Bill Expanding Citizen Input At Tennessee Public Meetings Passes Senate, Will Become Law | Tennessee Conservative

Last week, the Senate passed a bill with bipartisan support expanding the First Amendment rights of Tennesseans who wish to speak at public meetings.

SB0178 by Sen. Adam Lowe (R- Calhoun-District 1) expands legislation passed in 2024 mandating citizens be allowed to speak on agenda items at all meetings of public governing bodies. This bill remedies an “agenda item” loophole in current law which will now give constituents the right to speak on any topic so long as the matter is “germane to the jurisdiction of the governing body.”