Resolution to Ban State Property Taxes in Tennessee Passes State Senate

A resolution prohibiting the Tennessee General Assembly from establishing a statewide property tax passed the State Senate on Wednesday. All but six state senators voted for Senate Joint Resolution (SJR) 1 by State Senator Ferrell Haile (R-Gallatin).

The resolution received a total of 26 votes in the State Senate, with State Senators Heidi Campbell (D-Nashville), Sara Kyle (D-Memphis), London Lamar (D-Memphis), Charlane Oliver (D-Nashville), and Jeff Yarbro (D-Nashville) voting against it, while State Senator Raumesh Akbari (D-Memphis) voted present. All Republicans voted for the resolution.

According to its summary, the legislation proposes language “to prohibit the general assembly from levying, authorizing, or otherwise permitting a state tax on property,” and the text of the resolution reveals it would add to the Tennessee Constitution a stipulation that “the Legislature shall not levy, authorize, or otherwise any state tax upon such property.”

The resolution will now need approval from two-thirds of lawmakers in the State House, where it was already successful last year. Should it reach the necessary, two-thirds barrier in the State House, the proposal will go before Tennessee voters during the 2026 midterm elections.

In addition to the resolution prohibiting the implementation of a statewide property tax, voters in Tennessee may decide the fate of two more amendments when they go to the polls next year.

One of these amendments is a proposal that would give judges the ability to deny bail to defendants accused of more than just capital murder, including acts of terrorism, second-degree murder, aggravated rape of a child, aggravated rape, and grave torture. The resolution for that amendment was passed by the State Senate earlier this month.

Voters may also be given the opportunity to decide on a constitutional amendment for Marsy’s Law, which would expand the rights of crime victims in Tennessee.

Americans for Prosperity—Tennessee, which previously identified a ban on property taxes as one of its priorities in the Volunteer State, celebrated the passage of last year’s resolution, comparing the legislative success to Tennessee’s successful effort to ban the imposition of statewide property taxes.

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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Pennsylvania Daily Star and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].