms, the measure updates the state’s statutory organization of boards and commissions rather than creating a new program or changing the commission’s substantive duties. The bill amends Title 4, Chapter 29 and Title 4, Chapter 3, Part 7 of the Tennessee Code Annotated. By deleting the commission from the sunset-review list and placing it in the list of continuing entities, the bill preserves the Tennessee-Ireland Trade Commission’s legal existence under § 4-3-734. The act takes effect immediately upon becoming law.

Impact

HB1613 affects Tennessee’s administrative law governing state boards and commissions by ensuring the Tennessee-Ireland Trade Commission is treated as a continuing entity rather than one subject to termination review. It does not alter the commission’s powers, membership, or duties, but it does preserve the commission’s statutory status and keep it in operation under the state code.

Sentiment

The bill appears to have been noncontroversial and broadly supported. It passed the House Government Operations Committee 10-0 and later passed the House on the consent calendar by a vote of 93-0, indicating strong bipartisan agreement and little to no opposition. The absence of committee transcript discussion also suggests the measure was viewed as routine and technical.

Contention

There is no recorded substantive contention in the available materials. Because the bill is a housekeeping measure about the legal status of a trade commission, any potential disagreement would likely have centered on whether the commission should continue to exist, but the unanimous votes indicate no visible opposition in committee or on the floor. The bill’s narrow scope and consent-calendar treatment further suggest it was not a disputed policy proposal.