Present law generally requires that meetings of governing bodies be open to the public. This bill expands the definition of "governing body" to include a body composed of representatives from several state government agencies that seeks to promote and support the health of humans, animals, and the environment through cooperation and collaboration across disciplines, including local, state, and federal agencies, academic institutions, and outside partners, and specifies that the convening of such a governing body is a meeting for purposes of the open meetings law. ON MARCH 17, 2025, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 731, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 revises the provision requiring a body composed of representatives from several state government agencies that seeks to promote and support the health of humans, animals, and the environment through cooperation and collaboration across disciplines to be open to the public to, instead, place such requirement on the governing body of Tennessee One Health.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 8-44-102(b)(1), 8-44-102, 8-44-102(b)(2)