HB 1537

Effective July 1, 2027 , this bill creates a procedure for how an individual can become qualified to become an assessor of property of a county, and establishes initial qualifications for the position . Effective July 1, 2027 , this bill also creates the Tennessee assessor of property certification board ("board""), who would be authorized to review the qualifications of all candidates for both elected and appointed positions where there is a vacancy as the assessor of property . TENNESSEE ASSESSOR OF PROPERTY CERTIFICATION BOARD This bill requires the board to be composed of the following five members:  One member appointed by the comptroller of the treasury.  One member appointed by the secretary of state.  One member appointed by the state board of equalization.  One member appointed by the executive director of the Tennessee Association of Assessing Officers.  One member appointed by the governor from a list of nominees submitted by the Tennessee real estate commission and the Tennessee real estate appraiser commission. Terms Initial appointees would serve in staggered terms. However, after the initial terms, all appointments to the board are four-year terms that begin on July 1 and end on June 30 every four years thereafter. Appointed b oard members serve until the expiration of the term to which they were appointed and until their successors are appointed and qualified . Upon the death, resignation, or removal of a board member, a replacement must be appointed by the party representing the same area of interest as the member whose position has been vacated to fill the unexpired term of the member . An assessor of property of a county must not be appointed to the board if that person is subject to reelection or reappointment as an assessor of property during that person's term of service on the board . Meetings This bill provides that the board only meets as is necessary to fulfill its duties. Four members of the board constitute a quorum, and a majority of those present is needed to pass or reject any official business. The individual representing the comptroller of the treasury must serve as chair of the board . T he board must keep complete and accurate records of the proceedings of all meetings . A copy of records of all proceedings must be kept on file in the office of the coordinator of elections and open to public inspection. Administrative support and costs This bill provides that t he board must receive administrative support from the department of revenue . H owever, any costs associated with the operation of the board must be paid from existing funds appropriated to the department. Rulemaking T his bill authorizes the board, together with the comptroller of the treasury, to promulgate rules to establish certification requirements and other qualifications for persons seeking the office of assessor of property . The board must submit such rules to the administrator of elections of each affected county election commission . The county election commission is required to publish the rules either in a local newspaper of general circulation in the county or on the election commission website at least 6 0 days prior to the qualifying deadline for either the primary or general election, or appointment by the legislative body of the county. QUALIFYING PROCEDURE FOR ASSESSORS OF PROPERTY This bill requires c andidates for the office of assessor to file affidavits and other evidence, as required, with the board no later than 14 days prior to the qualifying deadline for candidates in the election . All materials and correspondence submitted to the board must be received through the office of the coordinator of elections, who will forward such information to the board . After the completion of its review of the applicable qualifications and standards, this bill requires the board to certify to the coordinator of elections that a candidate's qualifications are acceptable to the board prior to the candidate's name being placed on the ballot . The coordinator of elections must forward the certification to the appropriate county election commission . A certificate of qualification from the board must be filed with the candidate's qualifying petition prior to the qualifying de adline. This bill requires v otes for write-in candidates, whether in a primary or general election, to only be counted for a person who has been certified by the board prior to the date of the election. Persons seeking a party nomination or to be elected by write-in ballot must file affidavits and other evidence the board requires with the board no later than 64 days prior to the date of the election. This bill requires c andidates for assessor of property being considered for an appointment where there is a vacancy, prior to their appointment to the office, to file with the board evidence satisfactorily demonstrating that they meet the qualifications to hold the office . However, in counties that have appointed assessors of property and have established more stringent qualifications and standards by private act, candidates must submit evidence of their qualifications to the local appointing authority an d are not required to submit evidence of their qualifications to the board. This bill authorizes a person to challenge a candidate's qualifications for assessor of property . The challenge must be filed in writing with the Tennessee assessor of property certification board no later than noon, prevailing time, on the third day after the qualifying deadline . In counties where the position is appointed, due to a vacancy, the challenge must be filed by a deadline established by the local appointing authority . If a candidate's qualifications are challenged, the board must notify the candidate of the chal lenge, and review and verify the candidate's qualifications as prescribed in this bill and in a county's private act, if applicable . If the board determines that the candidate does not possess the required qualifications for the assessor of property position, then the board must disqualify the candidate . ln counties where the position is filled by popular election, the board must notify the candidate and county election commission of its determination no later than noon, prevailing time, on the seventh day after the qualifying deadline, and request that t he county election commission not print the candidate's name on the ballot, and re move the candidate's name from any printed ballot . In counties where the position is appointed due to a vacancy, the board must notify the candidate and local appointing authority of its determination prior to the appointment to office. QUALIFICATIONS FOR AN ASSESSOR OF PROPERTY This bill requires candidates for the office of an assessor of property in a county to be a qualified voter of the county and a resident of the county for one year prior to the qualifying or appointment deadline, as applicable, and to have any of the following:  Three years of experience as a licensed real estate appraiser in this state.  Four years of experience as a licensed real estate agent in this state.  No less than three years of experience in the field of mass appraisal.  A designation from the International Association of Assessing Officers (IAAO). This bill requires e vidence of the qualifications listed above to be submitted to the board in the form of affidavits . Satisfactory evidence of a real estate appraisal license or real estate license issued in this state must be in the form of the license provided by the licensing state entity and must include the candidate's license number . Evidence of experience in mass appraisal must be submitted by affidavit from the candidate . Satisfactory evidence of the IAAO designation must be in the form of cert ification, a transcript, or other official documentation from the IAAO. This bill requires a candidate for assessor of property to have earned at least a high school diploma, high school equivalency credential, or other official documentation approved by the state board of education to qualify for the position . The candidate must submit a copy of such education credentials to the board to indicate the completion of such educational requirements. However, t his bill authorizes a county, by private act, to require more stringent qualifications and standards for persons to qualify for the office of the assessor of property . Any county that establishes more stringent qualifications and standards by private act must transmit a copy of the private act to the board. This bill authorizes assessors of property who occupy the office as of December 31, 2026, and who have met the applicable qualifications for the position at the time of their last election to succeed themselves in office without having to meet the qualif ications described above for as long as such persons continuously hold the office . If an incumbent leaves office for any reason and is subsequently elected or appointed to the position of assessor of property, then the incumbent is subject to the qualifica tions described above. ENTITY REVIEW This bill provides that the board terminates on June 30, 202 8, for purposes of the Tennessee Governmental Entity Review Law ."