Tennessee House Bill HJR7006

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 5/5/26
• Refer: 5/6/26

Caption

A RESOLUTION to propose an amendment to the Constitution of Tennessee, regarding the composition of congressional districts.

Summary

HJR7006 is a proposed constitutional amendment to change how Tennessee’s congressional districts are handled. It would add language to Article II, Section 4 of the Tennessee Constitution directing the General Assembly to establish the composition of congressional districts after each decennial census, once the U.S. Census Bureau’s data is available. The resolution also states that congressional district boundaries could not be changed between decennial censuses. In effect, the measure would constitutionalize the redistricting timetable and limit mid-decade changes to congressional district lines, while leaving the actual drawing of districts to the General Assembly.

Impact

If adopted, the resolution would amend the Tennessee Constitution rather than ordinary state statutes, creating a binding constitutional rule for congressional redistricting. It would require the legislature to redraw congressional districts only after each ten-year census and prohibit changes in between censuses, affecting future redistricting authority and limiting flexibility for lawmakers, courts, or other actors to alter congressional district boundaries outside the census cycle.

Sentiment

Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee debate or votes in the provided materials, the measure appears procedural and structural rather than controversial on its face. The resolution’s purpose is to establish a clear redistricting schedule, which may appeal to supporters of stability and predictability in district boundaries. However, because no discussion or vote history is provided, there is no documented public sentiment in the record here beyond the bill’s formal proposal.

Contention

The main potential point of contention is the restriction on changing congressional districts between decennial censuses, which could be viewed as limiting legislative flexibility in response to legal challenges, population shifts, or court-ordered redistricting. Another possible issue is the concentration of redistricting authority in the General Assembly, which may raise concerns among those who favor independent commissions or more frequent adjustments. No specific objections or supporters are identified in the provided transcripts or voting history.