House Bill 2080, also known as Senate Bill 1723, proposes significant changes to the governance structure of the Tennessee Education Lottery Corporation (TELC). The bill mandates that, effective July 1, 2026, the current board of directors will be vacated and replaced with a new board consisting of nine directors. These directors will be appointed by the governor, the speaker of the Senate, and the speaker of the House of Representatives, with the aim of enhancing accountability and public trust. The new board will be required to ensure diversity in professional expertise, geography, and demographic representation. Additionally, the bill outlines the terms of service for directors, stipulating that they will serve staggered terms of two, three, or four years, and will not receive compensation, although they will be reimbursed for expenses.

The bill also amends provisions related to public records and meetings, ensuring that the TELC complies with state laws governing transparency. Specifically, it establishes that information regarding the hiring and performance of the corporation's chief executive officer will be public records, while personally identifying information will remain confidential. Furthermore, the bill clarifies that the TELC will continue to operate as an independent entity, not subject to oversight by any state department or agency, except as specified by law. The act will take effect immediately for administrative purposes, with full implementation set for July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 4-51-103, 4-51-124, 4-29-251(a), 4-29-251
Amended with SA0642 -- 04/20/2026: 4-51-103, 4-51-124, 4-29-251(a), 4-29-251, 4-51-129(4)(C), 4-51-129