Tennessee Senate Bill SB0078

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/9/25
• Chaptered: 3/31/25
• Passed: 3/31/25

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 29 and Title 64, Chapter 9, relative to the megasite authority of West Tennessee.

Summary

SB0078 updates Tennessee law governing the Megasite Authority of West Tennessee. The bill removes the authority from the list of entities in Tennessee Code Annotated § 4-29-246(a), which is the statute that identifies certain state entities subject to periodic review and possible termination under the state’s governmental entity review process. It then adds the Megasite Authority of West Tennessee to the list in § 4-29-250(a), which preserves the authority by placing it in the category of entities exempted from termination under that review framework. In practical terms, the bill keeps the Megasite Authority of West Tennessee in operation and clarifies its statutory status within Tennessee’s public entity structure. The measure is narrow and technical, focused on one authority created under Title 64, Chapter 9, rather than changing the authority’s core powers, duties, or funding structure.

Impact

The bill amends two provisions of Tennessee’s governmental entity review statutes in Title 4 and cross-references the Megasite Authority of West Tennessee created in Title 64, Chapter 9. Its effect is to remove the authority from the list of entities subject to sunset-style review and add it to the list of entities that remain in force, thereby protecting the authority from termination under the state’s periodic review process. The bill does not appear to alter the authority’s operational powers, but it does affect the legal status and continued existence of the entity.

Sentiment

The available voting history suggests broad support and little controversy. The Senate Government Operations Committee recommended passage by an 8-0 vote, indicating unanimous committee approval. No committee transcript objections or amendments are provided, and the bill ultimately passed, suggesting the measure was viewed as a routine administrative or housekeeping change rather than a disputed policy proposal.

Contention

No specific points of contention are reflected in the provided materials. Because the bill is narrowly focused on preserving the Megasite Authority of West Tennessee within the state’s entity-review statutes, any disagreement would likely have centered on the broader policy question of whether the authority should continue to exist or remain exempt from termination review. However, the committee vote and lack of recorded debate indicate no visible opposition in the available record.