Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

Tennessee House Bill HB1264 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1
2	2	SENATE BILL 1231
3	3	By Pody
4	4
5	5	HOUSE BILL 1264
6	6	By Hulsey
7	7
8	8
9	9	HB1264
10	10	003295
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13	13	AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 4-
14	14	1-422, relative to property rights.
15	15
16	16	BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
17	17	SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 4-1-422, is amended by deleting the
18	18	section and substituting:
19	19	(a) As used in this section, unless context otherwise requires:
20	20	(1) "International policymaking organization":
21	21	(A) Means a nongovernmental or an intergovernmental entity that
22	22	issues model policies or guidelines or proposed laws or rules that pertain
23	23	to a particular subject matter or range of subject matter areas of public
24	24	policy, and which may be adopted in whole or in part by an instrument of
25	25	government as the policy of that government; and
26	26	(B) Includes the World Health Organization, the United Nations,
27	27	and the World Economic Forum; and
28	28	(2) "Political subdivision" means a local governmental entity, including a
29	29	municipality, metropolitan government, county, utility district, school district,
30	30	public building authority, and development district created and existing pursuant
31	31	to the laws of this state, or any instrumentality of government created by any one
32	32	(1) or more of the named local governmental entities.
33	33	(b) The state and its political subdivisions shall not adopt or implement policy
34	34	recommendations that deliberately or inadvertently infringe upon or restrict private
35	35	property rights without due process or an individual's constitutional rights, as may be
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39	39
40	40	required by policy recommendations originating in or traceable to any international
41	41	policymaking organization, including the United Nations or a subsidiary entity of the
42	42	United Nations, including:
43	43	(1) "Agenda 21," as adopted by the United Nations in 1992 at its
44	44	Conference on Environment and Development;
45	45	(2) The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, introduced at a
46	46	United Nations Summit in 2015;
47	47	(3) The United Nations' proposal to reach net zero emissions by 2050; or
48	48	(4) Another international law or ancillary plan of action that contravenes
49	49	the United States Constitution or the Constitution of Tennessee.
50	50	(c)
51	51	(1) Since the United Nations has accredited and enlisted numerous
52	52	nongovernmental and intergovernmental organizations to assist in the
53	53	implementation of its policies relative to Agenda 21, The 2030 Agenda for
54	54	Sustainable Development, net zero goals for 2050, and its related plans and
55	55	initiatives, the state and its political subdivisions shall not enter into an
56	56	agreement, spend any sum of money, or provide financial aid to a
57	57	nongovernmental and intergovernmental organization described in or promoted
58	58	by such plans and initiatives.
59	59	(2) This section also applies to international policymaking organizations
60	60	that are not affiliated with the United Nations.
61	61	(d) As part of a political subdivision's annual audit, the executive of the political
62	62	subdivision or the governing body of the political subdivision shall present a written
63	63	attestation to the comptroller of the treasury certifying that the political subdivision has
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67	67
68	68	not sought or received a grant in intentional pursuit of a policy described under
69	69	subsection (b).
70	70	(e)
71	71	(1) An individual who believes that the state or a political subdivision has
72	72	violated subsection (b) or (c) may bring a private cause of action in a court of
73	73	competent jurisdiction.
74	74	(2) A court shall award court costs and fees, including reasonable
75	75	attorneys' fees, to the prevailing party in an action brought pursuant to this
76	76	subsection (e). In addition, the court may award the following remedies to a
77	77	plaintiff who prevails in an action brought pursuant to this subsection (e):
78	78	(A) Actual damages; and
79	79	(B) Punitive damages.
80	80	(3) If the court finds the state, a political subdivision, or an official is in
81	81	violation of this section, then the court shall issue a writ of mandamus against the
82	82	entity or official ordering the entity or official to comply with this section, enjoin
83	83	the entity or official from further interference, and take other action to ensure
84	84	compliance as is within the jurisdiction of the court.
85	85	(4) The state, a political subdivision, or an official has not more than one
86	86	hundred twenty (120) days from the date of the court's order to comply with the
87	87	order. If, after one hundred twenty (120) days, the entity or official has not
88	88	complied with the court's order, then the court may take whatever action the court
89	89	finds necessary to enforce compliance.
90	90	(5) Upon finding that a policy, contract, or agreement violates this
91	91	section, the court shall declare that such policy, contract, or agreement meets the
92	92
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96	96	standard as described under this section, and is therefore void and
97	97	unenforceable.
98	98	(f) An official or public servant violating this section commits the offense of
99	99	official oppression, as provided in § 39-16-403. Failure to comply with a court order per
100	100	subdivision (e)(3) within the timeframe specified in subdivision (e)(4) constitutes a
101	101	separate violation of § 39-16-403. It is not a defense to criminal liability under this
102	102	subsection (f) that no actual damage has yet to occur.
103	103	(g) A contract, policy, or agreement in violation of this section is null, void, and
104	104	unenforceable.
105	105	(h) The attorney general may issue an official statement clarifying that a
106	106	particular contract policy or agreement violates this section.
107	107	SECTION 2. This act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it, and
108	108	applies to contracts entered into, renewed, or amended on or after that date.