General Assembly, Confirmation of Appointment - Terence Patterson, Public Charter School Commission -

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by William Lamberth

HJR 173 confirms Terence Patterson as West Tennessee representative on the Public Charter School Commission through June 30, 2029, completing gubernatorial appointment.

H. subst. & concurred in SJR 88

#confirmationofappointment #generalassembly

Purpose and Intent

HJR 173 is a joint resolution to confirm the appointment of Terence Patterson to the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission.

The bill reflects the statutory process that requires the General Assembly to confirm gubernatorial appointments to the Commission (Tennessee Code Annotated, § 49-13-105(b)(1)(A)).

The resolution designates Patterson as the West Tennessee representative on the Commission, for a term expiring June 30, 2029.

Background and Qualifications

Patterson is the chief executive officer of the Memphis Education Fund and formerly served as the chief executive officer of the Downtown Memphis Commission.

Education background includes a Bachelor of Arts in Government from Harvard University and MBA and law degrees from Northwestern University.

Key Provisions

Confirmation of Appointment: The General Assembly confirms Terence Patterson to the Public Charter School Commission.

Term of Office: Patterson’s term will run through June 30, 2029.

Representation: Patterson serves as the West Tennessee member, aligning with statutory requirements that the Commission include members representing each grand division of the state.

Affected Parties and Impacts

Governor’s Appointment Confirmed: The bill completes the appointment process for Patterson, ensuring he can serve on the Commission.

Public Charter School Commission: Adds Patterson’s service as a member, contributing to the Commission’s governance of public charter schools in Tennessee.

General Assembly and Administration: The confirmation follows statutory and constitutional procedures requiring joint resolutions for gubernatorial appointments.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

Introduced: March 7, 2025.

Status: H. subst. & concurred in SJR 88 (House substitute; concurrence with Senate measure).

Legislative Actions (selected milestones):

February–March 2025: Various actions including referral to Education Committee, placement on Consent Calendar, and calendar management.
March 31, 2025: Read first time and referred to a subcommittee (Property Tax Appraisals) by the Speaker; subsequently substituted and concurred with SJR 88.

This sequence shows typical committee and floor actions for a gubernatorial appointment confirmation via a joint resolution.

Summary Takeaway

HJR 173 serves to formally confirm Terence Patterson as the West Tennessee appointee to the Public Charter School Commission, for a term ending June 30, 2029, in accordance with statutory appointment and confirmation procedures. Patterson’s background in education funding and urban development, combined with his academic credentials, is intended to support the Commission’s role in overseeing charter school policy and governance in Tennessee.

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