§ 6-20-215 — Ordinance procedure

(a) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (a)(2), every ordinance shall be read two (2) different days in open session before its adoption, and not less than one (1) week shall elapse between first and second readings, and any ordinance not so read shall be null and void. Any city incorporated under chapters 18-22 of this title may establish by ordinance a procedure to read only the caption of an ordinance, instead of the entire ordinance, on both readings. Copies of such ordinances shall be available during regular business hours at the office of the city recorder and during sessions in which the ordinance has its second reading. (2) Notwithstanding subdivision (a)(1), the board of commissioners governing any city incorporated under chapters 18-22 of this title may adopt ordinances pursuant to a consent calendar if the board unanimously passes an ordinance approving the consent calendar; provided, the ordinance approving the consent calendar shall require that: (A) Each ordinance on the consent calendar be considered on two (2) different days in open session before its adoption and that not less than one (1) week shall elapse between first and second consideration; (B) Copies of each ordinance adopted pursuant to the consent calendar be available during regular business hours at the office of the city recorder and during sessions in which the ordinance has its second reading; (C) If any board member objects to an ordinance on the consent calendar or any amendment is adopted to an ordinance on the consent calendar, then the ordinance shall be removed from the consent calendar and may be adopted pursuant to subdivision (a)(1); and (D) Copies of the consent calendar shall be published along with the agenda prior to any meeting at which the consent calendar will be considered. (3) A city that has established a consent calendar pursuant to subdivision (a)(2) may eliminate the consent calendar by passage of an ordinance in the same manner required to create the consent calendar. (b) An ordinance shall not take effect until fifteen (15) days after the first passage thereof, except in case of an emergency ordinance. An emergency ordinance may become effective upon the day of its final passage; provided, that it shall contain the statement that an emergency exists and shall specify the distinct facts and reasons constituting such an emergency. (c) The unanimous vote of all members of the board present shall be required to pass an emergency ordinance. (d) No ordinance making a grant, renewal, or extension of a franchise or other special privilege, or regulating the rate to be charged for its service by any public utility shall ever be passed as an emergency ordinance. No ordinance shall be amended, except by a new ordinance.

Legislative History

Amended by 2015 Tenn. Acts, ch. 115,s 1, eff. 4/10/2015. Acts 1921, ch. 173, art. 5, § 2; Shan. Supp., § 1997a150; Code 1932, § 3547; Acts 1976, ch. 420, § 1; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 6-2026; Acts 1989, ch. 175, § 9; 1995, ch. 13, § 10; 1996, ch. 652, § 4.