Tennessee Senate Bill SB1439

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/26/25
• Chaptered: 6/4/25
• Passed: 6/4/25

Caption

AN ACT to amend Chapter 87 of the Private Acts of 1985; and any other acts amendatory thereto, relative to the Charter of the City of Germantown.

Summary

SB1439 is a private act amending the charter of the City of Germantown. The bill requires the city’s mayor to serve in a full-time capacity, devote full attention to the office, and serve the city’s interests as a full-time official. It also directs that the mayor’s salary be set by lawful ordinance of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen, with compensation intended to match the typical duties and obligations of a full-time mayor. The act is not self-executing: it only takes effect if approved by a majority of Germantown voters in a binding referendum. The referendum is scheduled for the first Tuesday in May 2026 if a Shelby County primary is held that day; otherwise, it will be held on August 6, 2026, alongside the Shelby County general election. The ballot must present the text of the new charter language, and the election is to be conducted and certified under the usual election laws applicable to the relevant election type.

Impact

If approved, the bill would amend Germantown’s private charter to convert the mayoral office from a position governed by existing charter provisions into a full-time office with salary set locally by ordinance. This would affect the city’s governance structure, mayoral duties, and compensation authority, while leaving implementation contingent on voter ratification. It does not directly alter statewide law beyond authorizing the local charter change and establishing the referendum process for this private act.

Sentiment

The available voting history suggests strong support for the measure, with a 32-0 floor vote to adopt. No committee transcripts were provided, so there is no recorded debate in the supplied materials. Overall, the bill appears to have been treated as a straightforward local charter amendment rather than a controversial statewide policy change.

Contention

The main point of potential contention is the shift to a full-time mayoral model and the related authority to set salary by ordinance, which could raise questions about cost, workload expectations, and the balance of power between the mayor and the Board of Mayor and Aldermen. Another possible issue is the use of a binding local referendum, since the change depends on voter approval rather than taking effect automatically. However, the unanimous floor vote indicates no visible legislative opposition in the available record.