Bill > HB7001

This bill establishes new procedures for the 2026 congressional elections in Tennessee, specifically if the state's congressional districts are redrawn after the initial candidate qualifying deadline. The key provisions include requiring the coordinator of elections to promptly notify candidates and county election commissions about any revised districts and a special deadline for candidates to declare which redrawn district they wish to run in, or to withdraw from the election, with a deadline of May 15, 2026. It also sets a new qualifying period with a reduced signature requirement for nominating petitions, allowing candidates who had already qualified to remain in their original district unless they opt to change, and prohibits withdrawals after the new qualifying deadline. Furthermore, the bill outlines how county election commissions will be reimbursed for costs associated with these changes and specifies that any legal challenges will be handled by a three-judge panel. Importantly, this new part of election law will be repealed on December 31, 2026, and a specific existing law regarding election procedures is amended to exclude the 2026 primary election for U.S. Representative.