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SB 1654

Auditing - As introduced, requires the comptroller of the treasury to make available to the public through publication on its website the annual report summarizing essential facts of post audits of governmental entities. - Amends TCA Title 8, Chapter 4; Title 9; Title 47, Chapter 18; Title 56 and Title 63.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Todd Gardenhire

Tennessee comptroller must publish annual government audit summaries online, increasing public access to post-audit findings of state and local agencies.

Transmitted to Governor for action.
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Bill Summary · SB 1654

Legislative bill overview

SB 1654 requires Tennessee's comptroller of the treasury to publicly publish annual reports summarizing post-audit findings of state and local governmental entities on its website. The bill amends multiple sections of Tennessee Code Annotated to establish this transparency requirement across various government sectors.

Why is this important

Public access to government audit reports enhances transparency and accountability by allowing citizens, policymakers, and watchdog organizations to identify fiscal problems, inefficiencies, or misconduct in state and local agencies. This democratizes information that was previously available but not readily accessible, potentially improving government performance and public trust.

Potential points of contention

  • Scope of information: Questions about what constitutes "essential facts" and whether sensitive information (personnel matters, security details, ongoing investigations) should be redacted or excluded
  • Resource burden: Implementation costs and ongoing maintenance of a public-facing website database across multiple government entities may strain comptroller resources
  • Audit timing and relevance: Annual publication cycles may create delays in reporting urgent findings, potentially limiting real-time responsiveness to serious governance issues

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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