Tennessee Voters Back Permanent Ban on State Property Tax

Tennessee voters appear to have approved a constitutional amendment barring the state from creating a property tax. At 11 p.m. ET Tuesday, the measure held 66.4% support with 82% of ballots counted. It needed at least half the vote and more “yes” votes than all ballots cast for governor.

Tennessee has gone without a statewide property tax since 1949, but lawmakers still technically had the power to establish one. Amendment 2 removes that authority from the General Assembly. Counties and cities could continue setting their own property taxes, so local bills are not affected by the amendment’s ban.

Changing the restriction later would require another constitutional amendment. That process would involve approval by two-thirds of lawmakers in two legislative sessions, followed by a statewide vote. Republican Gov. Bill Lee, state Rep. Tandy Darby, the Tennessee Realtors and the National Federation of Independent Business supported the measure. Democrats argued the existing statutory ban did not need constitutional protection.