Tennessee
Sunshine Law
Formally: Tennessee Open Meetings Act (Sunshine Law)
Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 8-44-101 to 8-44-111
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Open Meetings Score
| Advance Notice | 2 days, online posting required |
|---|---|
| Public Comment | Not required |
| Closed Sessions | 4 permitted categories |
| Minutes | Required |
| Recording | Not required |
| Remote Participation | Allowed |
| Enforcement | Voidable, legislature exempt |
Agenda & Notice Requirements
Online posting: Required
Publish agenda at least 48 hours before meeting on website if maintained; agenda must reasonably describe items to be deliberated or acted upon; adequate public notice required for all meetings
Agenda changes at meeting: Allowed — majority vote
Public Participation
Tennessee Open Meetings Act (T.C.A. § 8-44-101 et seq.) does not require a public comment period. Bodies permit comment at their discretion; no floor is established by state law.
Virtual Meetings
Limited under Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-44-108; remote participation requires a physical quorum at the meeting location. For local legislative bodies, no more than 20% of total membership (max 3 members) may participate remotely. Remote members do not count toward quorum. Emergency meetings may proceed without physical quorum if necessity is documented in minutes.
Closed Sessions
Closed (executive) sessions: Allowed under specific circumstances
Permitted Categories
Meeting Minutes
Online posting: Not required
Content requirements: date, time, location, members present, all votes and final actions taken (Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-44-104)
Recording & Broadcast
Enforcement
Scope
This law applies to:
Legislature: Exempt (follows own rules)
Accessibility & Language Access
ADA accessibility: ADA Title II applies to all public meetings. The state statute does not add requirements beyond federal law; reasonable accommodations must be provided on request.
Language access: No statutory language-access mandate beyond federal Civil Rights Act Title VI obligations for recipients of federal funds.