TN
Tennessee Senate Bill SB0329

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

Tennessee Senate Bill SB0329 Compare Versions

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5-~ \>1: -.JMC£c,._ l:trl •
6-~tate of \ltennessee
7-PUBLIC CHAPTER NO. 94
8-HOUSE BILL NO. 321
9-By Representatives Lamberth, Renea Jones, White, McCalmon, Grills
10-Substituted for: Senate Bill No. 329
11-By Senators Powers, Stevens
12-AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 1; Title 2; Title 3; Title 4; Title 5;
13-Title 7; Title 8; Title 9; Title 1 O; Title 11; Title 12; Title 13; Title 16; Title 20; Title 22; Title 24; Title
14-31; Title 33; Title 36; Title 38; Title 39; Title 40; Title 43; Title 44; Title 45; Title 47; Title 48; Title
15-49; Title 50; Title 53; Title 54; Title 55; Title 56; Title 61; Title 62; Title 63; Title 64; Title 65; Title
16-66; Title 67; Title 68; Title 69 and Title 71, relative to electronic transmissions.
1+
2+HOUSE BILL 321
3+ By Lamberth
4+
5+SENATE BILL 329
6+By Powers
7+
8+
9+SB0329
10+000654
11+- 1 -
12+
13+AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 1;
14+Title 2; Title 3; Title 4; Title 5; Title 7; Title 8; Title
15+9; Title 10; Title 11; Title 12; Title 13; Title 16; Title
16+20; Title 22; Title 24; Title 31; Title 33; Title 36;
17+Title 38; Title 39; Title 40; Title 43; Title 44; Title
18+45; Title 47; Title 48; Title 49; Title 50; Title 53;
19+Title 54; Title 55; Title 56; Title 61; Title 62; Title
20+63; Title 64; Title 65; Title 66; Title 67; Title 68;
21+Title 69 and Title 71, relative to electronic
22+transmissions.
23+
1724 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
1825 SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 4, is amended by adding the
1926 following as a new section:
2027 4-4-119.
2128 Each department, agency, office, commission, institution, or instrumentality of the
2229 executive branch must accept the electronic transmission of any document that could
2330 have been submitted by fax or facsimile prior to the effective date of this act.
24-SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 1-3-105(a), is amended by adding the
25-following as a new subdivision:
31+ SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 1-3-105(a), is amended by adding
32+the following as a new subdivision:
2633 ( ) "Electronic transmission":
2734 (A) Means any form of communication not directly involving the physical
2835 transmission of paper that creates a record that may be retained, retrieved, and
2936 reviewed by a recipient of the communication, and that may be directly
3037 reproduced in paper form by such a recipient through an automated process
3138 including, but not limited to, electronic mail, electronic communication, and
3239 internet communication; and
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43+
3344 (B) Does not include communications by fax or facsimile;
3445 SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 2-5-204(b)(2)(B), is amended by
3546 deleting "fax, email" and substituting "electronic transmission".
3647 SECTION 4. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 10-7-503(a)(7)(A)(i), is amended by
3748 deleting "telephone, fax, mail, or email" and substituting "telephone, electronic transmission, or
3849 mail".
3950 SECTION 5. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 16-1-113, is amended by deleting the
4051 section and substituting:
4152 (a) It is the intent of the general assembly, in recognition of the common practice
4253 and use of electronic transmissions in business and government, to:
4354 (1) Promote a more efficient means of filing documents and overcome
4455 expenses and delays entailed in long distance communication; and
4556 (2) Enable courts in this state to implement procedures for the filing of
46-documents by electronic transmission. HB321
57+documents by electronic transmission.
4758 (b) Courts in this state may implement procedures for the electronic transmission
4859 of documents in accordance with this section and § 16-3-408 and the Tennessee
4960 supreme court rules.
5061 SECTION 6. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 16-3-408, is amended by deleting the
5162 section and substituting:
5263 The supreme court is urged to develop court rules and procedures to control the
5364 process of courts using electronic transmissions of documents. The court rules and
5465 procedures should provide for the following:
5566 (1) The type of document that may be electronically transmitted;
5667 (2) The length of restriction, if any, of a document that may be
5768 electronically submitted;
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72+
5873 (3) The type of equipment and paper that must be used by clerks' offices;
5974 (4) The amount, if any, of fees to be charged for the electronic
6075 transmission of documents;
6176 (5) The payment of regular filing fees of the court;
6277 (6) The time of filing of an electronically transmitted document;
6378 (7) Requirements, if any, for filing of original documents or original
6479 signatures;
6580 (8) Requirements, if any, for maintenance of transmittal reports of
6681 electronically transmitted documents; and
6782 (9) Any other rule or procedure the court deems appropriate.
