Tennessee House Bill HB7003

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 5/4/26
• Refer: 5/6/26
• Engrossed: 5/7/26
• Enrolled: 5/7/26
• Passed: 5/7/26
• Chaptered: 6/3/26

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 2, Chapter 16 and Chapter 742 of the Public Acts of 2026, relative to congressional districts.

Summary

HB7003 is a narrow redistricting measure that amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 2, Chapter 16, and a related 2026 public act governing congressional districts. The bill’s operative change is to delete the second sentence of Tennessee Code Annotated § 2-16-102, which suggests a targeted adjustment to the statutory framework for congressional district boundaries or related redistricting instructions rather than a wholesale redraw of districts. Because the bill text is very short, its practical effect depends on the sentence being removed and the surrounding redistricting law. In general, the bill would alter the legal rules governing congressional districts in Tennessee and could affect how district lines are interpreted, implemented, or updated under state law. It takes effect immediately upon becoming law, indicating legislative urgency and a desire for prompt application.

Impact

HB7003 would modify Tennessee’s election and redistricting statutes by deleting a specific sentence from the state’s congressional district law. That change could affect how congressional district boundaries or related redistricting provisions are administered, and it may influence the implementation of the state’s 2026 congressional redistricting plan. The bill directly impacts state election law, redistricting officials, and voters within affected congressional districts.

Sentiment

The available voting history suggests the bill moved forward with majority support but also notable opposition. It received favorable committee recommendations and passed third consideration on the floor, indicating that leadership and a majority of members supported the measure. At the same time, the recorded no votes show that a significant minority opposed the bill or specific related motions, consistent with the politically sensitive nature of congressional redistricting.

Contention

The main point of contention appears to be the redistricting policy itself and the amendment process surrounding it. The floor vote on Amendment #2 by Johnson shows substantial resistance, with the amendment failing by a wide margin, suggesting disagreement over how the congressional district changes should be structured or modified. Opposition likely centered on the substance of the redistricting adjustment, its political effects, or the procedural handling of the measure, while supporters favored moving the bill and the underlying district changes forward.