House Bill 1497, also known as Senate Bill 1630, proposes significant amendments to various sections of the Tennessee Code Annotated related to elections. The bill deletes several existing sections, including those pertaining to municipal elections and election procedures, and introduces new provisions that require municipal elections to align with the August primary or November general elections. It mandates that any changes to election dates must be accompanied by an ordinance that extends the terms of current municipal legislative body members, ensuring no term is extended beyond two years. Additionally, the bill stipulates that the first election for newly chartered municipalities must coincide with regular elections, and outlines the process for candidate qualification and primary elections.

Furthermore, the bill establishes that municipal elections will be partisan, allowing political parties to nominate candidates through primary elections. It also modifies the timelines for various election-related processes, such as extending the qualifying deadlines for candidates and adjusting the scheduling of elections following charter adoptions. The act is set to take effect upon becoming law, emphasizing the need for these changes to enhance the electoral process in Tennessee.

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