HB 1676

Present law creates the North East Tennessee railroad authority in Anderson, Campbell, and Scott counties, which is tasked with securing economic benefits to those counties by providing for the continuation of railroad service in those counties. This bill expands the authority by adding Claiborne, Union, and Grainger counties. This bill requires all contracts of the authority to be entered into and executed in accordance with present law, regulations, and procedures governing contracting by county governments. Specifically, this bill prohibits any contracts or acquisitions of the authority over $25,000 from being made until after it has been publicly advertised for bids. However, advertisement is not required when an emergency arises and requires immediate delivery of the supplies or performance of the service. ON MARCH 16, 2026, THE HOUSE SUBSTITUTED SENATE BILL 1739 FOR HOUSE BILL 1676, ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 1739, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 c onditions inclusion of Claiborne, Union, and Grainger in the North East Tennessee railroad authority upon all three of those counties : (1) A uthoriz ing , by a 2/3 vote of their respective governing bodies, to become members of the authority; (2) Evidence of such authorization is proclaimed and countersigned by the presiding officer of each ratifying county certified by that presiding officer to the secretary of state; and (3) The governing bodies of all three counties have indicated their willingness to appropriate sufficient funds to support the administration of the authority along with the existing county members of the authority.