Tennessee House Bill HB1617

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/13/26
• Refer: 1/21/26
• Refer: 2/2/26
• Engrossed: 2/9/26
• Enrolled: 2/10/26
• Passed: 2/25/26
• Chaptered: 3/16/26

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 29 and Title 4, Chapter 3, Part 54, relative to the Tennessee sports hall of fame.

Summary

HB1617 makes a narrow statutory update related to the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 29, which governs state boards and commissions, by removing the Hall of Fame from one list of entities and adding it to another list that identifies entities created in state law. In practical terms, the measure appears to be a housekeeping or organizational bill that updates how the Hall of Fame is referenced in the state code. The bill does not create a new program, expand benefits, or change the Hall of Fame’s mission. Instead, it aligns the Hall of Fame’s statutory placement with its creation under Title 4, Chapter 3, Part 54. The act takes effect immediately upon becoming law, indicating the legislature intended the correction or clarification to be implemented without delay.

Impact

HB1617 affects Tennessee’s administrative statutes by revising the legal listing of the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame within state law. It removes the entity from one section of the code and inserts it into another, which likely clarifies its status and ensures the code accurately reflects the Hall of Fame’s statutory creation and governance structure. The bill’s direct impact is limited to state law organization and reference provisions, with no apparent fiscal or regulatory burden on the public or on the Hall of Fame itself.

Sentiment

The available voting history shows strong, unanimous support for the bill. It received a 10-0 recommendation in the House Government Operations Committee and then passed the House on the consent calendar by a 94-0 floor vote. The absence of committee transcript discussion suggests the measure was viewed as routine and noncontroversial.

Contention

There is little to no visible contention surrounding HB1617. No committee testimony or floor debate is provided, and the unanimous votes indicate broad agreement. If any issue existed, it was likely limited to technical statutory cleanup or the proper placement of the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame within the code, rather than disagreement over policy substance or funding.