Proposed Amendments on the November 2026 Ballot
Proposed amendments are listed directly after the candidates for governor. Each proposed amendment is a yes-or-no question:
A "yes" vote is a vote to amend the Constitution and adopt the language in the proposed amendment.
A "no" vote is a vote to keep the current language in the Constitution unchanged.
For an amendment to pass and become part of the Constitution, both of the following must happen:
The amendment must receive more "yes" votes than "no" votes; and
The number of "yes" votes must be more than half of all votes cast in the governor's race.
To find out how many votes are needed to pass a proposed amendment, all votes cast for all candidates for governor are added together and divided by two. An amendment passes if it gets more "yes" votes than "no" votes and if the number of "yes" votes is more than half of all votes cast for governor. If either of these requirements is not met, the amendment does not pass and the Constitution remains unchanged.
You can click on each resolution title to read the full text of a proposed amendment. The current Constitution language is available in the online Tennessee Blue Book. The Attorney General will provide a short summary of each amendment on the ballot.
Constitutional Amendment #1
As proposed by SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 919 (113th) & SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 25 (114th)
Summary:
This amendment changes Article I, section 15 of the Tennessee Constitution by allowing a court to hold a defendant without bail before trial when that defendant is accused of: an offense punishable by the death penalty, an act of terrorism, second degree murder, aggravated rape of a child, aggravated rape, grave torture, or any crime for which a convicted person would be required to serve eighty-five percent of their sentence. This amendment requires courts to state on the record the reasons for their decision to grant or deny bail in those cases.
Question:
Shall Article I, Section 15 of the Constitution of Tennessee be amended by deleting the following:
That all prisoners shall be bailable by sufficient sureties, unless for capital offences, when the proof is evident, or the presumption great. And the privilege of the writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in case of rebellion or invasion, the General Assembly shall declare the public safety requires it.
and substituting instead the following:
(a) All prisoners shall be bailable by sufficient sureties unless for the following when the proof is evident or the presumption great:
(1) A capital offense;
(2) An act of terrorism;
(3) Second degree murder;
(4) Aggravated rape of a child;
(5) Aggravated rape;
(6) Grave torture; and
(7) Any other offense for which, as of November 3, 2026, a defendant, if convicted, could not be released prior to the expiration of at least eighty-five percent of the entire sentence imposed.
(b) In any case in which bail for an offense listed in subsection (a) is granted or denied before conviction, the judge or magistrate shall place in the record the judge's or magistrate's reasons for granting or denying bail.
(c) The privilege of the writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in case of rebellion or invasion, the General Assembly shall declare the public safety requires it.
☐ Yes
☐ No
Constitutional Amendment #2
As proposed by HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 81 (113th) & SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 1 (114th)
Summary:
This amendment adds text to Article II, section 28 of the Tennessee Constitution that prohibits the Legislature from imposing a State property tax on real, personal, or mixed property.
Question:
Shall Article II, Section 28 of the Constitution of the State of Tennessee be amended by deleting the following language from the first sentence:
In accordance with the following provisions, all property real, personal or mixed shall be subject to taxation, but the Legislature
and substituting instead the following:
In accordance with the following provisions, all property real, personal, or mixed shall be subject to taxation, but the Legislature shall not levy, authorize, or otherwise permit any state tax upon such property, and the Legislature
☐ Yes
☐ No
Constitutional Amendment #3
As proposed by HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 94 (113th) & SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 9 (114th)
Summary:
This amendment changes Article I, section 35 of the Tennessee Constitution by clarifying existing rights for crime victims and adding new rights. The amendment gives victims new rights: to fair treatment; to be informed about and participate in the parole process; to be protected from harassment, intimidation, and abuse; to be informed of the minimum sentence the convicted criminal will serve, as well as their scheduled release date; and to have their safety, their family's safety, and the public's safety taken into account before any decision is made to release the convicted criminal. The amendment also maintains or clarifies victims' existing rights: to be informed about legal proceedings involving the accused or convicted criminal; to be present at public criminal proceedings; to be informed of any release, transfer, or escape of the accused or convicted criminal; to talk to prosecutors; to make statements about conviction, sentencing, or release of the accused person; to a speedy resolution of the case; to restitution from the convicted criminal; and to be informed of their rights. The amendment does not restrict the powers of prosecutors or courts and does not create a cause of action or claim for damages against the State of Tennessee.
Question:
Shall Article I, Section 35 of the Constitution of Tennessee be amended by deleting the section in its entirety and substituting the following:
Section 35. That to preserve and protect the rights of victims of crime to justice and due process throughout the criminal and juvenile justice systems, a victim, as defined by law and which may be expanded by the General Assembly, shall have the following rights, which shall be protected:
(1) The right to be treated with fairness for the victim's safety and dignity;
(2) The right, upon request, to reasonable notice of all public criminal proceedings and all public juvenile delinquency proceedings involving the accused;
(3) The right to be present at all public criminal proceedings and all public juvenile delinquency proceedings involving the accused;
(4) The right upon request to be heard in any proceeding involving release, plea, sentencing, disposition, and parole, as well as any public proceeding when relevant during which a right of the victim is implicated;
(5) The right to be heard and informed of all parole procedures, to participate in the parole process, to provide information to the parole authority to be considered before the parole of the offender, and to be notified, upon request, of the parole or other release of the offender;
(6) The right to be free from harassment, intimidation, and abuse throughout the criminal justice system, including reasonable protection, as defined by the General Assembly, from the accused or any person acting on behalf of the accused;
(7) The right, upon request, to reasonable notice of any release, transfer, or escape of the accused or convicted person;
(8) The right to full and timely restitution from the offender;
(9) The right to a speedy trial or disposition and a prompt and final conclusion of the case after the conviction or sentence;
(10) The right to be informed of the minimum sentence the offender will serve in custody and the scheduled release date;
(11) The right to have the safety of the victim, the victim's family, and the general public considered before any parole or other post-judgment release decision is made;
(12) The right, upon request, to confer with the prosecution; and
(13) The right to be fully informed of all rights afforded to crime victims.
A victim may assert the rights enumerated in this section, not as a party, but in the manner further provided by the General Assembly protecting the victim's right to standing. The General Assembly has the authority to enact substantive and procedural laws to further define, implement, preserve, and protect the rights guaranteed to victims by this section. This section must be interpreted to preserve and protect the rights of all persons to due process. This section, or any law enacted under this section, does not create a basis for vacating a conviction. This section does not restrict the powers of the District Attorney General or the inherent authority of the court.
Other than as provided in the preceding paragraph, this section does not create a cause of action or claim for damages against the state or a political subdivision of the state; an officer, employee, or agent of the state or of any of its political subdivisions; or an officer or employee of the court.
☐ Yes
☐ No