Tennessee Senate Bill SB7005

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 5/5/26

Caption

AN ACT to make appropriations for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the state government for the fiscal years beginning July 1, 2025, and July 1, 2026, in the administration, operation, and maintenance of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the various departments, institutions, offices, and agencies of the state; for certain state aid and obligations; for capital outlay, for the service of the public debt, for emergency and contingency; to repeal certain appropriations and any acts inconsistent herewith; to provide provisional continuing appropriations; and to establish certain provisions, limitations, and restrictions under which appropriations may be obligated and expended. This act makes appropriations for the purposes described above for the fiscal years beginning July 1, 2025, and July 1, 2026.

Summary

SB7005 is an appropriations measure for Tennessee’s fiscal years beginning July 1, 2025, and July 1, 2026. It authorizes funding for the operation and maintenance of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, as well as state agencies, institutions, state aid obligations, capital outlay, debt service, and emergency or contingency needs. The bill also includes standard appropriation language, including repeal of inconsistent prior appropriations and provisional continuing appropriations to keep government funding in place. In addition to the general budget framework, the bill contains a specific appropriation for implementing a separate elections-related bill if that measure becomes law. It also provides funding for lawful expenses of the Second Extraordinary Session of the One Hundred Fourteenth General Assembly, including staffing, per diem, travel, and related legislative expenses, with payment administered through the Office of Legislative Administration. The act is severable and takes effect immediately upon becoming law.

Impact

SB7005 would amend state spending authority for the 2025-2026 fiscal period by supplying the legal basis for appropriations across core branches of state government and related obligations. It does not itself create new substantive regulatory programs, but it controls how state funds may be obligated and expended, and it authorizes the Commissioner of Finance and Administration to adjust federal aid and other departmental revenue as needed. It also specifically supports legislative costs tied to the Second Extraordinary Session and reserves funding for a potential elections bill, affecting state budget administration and any agencies involved in election implementation.

Sentiment

The available voting history suggests generally favorable committee sentiment toward the bill, with the Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee recommending passage with amendments by a 9-2 vote. No committee transcript is available, so there is no recorded debate to indicate broader public or member concerns beyond the amendment process. Overall, the bill appears to have been treated as a routine but important appropriations measure necessary to fund government operations.

Contention

The main point of potential contention is the bill’s inclusion of a sum sufficient appropriation for implementing an unspecified elections-related bill, which ties budget authority to future enactment of separate legislation. Another possible area of scrutiny is the funding of expenses for the Second Extraordinary Session, since legislative travel, staffing, and per diem costs can draw attention in budget debates. The 9-2 committee vote indicates some opposition or reservation, but the record provided does not identify the specific objections or the members who raised them.