Tennessee Senate Bill SB0908

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/5/25
• Chaptered: 4/28/25
• Passed: 4/28/25

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 3, Part 5; Title 8, Chapter 44; Title 43, Chapter 1; Title 58; Title 68, Chapter 1 and Title 70, relative to public meetings.

Summary

SB0908, enacted as Public Chapter No. 286, amends Tennessee’s Open Meetings Act to add the governing body of Tennessee One Health to the list of public bodies subject to the law. Tennessee One Health is described as an entity intended to promote and support the health of humans, animals, and the environment through collaboration among local, state, and federal agencies, academic institutions, and outside partners. The bill also clarifies that a “meeting” under the Open Meetings Act includes the convening of this governing body. As a result, the entity must conduct its business in compliance with public meeting requirements, including notice and openness rules that apply to covered governing bodies under Tennessee law.

Impact

The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated § 8-44-102, expanding the scope of the state’s public meetings law to expressly cover the governing body of Tennessee One Health. This subjects that body to transparency obligations applicable to other public governing bodies, affecting how it may deliberate, vote, and conduct official business. No other substantive changes to the listed titles are apparent from the bill text.

Sentiment

The available legislative history suggests the bill was noncontroversial and broadly supported. The Senate State & Local Government Committee recommended passage with amendment by a unanimous 9-0 vote, and the bill ultimately passed and was signed into law. There is no committee transcript indicating significant debate or opposition.

Contention

There is little visible contention in the record. The only notable policy issue is whether Tennessee One Health should be treated as a public body for open meetings purposes, which would increase transparency and public access to its proceedings. The unanimous committee vote suggests any concerns about administrative burden or the scope of the Open Meetings Act did not generate recorded opposition.