Roane County - Subject to local approval, repeals act that designated the chief executive officer of the county as the county executive. - Amends Chapter 1 of the Private Acts of 2007.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Ken Yager

Reverses Roane County’s change to appointing the County Executive, restoring the title “County Mayor” to align with state law.

Companion House Bill substituted

#roanecounty

Purpose and Intent

The bill repeals a local Roane County act (Chapter 1 of the Private Acts of 2007) that designated Roane County’s chief executive officer as “County Executive.”

It aligns Roane County with the general Tennessee law, which uses the title “County Mayor” for the county’s chief executive officer (as per Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 5-6-101).

The stated rationale is to avoid confusion when coordinating with other counties whose chief executive officers are titled “County Mayor.”

Key Provisions

Section 1: Repeals Chapter 1 of the Private Acts of 2007, which had changed Roane County’s chief executive officer title from County Mayor to County Executive.

Section 2: The bill takes effect only if approved by a two-thirds majority of Roane County’s legislative body. The result (approval or non-approval) must be proclaimed by the presiding officer and certified to the Secretary of State.

Section 3: If approved, the act becomes effective upon becoming law for purposes of public welfare. For all other purposes, effectiveness aligns with Section 2 (the local legislative approval).

Who/What is Affected

Roane County Government: The title of the county’s chief executive officer would revert from “County Executive” back to the standard “County Mayor,” in line with the general law.

County Officials and Employees: Those interacting with the county’s leadership may experience a title change in official communications, records, and documentation.

Intergovernmental and Intercounty Interactions: Reduces potential confusion with neighboring counties whose chief executives are titled County Mayor.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

Legislative Path: Companion bill (House Bill 1717) mirrors the same text. The Senate version (SB 2176) has progressed through the Tennessee General Assembly as a local bill.

Approval Threshold: Requires a two-thirds vote of Roane County’s legislative body to take effect.

Effective Date: If approved, the act’s effective date is tied to its law status; for public welfare purposes it is effective upon becoming law, with local effectiveness contingent on the county’s approval process and certification requirements.

Action History Highlights:

Introduced and advanced through the Senate in early 2026.
Local bill status: Passed second consideration and placed on the local calendar; companion House bill substituted in early April 2026.

Practical Impact

Restores the traditional title used by Tennessee counties for their chief executive officer.

Could require updates to legal documents, signage, official letterheads, contracts, and governmental records to reflect the title “County Mayor.”

Minor administrative changes anticipated rather than broad policy shifts, focused on branding and consistency with state law.

If you'd like, I can provide a side-by-side comparison of the current Roane County act (Chapter 1, Private Acts of 2007) with the general law terminology to illustrate the exact language changes and potential transitional steps.

Bill