Tennessee House Bill HB1971

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/22/26
• Refer: 2/4/26
• Refer: 2/11/26
• Refer: 3/25/26
• Engrossed: 3/31/26
• Enrolled: 4/2/26
• Passed: 4/7/26
• Chaptered: 4/23/26

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 1, Chapter 3 and Title 49, relative to causes of action.

Impact

The bill substantially modifies provisions in Titles 1 and 49 of the Tennessee Code, specifically concerning causes of action. It removes existing sections that might have allowed individuals to seek damages or challenge state statutes and establishes a new section that only permits declaratory or injunctive relief for actions regarding local governments. This limitation is poised to affect how residents can contest decisions made by their local governments and underscores a clear delineation of powers meant to protect the state's interests.

Summary

House Bill 1971, introduced to the Tennessee General Assembly, aims to amend the Tennessee Code Annotated to clarify and potentially limit the conditions under which legal action can be taken against local governmental entities. The primary focus of the bill is to assert the state's sovereign immunity, ensuring that no legal actions can be initiated against the state or its officials seeking damages or challenging the constitutionality of state statutes. This represents a significant reinforcement of the state's legal protections against lawsuits, particularly concerning claims brought by affected individuals against local government actions.

Contention

One notable point of contention regarding HB 1971 is its implications for local governance and citizen recourse. Advocates for the bill argue that it firmly protects the state’s sovereign immunity and prevents frivolous lawsuits that could burden state resources. However, critics raise concerns that the limitations on legal recourse could undermine accountability of local governments, making it difficult for citizens to challenge potentially illegal or unconstitutional actions. Such a power imbalance may particularly disadvantage communities seeking to address issues through the courts that local governments fail to resolve.