SB 1231 - HB 1264
FISCAL NOTE
Fiscal Review Committee
Tennessee General Assembly
April 11, 2025
Fiscal Analyst: Arielle Woodmore | Email: arielle.woodmore@capitol.tn.gov | Phone: 615-741-2564
SB 1231 - HB 1264
SUMMARY OF BILL: Prohibits the state and its political subdivisions from adopting or
implementing policy recommendations that deliberately or inadvertently infringe upon an
individual’s constitutional rights, as may be required by policy recommendations originating in any
international policymaking organization. Expands the prohibition on this state and its political
subdivisions from entering into an agreement, expending any money, or providing financial aid to
any international policymaking organizations that are not affiliated with the United Nations.
Authorizes a court to issue a writ of mandamus against the entity or official ordering the entity or
official to comply, enjoin the entity or official from further interference, and take other action to
ensure compliance as is within the jurisdiction of the court. Allots the entity 120 days from the date
of the court’s order to comply with the order. Establishes that a contract that is found in violation is
null, void, and unenforceable.
Establishes that an official or public servant who violates these provisions commits the Class E
felony offense of official oppression. Effective July 1, 2025, and applies to contracts entered into,
renewed, or amended on or after that date.
FISCAL IMPACT:
NOT SIGNIFICANT
Assumptions:
• Pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. § 4-1-422(b), this state and its political subdivisions shall not
adopt or implement policy recommendations that deliberately or inadvertently infringe or
restrict private property rights without due process, as may be required by policy
recommendations originating in, or traceable to, the United Nations or a subsidiary entity of
the United Nations, including, but not limited to:
o Agenda 21 adopted by the United Nations in 1992 at its Conference on
Environment and Development;
o The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, introduced at a United Nations
Summit in 2015;
o The United Nations' proposal to reach net zero emissions by 2050; or
o Another international law or ancillary plan of action that contravenes the
constitution of the United States or the constitution of this state.
• The proposed legislation expands this prohibition to include policy recommendations from
any international policymaking organization that infringe upon an individual’s constitutional
rights, including, specifically, the World Health Organization and the World Economic
Forum.
SB 1231 - HB 1264 2
• Prohibiting the state and its political subdivisions from adopting or implementing policy
recommendations that infringe upon an individual’s constitutional rights is not expected to
have any significant fiscal impact on state or local government.
• The proposed legislation expands the prohibition on this state and its political subdivisions
from entering into an agreement, expending any money, or providing financial aid to any
international policymaking organizations that are not affiliated with the United Nations.
• Prohibiting such entities from entering into an agreement, expending money, or providing
financial aid to certain organizations will not result in any significant fiscal impact on state
expenditures.
• It is assumed that the state or local government would comply with this legislation and
instead direct any funds to another purpose. Any net impact to state or local government is
estimated to be not significant.
• The proposed legislation establishes that a contract is null, void, and unenforceable if the
court rules an agreement is in violation.
• The legislation applies to contracts entered into, renewed, or amended on or after July 1,
2025, the effective date of this legislation.
• It is assumed that the state and local governments will comply with this legislation and
avoid entering into, renewing, or amending any contracts on or after that date that may be
deemed a violation.
• Any fiscal impact to state or local governments related to this provision is therefore
estimated to be not significant.
• Pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-16-403, a public servant under color of office or
employment commits an offense of official oppression who:
o Intentionally subjects another to mistreatment or to arrest, detention, stop, frisk,
halt, search, seizure, dispossession, assessment or lien when the public servant
knows the conduct is unlawful; or
o Intentionally denies or impedes another in the exercise or enjoyment of any right,
privilege, power or immunity, when the public servant knows the conduct is
unlawful.
• A violation of official oppression is a Class E felony.
• Based on information provided by the Department of Corrections, there have been 0.10
admissions for the Class E felony offense of official oppression in each of the last 10 years.
• There will not be a sufficient change in the number of prosecutions for state or local
government to experience any significant change in revenue or expenditures.
• Any impact on the courts can be absorbed within existing resources and is estimated to be
not significant.
CERTIFICATION:
The information contained herein is true and correct to the best of my knowledge.
Bojan Savic, Executive Director