Bill > HB2178

This bill, effective July 1, 2026, reconstitutes the board of directors for the Tennessee Technology Development Corporation, a state entity focused on technological advancement. The new board will consist of fifteen members: ten from the private sector appointed by the Governor, the Speaker of the House, the Speaker of the Senate, and a nominating committee, with the board's approval required for committee nominees. Four members will represent the public sector, appointed by the Governor, Speaker of the House, and Speaker of the Senate, with specific considerations for municipal and county organizations. The Commissioner of Economic and Community Development will serve as an ex officio, non-voting member. Appointments will aim for equal representation across Tennessee's three grand divisions, with initial terms varying between three and four years, and subsequent terms lasting four years. The board will elect its own officers, appoint an executive committee to manage daily operations, and is required to meet at least four times annually, with at least one in-person meeting. Additionally, the board must adopt and enforce a conflict of interest policy, requiring annual financial disclosures and acknowledgments from members. The bill also makes conforming changes to other sections of Tennessee law, including removing the corporation from a list of agencies subject to review and adding it to a list of entities created by statute.