AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 2, Chapter 16, relative to congressional districts.
Summary
HB7002 is a very short redistricting measure that amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 2, Chapter 16, which governs congressional districts. The bill deletes the last sentence of Tennessee Code Annotated § 2-16-102. Based on the text alone, the bill does not create a new district map or set out new district boundaries; instead, it makes a targeted change to existing law affecting how congressional districts are described or administered.
Because the bill takes effect immediately upon becoming law, it is intended to operate without delay. Its practical effect is to alter the statutory framework for congressional redistricting in Tennessee, and it may affect election administration, district interpretation, or related redistricting provisions depending on what the deleted sentence previously required.
Impact
The bill amends Tennessee’s election/redistricting statutes by removing the final sentence of Tenn. Code Ann. § 2-16-102. That means the existing statutory language on congressional districts is changed in a narrow but legally significant way, with the deleted sentence no longer having force. The bill directly affects state election law, congressional district administration, and any officials or courts interpreting Tennessee’s redistricting code.
Sentiment
The available voting history suggests the bill had majority support but was not unanimous. It received a favorable recommendation in the Congressional Redistricting Committee and then passed the House on third consideration by a substantial margin. The recorded votes indicate general legislative support for the measure, consistent with a technical or cleanup redistricting bill, though a notable minority voted against it.
Contention
The main point of contention appears to be the redistricting context itself rather than the bill’s narrow drafting. Opposition likely centered on the policy implications of congressional district changes or on the decision to alter existing district law without broader revision. Supporters, by contrast, appear to have viewed it as a limited statutory correction or clarification. The committee and floor vote margins show that while the bill was broadly acceptable to many members, it still drew meaningful opposition from a minority of legislators.