AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 40, Chapter 29, relative to citizenship rights.
Summary
SB1634 amends Tennessee law governing proceedings and applications related to citizenship rights by removing any cost to the petitioner. Specifically, it revises Tennessee Code Annotated sections 40-29-103(f) and 40-29-107(c) to state that there is no fee for a petitioner to file a proceeding or an application under those sections.
The bill is narrow in scope and does not create a new citizenship-rights process; instead, it changes the fee structure for existing procedures in Title 40, Chapter 29. Its practical effect is to eliminate filing costs for individuals seeking relief or status under those provisions, which may make the process more accessible to affected petitioners and reduce financial barriers to participation.
Impact
SB1634 would amend Tennessee Code Annotated Title 40, Chapter 29 by deleting existing language that may have allowed costs to be assessed and replacing it with an explicit no-cost rule for petitioners. The affected statutes are sections 40-29-103(f) and 40-29-107(c), and the bill would apply to proceedings and applications brought under those provisions beginning July 1, 2026. The main legal impact is to shift the cost burden away from petitioners and ensure that filing under these citizenship-rights procedures is free.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee debate or votes, the measure appears to be straightforward and likely noncontroversial in nature. Its purpose is procedural and access-oriented, focusing on removing fees rather than changing substantive eligibility standards or rights. There is no available evidence of opposition or support from committee discussion, but the bill’s framing suggests a generally favorable sentiment toward reducing barriers for petitioners.
Contention
No specific points of contention are documented in the available materials. If any concerns were raised, they would most likely relate to the fiscal effect of waiving filing costs or to the scope of the underlying citizenship-rights procedures in Title 40, Chapter 29. However, the provided record contains no committee testimony, amendments, or votes indicating disagreement among legislators or stakeholders.