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SB 2705

Hamblen County - Subject to local approval, abolishes the Hamblen County Road Commission, effective August 31, 2028. - Repeals Chapter 313 of the Private Acts of 1949; as amended.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Steve Southerland

Replaces the Hamblen County Road Commission with an elected Road Superintendent who, under County Uniform Highway Law, governs roads and may oversee sanitation, starting 2028.

Companion House Bill substituted
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Bill Summary · SB 2705

Summary of Bill: SB 2705 (Session 114) – Hamblen County Road Commission Abolishment

Purpose and Intent

  • The bill proposes to abolish the Hamblen County Road Commission and repeal a long-standing set of local acts that established and governed the Hamblen County Highway Department. The repeal is scheduled to take effect August 31, 2028, contingent on approval by Hamblen County’s legislative body.

Key Provisions

Section 1 — Repeal

  • Repeals Chapter 313 of the Private Acts of 1949 and numerous amendments (spanning 1949–2023 and beyond) related to the Hamblen County Highway Department, effective August 31, 2028.
  • This effectively dissolves the legal framework that previously authorized and guided the Hamblen County Road Commission.

Section 2 — Abolishment of the Road Commission

  • Abolishes the Hamblen County Road Commission effective August 31, 2028.
  • If a vacancy occurs before that date, it will not be filled for the remainder of the term.
  • Clarifies that no incumbent is removed or unduly prejudiced before the end of their term.
  • Compensation for Road Commission members will be set by the Hamblen County legislative body and paid from the county highway fund.
  • Road Commission members will elect one member to serve as chairman.
  • A majority of the Road Commission constitutes a quorum.

Section 3 — Establishment of a Road Superintendent

  • Creates a new Office of Road Superintendent for Hamblen County.
  • At the August 2028 election (and every four years thereafter), a Road Superintendent will be elected by popular vote to a four-year term.
  • The Road Superintendent assumes office on September 1 following the election and serves until a successor is elected.
  • Qualifications and salary will follow the County Uniform Highway Law (Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 54, Chapter 7).

Section 4 — Powers and Optional Oversight

  • The Road Superintendent will have all powers and duties provided by the County Uniform Highway Law, Title 54, Chapter 7.
  • At the Superintendent’s discretion, they may oversee the Hamblen County Sanitation Department, with any related supplemental salary subject to approval by the county legislative body.

Section 5 — Purchasing

  • Highway department purchasing must follow the County Uniform Highway Law and applicable purchasing laws for Hamblen County.

Section 6 — severability and Conflicts

  • Standard severability clause; repeals conflicting laws and preserves validity of remaining provisions.

Section 7 — Local Approval Requirement

  • The bill requires approval by two-thirds of the Hamblen County legislative body to become law.
  • Approval or disapproval is proclaimed by the presiding officer and certified to the Secretary of State.

Section 8 — Effective Date

  • The act becomes law upon approval by two-thirds vote (per Section 7) and otherwise becomes effective for other purposes upon such approval.

Who Is Affected

  • Hamblen County: Legislative body (county commission) and county voters (through the Road Superintendent election).
  • Hamblen County Road Commission: Abolished; former members’ terms and roles phased out.
  • Road-related employees and contractors: Transition to a Road Superintendent-led framework.
  • County governance: Shifts authority from a statutory Road Commission to an elected Road Superintendent and revised purchasing and oversight rules.

Procedural and Timeline Notes

  • Timeline hinges on local approval: two-thirds vote by the Hamblen County legislative body is required for the act to take effect.
  • If approved, the Road Superintendent election occurs at the regular August 2028 election, with office beginning September 1, 2028, and subsequent four-year terms thereafter.
  • Abolishment of the existing Road Commission and repeal of related private acts occur effective August 31, 2028.

Summary

SB 2705 reorganizes Hamblen County's road governance by ending the current Road Commission framework and replacing it with an elected Road Superintendent (starting in 2028), while preserving county control over compensation, purchasing, and potential sanitation oversight. The transition requires local legislative approval and culminates in a new, election-driven highway administration aligned with the County Uniform Highway Law.

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

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