6883 SECTION 7. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 47-18-2404(b), is amended by
6984 deleting "fax,".
7085 SECTION 8. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 56-5-123(a), is amended by deleting
7186 "email or fax" and substituting "electronic transmission".
72-SECTION 9. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 67-5-1412(b)(2), is amended by
87+ SECTION 9. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 63-1-160(e), is amended by deleting
88+"faxed" and substituting "electronically transmitted", and by deleting "fax" and substituting
89+"electronically transmitted".
90+ SECTION 10. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 67-5-1412(b)(2), is amended by
7391 deleting "and fax number" and substituting ", and email".
74-SECTION 10. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 71-5-2404(c)(1 )(B), is amended by
92+ SECTION 11. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 71-5-2404(c)(1)(B), is amended by
7593 deleting "by fax".
76-SECTION 11. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 2-2-113(b), is amended by deleting
94+ SECTION 12. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 2-2-113(b), is amended by deleting
7795 "The list may be provided by mail, facsimile transmission, or email" and substituting "The list
7896 may be provided by mail or electronic transmission".
79-SECTION 12. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 2-2-129(a)(1)(A), is amended by
97+
98+
99+ - 4 - 000654
100+
101+ SECTION 13. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 2-2-129(a)(1)(A), is amended by
80102 deleting ", facsimile transmission or by email" and substituting "or electronic transmission".
81-SECTION 13. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 2-6-202(a)(3), is amended by
103+ SECTION 14. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 2-6-202(a)(3), is amended by
82104 deleting the language:
83105 A voter may make the request or submit an application to vote by mail, facsimile
84106 transmission or email with an attached document that includes a scanned signature. For
85107 a voter to use a facsimile transmission, an election commission shall have a facsimile
86108 machine physically located in the election commission office. The request shall be in
87109 writing over the voter's signature.
88110 and substituting:
89-2 HB321
90111 A voter may make the request or submit an application to vote by mail or electronic
91112 transmission with an attached document that includes a scanned signature. The request
92113 must be in writing over the voter's signature.
93-SECTION 14. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 2-6-202, is amended by deleting
114+ SECTION 15. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 2-6-202, is amended by deleting
94115 subdivision (a)(4).
95-SECTION 15. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 2-6-202(b), is amended by deleting
116+ SECTION 16. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 2-6-202(b), is amended by deleting
96117 "facsimile" and substituting "electronic transmission".
97-SECTION 16. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 2-6-206(1), is amended by deleting
118+ SECTION 17. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 2-6-206(1), is amended by deleting
98119 ", facsimile transmission, or email" and substituting "or electronic transmission".
99-SECTION 17. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 2-6-206(3), is amended by deleting
120+ SECTION 18. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 2-6-206(3), is amended by deleting
100121 "facsimile" and substituting "electronic transmission".
101-SECTION 18. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 2-10-105(h)(1 ), is amended by
122+ SECTION 19. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 2-10-105(h)(1), is amended by
102123 deleting "facsimile machine,".
103-SECTION 19. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 3-1-114, is amended by deleting
124+ SECTION 20. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 3-1-114, is amended by deleting
104125 "electronic mail or facsimile transmission" and substituting "electronic transmission".
105-SECTION 20. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 4-3-14050)(1), is amended by
126+
127+
128+ - 5 - 000654
129+
130+ SECTION 21. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 4-3-1405(j)(1), is amended by
106131 deleting ", facsimile, or e-mail copy" and substituting "or electronic submission".
107-SECTION 21. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 9-4-408(h), is amended by deleting
132+ SECTION 22. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 9-4-408(h), is amended by deleting
108133 "telephonic facsimile" and substituting "electronic".
109-SECTION 22. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 22-2-315(a)(2), is amended by
134+ SECTION 23. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 22-2-315(a)(2), is amended by
110135 deleting "electronic mail, facsimile," and substituting "electronic transmission,".
111-SECTION 23. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 22-2-317(a), is amended by deleting
112-", facsimile transmission, or email" and substituting "or electronic transmission".
