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Senate approves $3.15 million nonrecurring payment to Secretary of State for redistricting implementation
Summary
The Senate passed an appropriations bill that includes $3,154,700 nonrecurring to the secretary of state to reimburse counties for election administration costs tied to revised congressional districts; opponents warned the fiscal note understates likely costs.
The Tennessee Senate approved House Bill 7,005, an appropriations measure intended to fund county and state costs linked to implementation of revised congressional districts ahead of the 2026 elections.
Chairman Watson outlined three components: (1) sums sufficient to reimburse counties for state‑mandated local costs tied to legislation implementing new congressional districts; (2) a nonrecurring appropriation of $3,154,700 to the secretary of state to reimburse counties' election expenses for the 2026 congressional elections; and (3) a sum sufficient to the General Assembly for session expenses. Watson said the funds would support voter‑registration system updates, ballot coding, equipment programming and required notices.
Senator Campbell pushed back on the fiscal estimate, citing a May 4 memo from Mark Goins and pointing to documented implementation failures in 2022. "We had, over 400 people that got the wrong ballot..." she said, arguing local costs may total more than $12 million statewide and that the fiscal note may undercount litigation and remediation costs.
Sponsor advocates defended the fiscal review and the $3,154,700 figure as adequate and necessary. The Senate recorded Ayes 24, Nays 6 and passed the bill on final consideration; the motion to reconsider was tabled.
