Senate Bill 7001, also known as House Bill 7001, amends the Tennessee Code Annotated to establish specific provisions for the 2026 congressional elections. The bill introduces a new part under Title 2, Chapter 16, which outlines definitions, applications, and procedures related to the 2026 primary and general elections for congressional district offices. Notably, it specifies that if the General Assembly revises the composition of congressional districts after the qualifying deadline, the coordinator of elections must notify candidates and county election commissions about the changes and any special qualifying deadlines. Additionally, it establishes a special qualifying period for candidates, allowing those who qualified before the revisions to remain eligible for election in the redrawn districts without needing to submit new nominating petitions.

The bill also includes provisions for the costs incurred by county election commissions due to these changes, mandates that any civil actions related to congressional district revisions be heard by a three-judge panel, and sets a repeal date for this part of the law on December 31, 2026. Furthermore, it amends Section 2-13-209 of the Tennessee Code by designating existing language as subsection (a) and adding a new subsection (b) that clarifies that this section does not apply to the 2026 primary election for the office of United States representative. The act is set to take effect upon becoming law, emphasizing the public welfare.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 2-13-209
Amended with HA7001 -- 05/07/2026: 2-13-209