Rules & Regulations of the State of Tennessee Title 0580 - Tennessee Ethics Commission
Here’s a clear and structured overview of Tennessee Administrative Code Title 0580 – Tennessee Ethics Commission:
📘 Structure of Title 0580
Title 0580 comprises these key chapters:
Chapter 0580-01-01 – Rules Pertaining to Lobbyists and Employers of Lobbyists
Governs registration, financial disclosure, expenditures, and filing deadlines for lobbyists and their employers.
Defines scope, terms, registration/disclosure protocols, and outlines enforcement and civil penalties. (law.cornell.edu, regulations.justia.com)
Chapter 0580-01-02 – Access to Public Records of the Tennessee Ethics Commission
Sets policies and procedures around public record access to register, disclosure, and other Commission-maintained documents. (law.cornell.edu, tn.gov)
Chapter 0580-01-03 and 01-04 – Reserved
Placeholder chapters with no current content. (law.cornell.edu)
Chapter 0580-01-05 – Rules Pertaining to Prohibited Conduct
Details prohibited acts, including conflict of interest, gift ban and exceptions, and penalties for violations. (law.cornell.edu, tn.gov)
Chapter 0580-01-06 – Withdrawn
Originally filed in 2009 but later withdrawn. (law.cornell.edu)
⏱️ Currency & Recent Developments
The version currently available online is current through March 23, 2025. (regulations.justia.com)
A rule-making hearing was scheduled for December 10, 2024, to consider updates to Chapters 01-01 (lobbyists) and 01-02 (public records). (tn.gov)
📌 Key Provisions at a Glance
| Chapter | Focus | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| 01-01 | Lobbyist registration & reporting | Registration requirements, seven-day update window for changes, disclosure/filing deadlines, civil penalties for non-compliance (law.cornell.edu) |
| 01-02 | Public records access | Procedures for obtaining Commission records under Tennessee’s public records laws |
| 01-05 | Ethics and prohibited conduct | Defines prohibited gifts, conflicts, exceptions, civil penalties, and misconduct consequences |
📚 Supporting Statutes & Context
These administrative rules implement T.C.A. Title 3, Chapter 6, which empowers the Ethics Commission to regulate lobbying, enforce financial disclosures, and define ethical conduct standards. (capitol.tn.gov)
The Commission must also provide ethics training and manuals to lobbyists, their employers, elected/appointed officials, and executive branch personnel. (tn.gov)
🔍 Resources & Next Steps
Official Rules: The full text of Chapters 01-01 and 01-02 is hosted on the Tennessee Secretary of State website (e.g., publications.tnsosfiles.com/rules/0580) (publications.tnsosfiles.com)
Lobbyist Manual: For further clarity, consult the Ethics Commission’s Manual for Lobbyists and Employers of Lobbyists (Jan 2017) (tn.gov)
Upcoming Amendments: Stay tuned for final amendments following December 2024 hearings.
🧭 How I Can Help
Want to dive deeper? I can:
Provide direct links (PDFs) to Chapters 0580‑01‑01, 01‑02, or 01‑05.
Summarize specific rules—like gift limits, public records access, or penalty scales.
Update you on whether the December 2024 rule changes were adopted.
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