113-SECTION 24. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 24-7-116(f), is amended by deleting
136+ SECTION 24. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 22-2-317(a), is amended by
137+deleting ", facsimile transmission, or email" and substituting "or electronic transmission".
138+ SECTION 25. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 24-7-116(f), is amended by deleting
114139 "facsimile" and substituting "electronic transmission".
115-SECTION 25. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 24-7-121(a)(1)(8), is amended by
140+ SECTION 26. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 24-7-121(a)(1)(B), is amended by
116141 deleting "by telecopier facsimile, or otherwise, an electronic mail copy or copy obtained by way
117142 of internet access" and substituting "obtained by electronic transmission".
118-SECTION 26. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 24-7-121(b)(1), is amended by
143+ SECTION 27. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 24-7-121(b)(1), is amended by
119144 deleting "by facsimile or".
120-SECTION 27. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 31-4-106(9)(2), is amended by
145+ SECTION 28. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 31-4-106(g)(2), is amended by
121146 deleting "facsimile or other electronic message" and substituting "electronic transmission".
122-SECTION 28. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 33-6-624(f)(4), is amended by
147+ SECTION 29. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 33-6-624(f)(4), is amended by
123148 deleting ", facsimile or electronic means" and substituting "or electronic transmission".
124-SECTION 29. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 36-3-609(b)(1), is amended by
149+ SECTION 30. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 36-3-609(b)(1), is amended by
125150 deleting "facsimile or other".
126-SECTION 30. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 36-5-115(c)(1 )(A), is amended by
151+SECTION 31. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 36-5-115(c)(1)(A), is amended by
127152 deleting "on a line and facsimile machine provided for such purpose by the department of
128153 human services. The machine shall be provided if the clerk's office does not have a facsimile
129154 machine as determined by the department through an equipment assessment. Line charges
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158+
130159 shall be the responsibility of the department either through use of a toll-free line or pursuant to
131160 the cost reimbursement requirements of § 36-5-117." and substituting "by electronic
132161 transmission."
133-SECTION 31. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 36-5-115(c)(1)(8), is amended by
162+SECTION 32. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 36-5-115(c)(1)(B), is amended by
134163 deleting "As an alternative to provision by the clerk of the order and information as required by
135164 subdivision (c)(1)(A) by use of a facsimile machine, for" and substituting "For".
136-3 HB321
137-SECTION 32. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 36-5-501 (m), is amended by
165+ SECTION 33. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 36-5-501(m), is amended by
138166 deleting "electronic mail, facsimile transmission" and substituting "electronic transmission".
139-SECTION 33. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 36-5-807(b), is amended by deleting
140-"electronic mail, facsimile transmission" and substituting "electronic transmission".
141-SECTION 34. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 36-5-907, is amended by deleting
167+ SECTION 34. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 36-5-807(b), is amended by
168+deleting "electronic mail, facsimile transmission" and substituting "electronic transmission".
169+ SECTION 35. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 36-5-907, is amended by deleting
142170 subsection (c) and substituting:
143171 (c) The release may be conveyed by electronic transmission.
144-SECTION 35. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 36-5-1002(c)(3), is amended by
172+ SECTION 36. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 36-5-1002(c)(3), is amended by
145173 deleting "facsimile transmission or by any other electronic technology" and substituting
146174 "electronic transmission".
147-SECTION 36. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 38-1-402(b), is amended by deleting
148-"facsimile" and substituting "electronic".
149-SECTION 37. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 40-6-109(e)(2)(C), is amended by
175+ SECTION 37. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 38-1-402(b), is amended by
176+deleting "facsimile" and substituting "electronic".
177+ SECTION 38. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 40-6-109(e)(2)(C), is amended by
150178 deleting "Facsimile or electronic" and substituting "Electronic".
151-SECTION 38. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 40-27-110(c)(2), is amended by
179+ SECTION 39. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 40-27-110(c)(2), is amended by
152180 deleting "electronic mail, facsimile or by" and substituting "electronic transmission, or".
153-SECTION 39. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 40-28-102(5), is amended by
181+ SECTION 40. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 40-28-102(5), is amended by
154182 deleting ", facsimile and internet communication" and substituting "or electronic transmissions".
155-SECTION 40. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 43-38-103(25), is amended by
183+
184+
185+ - 7 - 000654
186+
187+ SECTION 41. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 43-38-103(25), is amended by
156188 deleting "by facsimile or".
