Tennessee Senate Bill SB1721

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/15/26
• Failed: 3/25/26

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 3; Title 4; Title 29; Title 39 and Title 40, relative to the general assembly.

Impact

The implementation of SB1721 is set to amend several sections of the Tennessee Code Annotated, reinforcing the legal implications of submitting false statements. A new subsection will allow the chairs of legislative committees to administer oaths to executive branch employees, and violations, such as submitting false statements under oath, will be classified as perjury, leading to potential criminal prosecution. This change is expected to foster a culture of accountability within state governance and discourage misinformation.

Summary

Senate Bill 1721 aims to enhance accountability and truthfulness among employees of the executive branch when providing statements related to legislative measures. The bill establishes procedures whereby a legislative committee chair can require executive branch employees to provide material statements under oath. This is intended to ensure that testimony and submissions for fiscal analysis are accurate, promoting integrity within the legislative process.

Contention

While proponents of SB1721 argue that these measures are essential to uphold the truth in legislative discussions, concerns have been raised about the practical implications of punishing employees for mistakes or misstatements that may not be intentional. Critics worry that the bill could create a chilling effect, deterring public servants from appearing before committees out of fear of potential perjury charges for genuine errors. Moreover, the timing of the oath and the high stakes involved may discourage full transparency in legislative discourse.