HB 7001

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                                ~tate of utennessee
                            PUBLIC CHAPTER NO. 2
                           SECOND EXTRAORDINARY SESSION
                                      HOUSE BILL NO. 1
           By Mr. Speaker Sexton, Representatives Lamberth, Zachary, Todd
                               Substituted for: Senate Bill No. 1
                                 By Senators Johnson, Lowe
      AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 2, relative to the 2026
congressional elections.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
       SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 2, Chapter 16, is amended by
designating the chapter as part 1 and adding the following new part 2:
                                                      Part 2
                                2026 Congressional Elections
      2-16-201. Definitions.
             As used in this part, "2026 primary or general election" means the primary or
      general election held in 2026 for a congressional district office of the house of
      representatives in the United States congress.
      2-16-202. Application of part.
              This part applies to the 2026 primary or general election if the general assembly
      revises by law the composition of one ( 1) or more congressional districts in this state
      after the qualifying deadline under§ 2-5-101 for the 2026 primary or general election.
      2-16-203. Notice of congressional redistricting.
               (a) Upon the revision of the composition of one (1) or more congressional
      districts as described in § 2-16-202, the coordinator of elections shall provide notice of
      the revised congressional districts and the special qualifying deadline prescribed by § 2-
      16-204 to the qualified candidates at their addresses of record and county election
      commissions as soon as practicable after the effective date of the revised composition of
      congressional district boundaries. The coordinator of elections shall publish notice of the
      revisions to the composition of congressional districts, the qualified candidates, and the
      special qualifying deadline on the secretary of state's official website.
              (b) As soon as practicable after receiving notice from the coordinator of elections
      pursuant to subsection (a), each county election commission in which all or any portion
      of a redrawn congressional district is located shall publish notice on the county election
      commission's official website, if one exists.
              (c) Notwithstanding another law to the contrary, publication of notice under
      subsection (b) satisfies all notice requirements under this title, including requirements to
      publish notice of changes to districts, offices to be elected, or qualifying deadlines arising
      from the redrawn congressional districts.
      2-16-204. Congressional redistricting - Special qualifying period.
             (a)
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                     (1) Notwithstanding another law to the contrary, an independent or
              primary candidate who qualified under chapter 5, part 1 of this title for the 2026
              primary or general election, as applicable, prior to the effective date of this act is
              not required to submit a new nominating petition pursuant to subsection (b).
                      (2)
                              (A) A candidate qualified under subdivision (a)(1) is qualified for
                      election in the redrawn district designated by the same district number,
                      unless the candidate changes districts under subdivision (a)(2)(8) or the
                      candidate timely withdraws under subdivision (a)(2)(C).
                             (8) A candidate qualified under subdivision (a)(1) who wishes to
                     run in a different district after districts are redrawn shall submit notice in
                     writing to the coordinator of elections in which district the candidate
                     intends to seek nomination for office no later than twelve o'clock (12:00)
                     noon, prevailing time, on May 15, 2026. Such notice must be notarized
                     and may be submitted in person, by mail, or by email with an attached
                     document that includes the candidate's scanned signature. A candidate
                     who does not timely file such notice will remain qualified for the redrawn
                     district designated by the same district number under subdivision
                     (a)(2)(A).
                             (C) A candidate qualified under subdivision (a)(1) may withdraw
                      from the primary or general election by submitting a notarized statement
                      to the coordinator of elections in person, by mail, or by email with an
                      attached document that includes the candidate's scanned signature by
                      twelve o'clock (12:00) noon, prevailing time, on May 15, 2026.
              (b)
                     (1) A special qualifying period is established for the 2026 primary or
              general election. The qualifying deadline under this section is twelve o'clock
              (12:00) noon, prevailing time, on May 15, 2026.
                      (2) Nominating petitions must be furnished by the county election
              commission or coordinator of elections. A nominating petition for the 2026
              primary or general election must include at least twenty-five (25) signatures from
              registered voters residing anywhere within any county that lies wholly or partially
              within the congressional district.
                      (3) Each independent or primary candidate shall file the candidate's
              original nominating petition with the coordinator of elections and a certified
              duplicate with the chair of the appropriate party's state executive committee, in
              the case of primary candidates, by the qualifying deadline. The coordinator of
              elections shall maintain a copy of the original petition for the state election
              commission.
                     (4) The coordinator of elections shall, as soon as practicable after the
              deadline in subsection (c), certify to the chair of each county election commission
              the names of each candidate who has qualified under this section to have the
              candidate's name placed on the ballot for the 2026 primary or general election,
              as applicable.
                      (5) A candidate who qualifies during the special qualifying period
              established pursuant to this subsection (b) is not permitted to withdraw after the
              qualifying deadline.
                (c) If the state executive committee of a political party determines that a
       candidate who qualifies under this section to run in the 2026 primary or general election
       is not qualified under the rules of the respective party as a bona fide member of the
       party, then the committee shall file the committee's determination with the coordinator of
       elections by email no later than twelve o'clock (12:00) noon, prevailing time, on May 17,
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       2026. A candidate cannot appeal an adverse decision of a state executive committee
       under this subsection (c).
       2-16-205. Costs incurred by county election commissions.
               The chair and secretary of a county election commission shall certify to the
       secretary of state expenses incurred by the county election commission or its members
       in the performance of its duties in connection with changes and duties required by this
       part. Upon receipt of a certification of expenses, the secretary of state shall review the
       claim, and shall certify to the comptroller of the treasury those expenses that must be
       reimbursed to the county by this state.
       2-16-206. Three-judge panel.
              Any civil action arising out of the revision of the composition of one ( 1) or more
       congressional districts in this state or arising out of the application of this part shall be
       heard by a three-judge panel appointed pursuant to title 20, chapter 18.
       2-16-207. Repeal of part.
              This part is repealed December 31, 2026.
        SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 2-13-209, is amended by designating
the existing language as subsection (a) and adding the following as a new subsection (b):
              (b) This section does not apply to the 2026 primary election for the office of
       United States representative.
       SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.
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                   SECOND EXTRAORDINARY SESSION
                           HOUSE BILL NO.    1
                                            -- --
PASSED:        May 7. 2026
                                            CAMERON SEXTON, SPEAKER
                                            HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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                                               SPEAKER OF THE SENATE
APPROVED this :J...fJ...   day of   (V\o,    t  2026
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BILL LEE, GOVERNOR