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SB 1619

Election Laws - As introduced, requires a political party to file a copy of the party's rules or amendments to the party's rules with the secretary of state and the coordinator of elections within 15 days, instead of 30 days, after the rules or amendments are adopted by the party. - Amends TCA Title 2.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Richard Briggs

SB 1619 shortens the deadline for Tennessee political parties to file rule changes with state election officials from 30 days to 15 days after adoption.

Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0738)
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 1619

Legislative bill overview

SB 1619 reduces the deadline for political parties to file their rules and rule amendments with Tennessee's secretary of state and elections coordinator from 30 days to 15 days after adoption. This is a technical modification to Tennessee's election administration procedures that affects how quickly state officials receive updates to party governance documents.

Why is this important

Faster filing deadlines can improve government transparency and ensure election officials have current party rules when processing candidate registrations, ballot access disputes, or other party-related matters. However, the practical impact depends on whether the shorter timeline creates compliance burdens for party administrators or meaningfully improves election administration.

Potential points of contention

  • Administrative burden: Smaller political parties or those with limited staff may struggle to compile and file documentation within 15 days instead of 30, potentially resulting in inadvertent violations
  • Unclear necessity: The bill provides no documented evidence that the current 30-day timeline has caused problems or delays in election administration
  • One-way change: The bill only tightens the deadline for parties; it doesn't appear to establish corresponding faster responsibilities for election officials to review or implement these changes

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

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