Senate Bill 229 aims to amend various sections of the Tennessee Code Annotated related to the bureau of ethics and campaign finance. Key provisions include the requirement for local candidates in elections covering multiple counties to file a certification of a political treasurer with each local election commission. Additionally, all political campaign committees must pay an annual registration fee of $150, while candidates for elective office are exempt from this fee. The bill also increases the contribution limit for certain campaign-related expenditures from $100 to $250 and clarifies the use of campaign funds for litigation, distinguishing between personal use and legitimate campaign expenses.

Further amendments include changes to the handling of campaign finance complaints, allowing the registry to conduct investigations or proceed directly to a show cause hearing. The bill also mandates annual ethics training for executive branch commissioners and cabinet-level staff, and it designates that 80% of the privilege tax paid by registered lobbyists will be allocated to the bureau of ethics and campaign finance for technology upgrades. The provisions in Sections 2 and 11 will take effect on January 1, 2026, while the remaining sections will take effect upon becoming law.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 2-10-105(e)(1), 2-10-105, 2-10-102(4)(E), 2-10-102, 2-10-104, 2-10-108(b)(1), 2-10-108, 2-10-108(b)(2), 2-10-114(b), 2-10-114, 2-10-302(e)(1), 2-10-302, 2-10-306, 3-6-113, 3-6-202, 3-6-203(b)(1), 3-6-203, 67-4-1702