House Bill 14-29, a private act affecting the city of New Johnsonville, Tenn., passed the committee on March 31 after legal staff outlined potential constitutional and statutory implications and members raised concerns about its effect on small municipalities.

Representative Reedy, sponsor of the bill, described it as "an anti nepotism bill" for New Johnsonville and said the town asked the legislature to consider it. He told the committee the measure was drafted by the city's attorney and "it will go back to them for a 2 thirds vote from the legislative body to determine if this is good for themselves or not." The sponsor said the resolution from the town accompanied the filing.

Mark Dobie of the Office of Legal Services told the committee federal and state law bear on the subject. He said, "It prohibits federal officials from appointing, promoting, or recommending for appointment any relatives," citing 5 U.S.C. § 3110 as an example of federal anti‑nepotism law and noting Tennessee Code provisions that set qualifications for office (transcribed as "8 18, section 1"). Dobie cautioned that while the local bill does not necessarily conflict directly with state qualifications, restricting who may run "could be a question for what a court would say whether or not that was permissible." He also confirmed the measure is a private act that would apply only to New Johnsonville.

Committee members pressed the sponsor and legal counsel on practical effects. Representative Davis asked about the municipality's size; a member observed the town's population was about 1,806 in 2023. Members repeatedly noted that small towns can have difficulty recruiting candidates and warned the prohibition could shrink the eligible candidate pool. Representative Hemmer said he had served with a brother‑in‑law in local government and expressed concern that the bill could unfairly bar qualified local candidates.

The bill text defines "immediate relatives" broadly in the hearing record. Legal counsel read the list in the bill: spouses, parents, children, siblings, stepchildren, stepparents, grandparents, grandchildren, mothers‑ and fathers‑in‑law, and sisters‑ and brothers‑in‑law. Members suggested narrowing the measure to apply explicitly only to New Johnsonville or to refine which relative categories are barred; one member urged amending the text to specify it applies to "any elected official in the city of New Johnsonville." The sponsor and other members acknowledged such changes could be worked out before the next hearing stage.

When the committee voted, the clerk reported 5 ayes, 4 nos, and 1 present not voting. The chairman announced House Bill 14-29 "passes and moves on to House, State, and Local Government Committee," and several members said the sponsor should "work on a couple of things" before that next hearing.