HB 659 Tennessee House · 114th Regular Session (2025-2026)

Election Laws - As enacted, authorizes the county election commission to designate restroom facilities in each building in which the election is held that are for the use of workers or volunteers working for a campaign with certain limitations on access. - Amends TCA Title 2, Chapter 7.

HB 659 allows county election commissions in Tennessee to designate specific restroom facilities within election buildings for campaign workers and volunteers. It requires campaign personnel to cover or remove visible campaign materials before using these restrooms and prohibits them from entering polling places or soliciting votes within the designated area. The bill explicitly states that violating these rules could result in penalties under existing election laws. This provision directly affects campaign staff working at polling locations during elections, with the policy taking effect July 1, 2025.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Feb 5, 2025 Last action May 27, 2026
Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
21
Key actions
12
Committee
15
Apr 14, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/14/2026
lower
Apr 8, 2026
Lower · Passed
Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules Committee
lower
Apr 1, 2026
Lower · Passed
Action def. in State & Local Government Committee to 4/8/2026
lower
Apr 1, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 4/8/2026
lower
Mar 25, 2026
Lower · Passed
Action def. in State & Local Government Committee to 3/31/2026
lower
Mar 25, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 3/31/2026
lower
Mar 18, 2026
Lower · Passed
Action def. in State & Local Government Committee to 3/24/2026
lower
Mar 18, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 3/24/2026
lower
Mar 12, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 3/18/2026
lower
Mar 11, 2026
Lower · Passed
Action def. in State & Local Government Committee to 3/18/2026
lower
Mar 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 3/11/2026
lower
Mar 3, 2026
Committee
Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to State & Local Government Committee
lower
Feb 25, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on s/c cal Elections & Campaign Finance Subcommittee for 3/3/2026
lower
Feb 10, 2025
Committee
Assigned to s/c Elections & Campaign Finance Subcommittee
lower
Feb 6, 2025
Committee
P2C, ref. to State & Local Government Committee
lower
Feb 5, 2025
Introduced
Intro., P1C.
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Jesse Chism
Jesse Chism
DDemocratic
TN
85