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HB 1496

Secretary of State - As introduced, requires the secretary of state to omit from each annual publication of agency information mailing addresses and telephone numbers of agency members. - Amends TCA Section 10-7-604.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Jerome Moon

Removes agency member contact information from Tennessee Secretary of State's annual publications, limiting public access to official phone numbers and mailing addresses.

H. Placed on Consent Calendar for 3/9/2026
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Bill Summary · HB 1496

Legislative bill overview

HB 1496 requires Tennessee's Secretary of State to remove mailing addresses and telephone numbers of agency members from the annual publication of agency information. This modifies the existing public records requirement under TCA Section 10-7-604, which currently mandates inclusion of this contact information in official state publications.

Why is this important

This bill directly affects government transparency and public accessibility. Citizens, businesses, and advocates currently rely on these published directories to contact state agency officials for complaints, requests, or official business. Removing this information could shift how the public accesses government contact details and may create barriers for those without internet access or technical resources.

Potential points of contention

  • Transparency vs. Privacy trade-off: Supporters may argue this protects officials from harassment or unwanted contact; critics will counter that public officials' work contact information is essential to democratic accountability and public access
  • Implementation gaps: The bill doesn't clarify whether information remains available through other channels (websites, Freedom of Information requests, etc.) or is genuinely removed from all public access
  • Equity concerns: Removing published directories may disproportionately affect elderly citizens, rural populations, and others with limited digital access who depend on printed government directories

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

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