Tennessee House Bill HB2624

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/4/26
• Refer: 2/9/26
• Refer: 3/16/26
• Refer: 3/24/26
• Engrossed: 3/31/26
• Enrolled: 4/2/26
• Passed: 4/16/26
• Chaptered: 5/1/26

Caption

AN ACT to amend Chapter 32 of the Private Acts of 2009; and any other acts amendatory thereto, relative to the charter of the City of Adamsville.

Summary

HB2624 is a private act amending the charter of the City of Adamsville, Tennessee. The bill revises the city’s rules for vacancies in the office of mayor or city commissioner by specifying when a vacancy exists, including resignation, death, moving out of the city, or removal under state law. It also adds a disqualification provision barring anyone convicted of malfeasance or misfeasance in office, a felony, or a crime involving moral turpitude from holding city office for ten years. The bill further sets the process for filling vacancies on the city commission. Remaining commissioners are authorized to appoint a qualified person to fill a vacancy, with the appointee serving until the next regular city election, when any unexpired term is filled. If the commission fails to fill a vacancy within 45 days, the mayor must appoint someone within 15 days. The act is contingent on approval by a two-thirds vote of Adamsville’s legislative body, meaning it changes local law only if the city formally accepts it.

Impact

HB2624 amends the private charter law governing the City of Adamsville and affects local procedures for declaring vacancies, appointing replacement officials, and determining eligibility to hold office after certain convictions. It does not broadly change statewide municipal law, but it incorporates Tennessee Code Annotated Title 8, Chapter 47 removal provisions and creates a city-specific vacancy and appointment framework that will apply only if Adamsville approves the act.

Sentiment

The bill appears to have been received favorably and moved through the legislative process with little opposition. It was recommended for passage in both the House Private Acts Committee and the House State & Local Government Committee, passed the House on consent calendar with only one no vote, and was adopted in the Senate without dissent. The strong vote totals suggest broad support and minimal controversy at the state level.

Contention

The main substantive issue in the bill is the allocation of authority to fill vacancies: the remaining commissioners have the first opportunity to appoint a replacement, but the mayor gains appointment power if the commission does not act within 45 days. Another point of significance is the ten-year prohibition on holding city office after convictions for malfeasance, misfeasance, felony, or crimes involving moral turpitude, which may be viewed as a strong ethics safeguard. No committee transcript indicates organized opposition, and the only potential contention is the local charter change itself, which depends on approval by Adamsville’s governing body.