157-SECTION 41. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 43-38-108(b), is amended by
189+ SECTION 42. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 43-38-108(b), is amended by
158190 deleting "in facsimile" and substituting "by electronic transmission".
159-SECTION 42. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 45-1-129, is amended by deleting
191+ SECTION 43. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 45-1-129, is amended by deleting
160192 "electronic communications, including, but not limited to, facsimile transmissions and electronic
161193 mail" and substituting "electronic transmissions".
162-SECTION 43. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 47-18-2108(e), is amended by
194+ SECTION 44. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 47-18-2108(e), is amended by
163195 deleting "facsimile" and substituting "electronic transmission".
164-SECTION 44. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 48-11-308, is amended by deleting
196+ SECTION 45. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 48-11-308, is amended by deleting
165197 "(which may be in facsimile or other electronic format)" and substituting ", which may be an
166198 electronic transmission,".
167-SECTION 45. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-7-2105(a)(1)(C), is amended by
199+ SECTION 46. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-7-2105(a)(1)(C), is amended by
168200 deleting " communicating electronically, including a facsimile number, electronic mail address,
169201 and personal and business or employer websites" and substituting "electronic transmission".
170-SECTION 46. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 50-6-204(d)(4), is amended by
202+ SECTION 47. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 50-6-204(d)(4), is amended by
171203 deleting "by facsimile or e-mail" wherever it appears and substituting "electronic transmission".
172-SECTION 47. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 54-1-505(b), is amended by deleting
173-"email, facsimile" and substituting "electronic transmission".
174-SECTION 48. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 62-76-104(b)(2), is amended by
204+ SECTION 48. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 54-1-505(b), is amended by
205+deleting "email, facsimile" and substituting "electronic transmission".
206+ SECTION 49. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 62-76-104(b)(2), is amended by
175207 deleting ", facsimile transmission, or email" and substituting " or electronic transmission".
176-SECTION 49. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 63-1-130(b)(2), is amended by
208+ SECTION 50. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 63-1-130(b)(2), is amended by
177209 deleting ", facsimile transmission, or email" and substituting "or electronic transmission".
178-SECTION 50. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 67-3-704(c), is amended by deleting
179-"by facsimile" and substituting "by electronic transmission".
180-SECTION 51. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 67-3-704(c), is amended by deleting
181-"facsimile service" and substituting "internet service".
182-4 HB321
183-SECTION 52. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 67-3-801(d), is amended by deleting
184-"facsimile notice" and substituting "notice by electronic transmission".
185-SECTION 53. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 67-3-B0B(b), is amended by deleting
186-"facsimile" and substituting "electronic transmission".
187-SECTION 54. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 67-5-1513(c), is amended by
210+ SECTION 51. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 67-3-704(c), is amended by
211+deleting "by facsimile" and substituting "by electronic transmission".
212+
213+
214+ - 8 - 000654
215+
216+ SECTION 52. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 67-3-704(c), is amended by
217+deleting "facsimile service" and substituting "internet service".
218+ SECTION 53. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 67-3-801(d), is amended by
219+deleting "facsimile notice" and substituting "notice by electronic transmission".
220+ SECTION 54. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 67-3-808(b), is amended by
221+deleting "facsimile" and substituting "electronic transmission".
222+ SECTION 55. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 67-5-1513(c), is amended by
188223 deleting "facsimile" and substituting "electronic".
189-SECTION 55. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 67-5-1805(c)(4)(B)(i), is amended by
190-deleting "delivered electronically such as via e-mail or facsimile" and substituting "electronic
224+ SECTION 56. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 67-5-1805(c)(4)(B)(i), is amended
225+by deleting "delivered electronically such as via e-mail or facsimile" and substituting "electronic
191226 transmission".
192-SECTION 56. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 71-5-117(f), is amended by deleting
227+ SECTION 57. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 71-5-117(f), is amended by deleting
193228 "facsimile" wherever it appears and substituting "electronic transmission".
194-SECTION 57. This act takes effect January 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it.
195-5 HOUSE BILL NO. 321
196-PASSED: March 10, 2025
197-~.
198-CAME EXTON, SPEAKER
199-HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
200-),,., ~"~.~-
201-- ..
202-~
203-:::-: ._ --.
204-' RANDYMCN
205-SPEAKER OF THE SENATE
206-APPROVED this :J..'otR. day of rv\Qt~ 2025
207-~
208-BILL LEE, GOVERNOR
229+ SECTION 58. This act takes effect January 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it.