Tennessee Senate Bill SB1436

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/20/25
• Chaptered: 4/28/25
• Passed: 4/28/25

Caption

AN ACT to amend Chapter 176 of the Private Acts of 1953; as amended by Chapter 524 of the Private Acts of 1953; Chapter 314 of the Private Acts of 1980; Chapter 95 of the Private Acts of 1985; Chapter 56 of the Private Acts of 1991; Chapter 157 of the Private Acts of 1994; Chapter 7 of the Private Acts of 2015 and Chapter 42 of the Private Acts of 2024; and any other acts amendatory thereto, relative to Henry County Hospital District Trustees.

Summary

SB1436 amends the private act governing the Henry County Hospital District by revising how its board of trustees is structured and how often it meets. The bill sets the board at no fewer than three and no more than seven trustees, with two members required to be Henry County Commissioners and the rest county residents at large. Trustees would serve staggered four-year terms, and the county commission would have authority to recall trustees with or without cause and to fill vacancies within 90 days when needed to maintain the minimum board size. The bill also changes the board’s meeting requirement from monthly meetings to at least quarterly meetings. It preserves current officeholders until their terms end or vacancies occur, includes a severability clause, and states that no incumbent is removed before the end of an elected term. As a local private act, it does not take effect unless approved by a two-thirds vote of the Henry County legislative body, and it is effective immediately only for the purpose of that local approval process.

Impact

The bill amends multiple sections of Henry County’s private hospital district charter, altering the governance rules for the Henry County Hospital District Trustees. It changes board composition, appointment authority, term staggering, vacancy procedures, recall power, and meeting frequency, thereby affecting the county commission, current and future trustees, and the administration of the hospital district. Because it is a private act, its legal effect is local to Henry County and contingent on local legislative approval.

Sentiment

The available voting history suggests strong support for the measure, with a 30-0 floor vote to adopt. No committee transcripts are available, but the unanimous vote indicates little visible opposition in the recorded legislative process. The bill’s approval by both chambers and the governor further suggests broad acceptance of the governance changes for the hospital district.

Contention

The main points of potential contention are the county commission’s expanded control over the hospital district board, including the ability to appoint trustees, recall them without cause, and determine when additional appointments are needed. Another possible issue is the reduction in required meeting frequency from monthly to quarterly, which could raise concerns about oversight or responsiveness. However, the recorded vote shows no opposition, so any disagreement was not reflected in the final floor action.