Re-scheduled for Monday, March 1, 9am(C).  The hearing will be conducted at the Bureau office at 404 James Robertson Parkway, Suite 104, Nashville, Tennessee.

Pursuant to T.C.A. §3-6-305(b)(8)-(10), the gift threshold has been adjusted to $53 by the Commission to compensate for a raise in the Consumer Price Index. This adjustment was effective January 31, 2009.

Beginning December 15, 2009, lobbyists and employers of lobbyists may register for 2010. For more information, email the Bureau at ethics.counsel@tn.gov or call 615-741-7959.

 

News Archive

In December of 2005, Governor Phil Bredesen called a special legislative session to focus the attention, will and efforts of the Legislative and Executive branches of government on the passage of strong ethics legislation.  Governor Bredesen’s call addressed a variety of specific issues, including ethical standards of conduct by government officials; contribution limits and disclosure in political campaigns; the open operation of government; the formation of an independent ethics commission; and penalties for violations of ethical standards.  As a result, the 104th Tennessee General Assembly passed the Comprehensive Governmental Ethics Reform Act of 2006 in an effort to protect and secure the governmental process from corruption and abuse and to provide transparency to the citizens of the State. 

The Tennessee Ethic Commission (“Commission”) was created in an effort to sustain the public’s confidence in government by increasing the integrity and transparency of state and local government through the regulation of lobbying activities, financial disclosure requirements and ethical conduct.

Under T.C.A. § 3-6-103 the Commission is comprised of six (6) members.  They are appointed by the Governor, the Speaker of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.  The Governor appoints one (1) member of the majority party and one (1) member of the minority party, and each Speaker appoints one (1) member of the majority party and one (1) member of the minority party.

The initial members’ terms are staggered as follows: the gubernatorial appointees serve initial terms of two (2) years; the Senate appointees serve initial terms of three (3) years; and the House appointees serve initial terms of four (4) years.  Thereafter, members serve four-year terms and are eligible to serve two (2) successive four-year terms.

TEC Member Bios

TEC Laws and Rules

How do I attend or get information about a Commission Meeting?

Notice of a meeting and the agenda are posted on the Ethics Commission website prior to the meeting.  The time and location are included in the notice.  Commission meetings are open to any member of the public.  When possible, meetings are held in the Legislative Plaza and broadcast live on the internet.  A link to the live broadcast or recorded streaming video is available on the Ethics Commission website.

How do I do a Search for Lobbyist and Employer of Lobbyist Registrations and Employer Semi-Annual Disclosure Reports?

Public searches for Lobbyists and their Employers are available at https://www.tennesseeanytime.org/ilobbysearch-app/search.htm

You may search for a Lobbyist by name or by subject matter.  You may search for an Employer of Lobbyist by Employer name or by subject matter.  After finding the desired Employer, you may access its semi-annual reports by clicking on the Employer and selecting the report want to view.

How do I do a Search of Disclosure of Interest Statements filed by State and Local Officials?

Disclosure of Interest Statements are required by certain appointed state officials and by all elected state and local officials yearly.  These statements are available for public viewing on the Ethics Commission website, www.tn.gov/sos/tec.  You can search for statements filed by state officials by their title or by their name.  You can search for statements filed by local elected officials by their county or by their name.

How do I seek advice from the Tennessee Ethics Commission?

Advice from the Ethics Commission may be obtained by calling (615) 253-8634 and asking to speak with counsel, or by email to ethics.counsel@tn.gov .

How do I File a Sworn Complaint against an Elected Official?

The Sworn Complaint Form (SS-8003) is used to report a violation of the laws that are within the jurisdiction of the Tennessee Ethics Commission.  The form can be found on the Commission’s website, http://www.tn.gov./sos/tec/forms/ss-8003.pdf.  If you have trouble accessing or printing the form, please contact the Ethics Commission at (615) 253-8634.  Complete instructions are on page 4 of the form.  The completed and notarized form is mailed to:

Tennessee Ethics Commission
Legal Counsel
201 4th Avenue, N., Ste. 1820
Nashville, TN  37243

How do I File a Disclosure of Interest Statement?

The easiest way to file your annual disclosure of interest statement is online.  After creating your TN.gov account (link to How do I establish a TN.gov Account?), go to www.tennesseeanytime.org/disclosure.  Members of the General Assembly, Constitutional officers, and the Governor’s cabinet must file form SS-8004.  Other state officials and all local elected officials and candidates must file form SS-8005.

• Click on the “Go to Log In” button
• Enter your username and password
• Verify your name, address, and contact information and make any appropriate changes
• Click on the “File Now” button (Note:  The “File Now” button is only available during the period when your disclosure statement is due)
• Click on the “Help and FAQ” button on the bottom of the form.  Read the instructions for your form carefully
• Complete the form as completely as possible
• Click “Continue” as you complete each page
• Have a competent adult check the certify box and witness your disclosure statement
• Click “Continue” until you receive a confirmation number
• Print the page with your confirmation number or write it down

How do I register as a Lobbyist or as an Employer of a Lobbyist?

