Memorials, Retirement - Reuben Henry Sanders, House Sergeant at Arms -

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Kevin Vaughan

Honors Reuben Henry Sanders for dedicated service as Tennessee House Sergeant at Arms since 2017, especially to the House Commerce Committee, with thanks and formal commendation.

Adopted, Ayes 95, Nays 0, PNV 0

#memorials #retirement

Purpose and Intent

HR 186 is a resolution honoring an individual, Reuben Henry Sanders, for his service as a Sergeant at Arms for the Tennessee House of Representatives.

The resolution recognizes Sanders’s exemplary service, professionalism, and integrity, and expresses gratitude for his contributions to the House and the House Commerce Committee.

Key Provisions and Changes

Formal commendation of Reuben Henry Sanders, noting his tenure as House Sergeant at Arms since 2017.

Acknowledgment of Sanders’s service specifically to the House Commerce Committee and Chairman Kevin Vaughan.

Statements highlighting Sanders’s background (born March 24, 1949; Fisk University graduate; former Nashville Fire Department employee 1978–2011) and his character (devotion to family and community; professionalism and integrity).

The resolution requests that an appropriate copy be prepared for presentation, with a standard closing clause customary to such resolutions.

Who or What Would Be Affected

Reuben Henry Sanders (the individual being honored) and his receiving party (to receive a commemorative copy of the resolution).

The Tennessee House of Representatives and its staff, particularly the Office of the House Sergeant at Arms and the House Commerce Committee, who are the subjects of the acknowledgment.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

Sponsor: Rep. Vaughan, with Co-sponsor Rep. Kevin Vaughan (listed as sponsor). The sponsor line indicates a close connection to the House Commerce Committee.

Action history indicates:

Introduction and placement on consent calendar for consideration on April 8, 2026.
Passage by the House on April 8, 2026: reported as adopted with unanimous support (Ayes 94, Nays 0, PNV 0) and additional procedural motions subsequently adopted (e.g., motion to reconsider, motion to lift from table).
The resolution was enrolled and signed by the Speaker of the House on April 8, 2026, indicating final passage within the chamber.

As a resolution, it serves a ceremonial and commemorative function rather than creating enforceable law or fiscal obligations.

Notable Details

The bill is titled “Memorials, Retirement - Reuben Henry Sanders, House Sergeant at Arms,” but the text provided focuses on a formal honorific resolution rather than a retirement or memorial funding mechanism.

Sanders’s tenure as Sergeant at Arms begins in 2017; the resolution cites his contributions to the House Commerce Committee and its Chairman.

The resolution emphasizes Sanders’s long-standing public service career beyond the General Assembly (Nashville Fire Department, 1978–2011).

If you’d like, I can add a one-page plain-English brief for a general-audience audience or prepare a side-by-side comparison with typical legislative resolutions of commendation.

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