House Bill 1497, sponsored by Cepicky, proposes significant amendments to various sections of the Tennessee Code Annotated concerning municipal elections. The bill mandates that all municipal elections align with the August primary or November general election, overriding any conflicting private acts. It stipulates that the terms of current municipal legislative body members may be extended to accommodate this change, but no term can be extended beyond two years. Additionally, the bill outlines the procedures for the first election of members in newly chartered municipalities and establishes that subsequent elections must also coincide with the regular election schedule.

The bill also introduces several amendments to existing laws, including the deletion of certain sections related to election procedures and the substitution of new language to clarify the timing and nature of municipal elections. For instance, it changes the qualifying deadlines for candidates and specifies that municipal elections are to be partisan, allowing political parties to nominate candidates through primary elections. Other amendments include adjustments to the timing of elections and the responsibilities of election commissions, ensuring that municipal elections are conducted in accordance with the new provisions set forth in the bill.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 6-20-102, 6-31-102, 6-54-138, 2-13-208, 6-31-104, 6-1-202(a), 6-1-202, 6-1-202(b), 6-1-204(b), 6-1-204, 6-1-207(a), 6-1-207, 6-1-304, 6-18-104(b), 6-18-104, 6-18-105(c), 6-18-105, 6-18-111, 6-20-201(a)(3)(A), 6-20-201