For Employers:

• Upon logging in with your user name and password (link to “How do I create a TN.gov account?”), you will see your “detail” page 
• Click on the “Register” button.  In the “Search by Lobbyist Name” box on the next page, type in the last name of your lobbyist(s) and click “Search.”  Click the “Select” button beside the correct name.  Make sure all information is complete and then click on “Submit” at the bottom of the page.  You will then be given an opportunity to review the registration and you will need to click the “I certify” button at the bottom of the page. 
• If you have more than one Lobbyist, you will need to repeat this process for each.
• Be sure to print or write down your confirmation number.  To complete your registration, pay for your registration either by paying on-line with a credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover) or mailing in a check within thirty (30) days to the Tennessee Ethics Commission.  Your registration is not complete until all fees are paid.

For Lobbyists:

• Upon logging in with your user name and password (link to “How do I create a TN.gov account?”), you will see your “detail” page. 
• Click on the “Register” button.  In the “Search by Employer Name” box on the next page, type in the name of your Employer and click “Search.” 
• Click the “Select” button beside the correct name.  Make sure all information is complete and then click on “Submit” at the bottom of the page.  You will then be given an opportunity to review the registration and you will need to click the “I certify” button at the bottom of the page.  If you have more than one Employer, you will need to repeat this process for each.
• Be sure to print or write down your confirmation number.  To complete your registration, please pay for your registration either by paying on-line with a credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover) or mailing in a check within thirty (30) days to the Tennessee Ethics Commission.  Be sure to include your training fee if paying by check.  Your registration is not complete until all fees are paid.

How do I Create a New TN.gov Account?

For Persons Filing Disclosure of Interest Statements:

A TN.gov account is used for filing your disclosure of interest statement with the Tennessee Ethics Commission.  You only create a TN.gov account one time, then use the user name and password each year when filing your statement.  You will need an authorization number which you should have previously received from the Ethics Commission.  If you do not have this number, you may call the Commission at (615) 253-8634, and the staff can give it to you.  If you have your authorization number:

• Go to www.tennesseanytime.org/disclosure
• Click on the "Sign Up" button
• After reading the instructions, click on the "Continue to Sign Up" button at the bottom of the page
• Make sure the Disclosure of Interest box is checked and then click the "Continue" button
• Complete all the required information on this page.  The authorization code is given in your letter. Note: the last name and authorization code is case sensitive.  If it is in all caps, on your letter, it must be in all caps on this page.  Next click the "Continue" button
• Leave all the boxes checked and click the "Continue" button if you do not want to add any additional information.  If you want to change any information, unclick the appropriate box and add the information and click the "Continue" button
• Create your user name and password.  Then answer the security questions and click the "Continue" button.  Keep your user name and password so you will have them every year when you need to file
• You have created your TN.gov account. You may now click the link to go back to “Disclosure of Interest” or close out
• From now on you may go www.tennesseanytime.org/disclosure and click "Go to Log In" and log in using your user name and password.

For persons Registering as a Lobbyist or as an Employer of a Lobbyist

A TN.gov account is needed for lobbyists and employers of lobbyist to register and file their required statements.  You only create a TN.gov account once, then use the username and password whenever you need to add or renew your registration.  Lobbyists and employers of lobbyists may obtain an account by following these instructions:

• Go to www.tennesseeanytime.org/ilobby
• Click on the "Create Account" button
• Make sure the Lobbyist Registration box is checked and then click the "Continue" button
• Complete all the required information on this page.  Next click the "Continue" button
• Leave all the boxes checked and click the "Continue" button if you do not want to add any additional information. If you want to change any information, unclick the appropriate box and add the information and click the "Continue" button
• Create your user name and password.  Then answer the security questions and click the "Continue" button.  Keep your user name and password so you will have them every year when you need to file
• You have created a TN.gov account.  You may now click the “Home” link to begin filing your registration (link to “How do I register as a Lobbyist or as an Employer of a Lobbyist?”) or close out
• From now on you may go www.tennesseanytime.org/ilobby/ and click "Go to Log In" and log in using your user name and password.

How do I amend my Disclosure of Interest Statement?

The law requires that any disclosure statement shall be amended when you either get rid of or acquire interests that you must disclose.  Thus, if your circumstances change, or you discover an error or omission in your statement, you may log in using your user name and password, and amend any statement you have filed.

How do I amend my Lobbyist or Employer of Lobbyist Registration Statement?

The law requires that throughout the year, each Lobbyist or Employer of Lobbyist shall update, correct or otherwise modify the Lobbyist’s or Employer’s registration statement not later than seven (7) days following the occurrence of any event, action or changed circumstance which renders the registration incomplete or inaccurate.

How do I find out about in-state events to which all the Members of the Legislature have been invited?

A listing of instate events to which all Members of the Legislature have been invited can be found at http://tnsos.org/tec/events.php.  This information is sorted by year and includes the cost associated with the event and a copy of the invitation to the event.

 

• Gift FAQs
• Financial Disclosure FAQs