Tennessee Senate Bill SB2176

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/2/26
• Chaptered: 5/1/26
• Passed: 5/1/26

Caption

AN ACT to repeal Chapter 1 of the Private Acts of 2007, relative to the chief executive officer of Roane County.

Summary

SB2176 is a local/private act for Roane County that repeals Chapter 1 of the Private Acts of 2007. The practical effect is to undo a prior county-specific change that had renamed Roane County’s chief executive officer from County Mayor to County Executive. By repealing that private act, the bill aligns Roane County’s title for its top elected official with the general Tennessee law used in most counties, which uses County Mayor. The bill does not create a new county office or change the powers of the office; it addresses only the title of the chief executive officer. It also includes a local approval requirement, meaning the act has no effect unless the Roane County legislative body approves it by a two-thirds vote and the result is certified to the Secretary of State. The bill becomes effective immediately for the purpose of that local approval process, but otherwise depends on county ratification.

Impact

The bill amends the legal status of Roane County’s governing structure by repealing a private act specific to that county. If approved locally, it would restore the County Mayor title in Roane County and eliminate the inconsistency created by the 2007 private act. The measure affects Roane County officials, county government documents, and any intergovernmental references to the county’s chief executive officer, but it does not alter statewide county governance law or the substantive duties of the office.

Sentiment

The available record suggests broad support and little controversy. The bill passed the House floor unanimously by a 31-0 vote, indicating consensus among legislators. The bill text also reflects a practical, administrative rationale: reducing confusion when Roane County works with other counties and matching the title preferred by the current county executive. No committee opposition or dissenting discussion is provided in the available materials.

Contention

The main issue is not policy disagreement but the local title change itself. The only notable procedural point is that the act is contingent on approval by Roane County’s legislative body, so the county government—not the General Assembly—has the final say on whether the repeal takes effect. Any contention would likely center on local preference for the title County Mayor versus County Executive, but the bill materials indicate the Roane County executive supports the change and no opposition is documented.