House Bill 780 amends various sections of the Tennessee Code Annotated to establish a new process for the annual revision and certification of population estimates for counties and municipalities. The bill mandates that the Department of Economic and Community Development will revise and certify these populations prior to July 1 each year, using estimates generated by the Boyd Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Tennessee. This process aims to ensure equitable allocation and distribution of funds based on the most current population data, with specific provisions for instances where populations are revised due to special censuses or regular decennial federal censuses.

Key insertions in the bill include the addition of new subdivisions that outline the responsibilities of the Department of Economic and Community Development and the Boyd Center for generating and certifying population estimates. The bill also specifies that allocations of funds to counties and municipalities must be based on these revised populations, with exceptions noted for special census years. The act is set to take effect on January 1, 2026, emphasizing the importance of accurate population data in the distribution of state funds.

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