HB 321 - SB 329
FISCAL NOTE
Fiscal Review Committee
Tennessee General Assembly
February 7, 2025
Fiscal Analyst: Chris Higgins | Email: chris.higgins@capitol.tn.gov | Phone: 615-741-2564
HB 321 - SB 329
SUMMARY OF BILL: Removes references to the use of “facsimile transmission” or “fax”,
as an accepted method of transmission of documents and communications within state and local
government and substitutes instead the use of “electronic transmission”.
Defines “electronic transmission” as any form of communication not directly involving the physical
transmission of paper that creates a record that may be retained, retrieved, and reviewed by a
recipient of the communication, and that may be directly reproduced in paper form by such a
recipient through an automated process including, but not limited to, electronic mail, electronic
communication, and internet communication and does not include communications by fax or
facsimile.
Requires each department, agency, office, commission, institution, or instrumentality of the
executive branch to accept the electronic transmission of any document that could have been
submitted by fax or facsimile. Requires the Supreme Court to develop court rules and procedures to
control the process of courts using electronic transmissions of documents.
Effective January 1, 2026.
FISCAL IMPACT:
NOT SIGNIFICANT
Assumptions:
• It is assumed that the courts can develop rules and procedures for the electronic
transmission of documents utilizing existing resources, without a significant increase in
expenditures.
• Most official communications and transmissions are currently able to be completed by
methods other than fax.
• There may be impacts to the procedures of various state departments and agencies as a
result of the proposed legislation, such as agencies that deal with secure transmissions with
financial or healthcare institutions.
• In addition, some departments and agencies could see minimal expenditures from printing
updated forms and notices that reference the use of fax for official business.
• In subsequent years, any impacts from transitioning to the use of electronic submissions will
be offset; therefore, the net fiscal impact to state and local government is estimated to be not
significant.
HB 321 - SB 329 2
CERTIFICATION:
The information contained herein is true and correct to the best of my knowledge.
Bojan Savic, Executive Director