Upper Cumberland lawmakers say they expect the Tennessee General Assembly to adjourn its 2026 legislative session in April, as work continues on budget negotiations and key policy proposals.
Representative Ryan Williams said that in recent years, the legislative session has ended in mid to late April.
“The Senate seems to think we can do it in mid-April, but they have a lot fewer stops of the train as it relates to bills than we do because of our committee process compared to theirs,” Williams said. “So I have a suspicion it will be somewhere in between.”
Senator Paul Bailey said he also expects the session to end in late April. Bailey said upcoming elections could speed things up this year.
“Sure it does because those of us that are on the ballot, we want to get here, and we want to get the business of Tennessee taken care of so we can be back home and be able to visit our communities that we represent,” Bailey said.
Williams said that elections certainly impact the length of the session, particulary ones who have primary opponents. Williams said when legislators are on the same page, it does help move things along.
“When I first came to Nashville years ago, we would adjourn sometime in late May or early June,” Williams said. “And we have consistently adjourned in late April the last three or four years, which is a testament to the hard work and effort that not just members are putting in, but particularly the staff here to make sure that we get the work done in an efficient way, but then get back to our districts where we are meant to be and to serve our communities.”