Tennessee legislature restricts out-of-state contributions to political campaigns

The Senate State and Local Government Committee convened on April 2, 2025, to discuss significant updates to Tennessee's campaign finance regulations. The primary focus of the meeting was a proposed amendment to the Campaign Financial Disclosure Act of 1980, aimed at restricting contributions from political campaign committees based outside of Tennessee.

The proposed legislation would prohibit any political campaign committee that is headquartered or domiciled in another state, country, or territory from contributing directly, or through another political campaign committee, to candidates participating in primary elections in Tennessee. This move is intended to tighten the regulations surrounding campaign financing and ensure that local candidates are not influenced by external funding sources.

The amendment clarifies that contributions encompass a wide range of financial activities, including advances, deposits, loans, and gifts intended to influence elections or support office holders in their duties. Notably, the existing law does not apply to candidates for public office whose positions are part-time and whose compensation is less than $1,000 per month.

The committee's discussions highlighted the importance of maintaining the integrity of Tennessee's electoral process by limiting outside financial influence. The proposed changes are seen as a step towards ensuring that campaign funding remains local and accountable.

As the meeting concluded, the committee members expressed their commitment to reviewing the implications of the proposed amendment further, with plans for additional discussions in upcoming sessions. The next steps will involve gathering feedback from stakeholders and considering any necessary adjustments to the legislation before it moves forward.