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SB 1721

General Assembly - As introduced, authorizes the chair of a committee of the general assembly to require an executive branch employee to take an oath prior to testifying before the committee subject to the penalty of perjury; authorizes the chair of a committee or the executive director of fiscal review to require any documentation submitted by such employee for the purpose of evaluating the merits of a legislative measure or generating a fiscal note to submit an affidavit with such documentation attesting to the accuracy of the information subject to the penalty of perjury. - Amends TCA Title 3; Title 4; Title 29; Title 39 and Title 40.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Bobby Harshbarger

Tennessee bill requires executive employees to swear oaths and sign affidavits for legislative testimony and submissions, making false statements prosecutable as perjury.

Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/25/2026
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Bill Summary · SB 1721

Legislative bill overview

SB 1721 authorizes legislative committee chairs to require executive branch employees to take oaths before testifying and to submit affidavits attesting to the accuracy of documents provided during legislative proceedings. Violations would be prosecutable as perjury, creating criminal liability for false statements or inaccurate submissions.

Why is this important

The bill aims to increase accountability and reliability of information flowing from executive agencies to the legislature during committee hearings and fiscal note preparation. This directly affects the quality of information lawmakers use to evaluate legislation and budget impacts, with potential consequences for legislative decision-making accuracy.

Potential points of contention

  • Executive-Legislative Power Balance: Critics may argue this expands legislative authority over executive branch employees in ways that could interfere with executive operations or create tension between branches of government
  • Practical Burdens: Requiring affidavits for all submitted documentation could create administrative burdens on agencies and slow legislative processes, potentially discouraging full transparency
  • Perjury Liability Scope: Defining what constitutes "accuracy" in complex fiscal or policy analysis could be ambiguous—honest disagreements or estimates might expose employees to criminal prosecution

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

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