Present law requires that various funds and revenues be allocated and distributed to counties and municipalities in the proportion that their populations bear to the aggregate population of all counties and municipalities within the state, according to the latest federal census and special censuses. This bill requires the department of economic and community development to revise and certify the population of each county and municipality, and the aggregate population of the state, prior to July 1 each year during the interim between the regular decennial federal census for purposes of ensuring equitable allocation and distribution of state sales tax revenue. This bill requires the Boyd Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Tennessee, through the Tennessee state data center, to generate annual population estimates for each county and municipality and provide the estimates to the department of economic and community development for review and certification. Prior to July 1, the department of economic and community development is required to provide the revised, certified populations of each county and municipality to the department of revenue and the department of finance and administration. This bill generally requires that for years when there is not a federal census or special census, funds and revenues that are subject to allocation and distribution based on population must be allocated and distributed to all counties and metropolitan governments based on the certified populations that are based on the Boyd Center's estimates. This bill takes effect January 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 67-6-103(a)(3)(A), 67-6-103, 67-6-103(a)(3), 67-6-103(j)(4), 4-49-104(e)(2), 4-49-104