Darby Delivers Update on Legislative Actions

HUNTINGDON — State Representative Tandy Darby (R-Greenfield), who represents all of Weakley County and parts of Henry and Carroll counties, provided an update on the Tennessee General Assembly's legislative session and key state policy debates during the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce's Capitol Talk on Friday, February 13. Chamber President Brad Hurley introduced Darby as the speaker of the second of three Capitol Talks. State Senator John Stevens will speak Friday, March 13, 8 a.m. at the Carroll County Civic Center.

A Tighter State Budget and Key Legislative Wins

Representative Darby reported that Tennessee remains in a strong fiscal position due to disciplined budgeting. However, he noted a significant shift in the state’s spending approach over the last two years, moving from a free-flowing "rubber stamp" process to a much tighter budget with an increased focus on cost alternatives.

A major focus of his term has been a three-year effort culminating in a constitutional amendment that will appear on the November ballot. Amendment #2 proposes to permanently remove the state’s authority to levy a property tax, a power not used since 1938 but still preserved in the state's Constitution. Rep. Darby urged constituents to vote "yes" to prevent future tax burdens via a state property tax.

Other legislative work highlighted included:

• Immigration and Public Safety: The Tennessee House leadership has introduced a ten-bill package to strengthen public safety and enforcement tools related to immigration. Darby said he is not against immigration, but it must be done correctly.

Property Tax Caps and Vouchers

Rep. Darby addressed proposals to cap local government's property tax increases, citing bills such as House Bill (HB 2607), which caps annual increases at 2%. While acknowledging the need for relief.

He noted some local governments recently increased property tax rates significantly.

McKenzie Mayor Ryan Griffin said McKenzie increased its rates, otherwise the city services would be significantly effected. McKenzie was facing an $800,000 deficit that would force cuts to essential services like parks without the additional revenue. Griffin, just as his predecessor, Mayor Jill Holland, requested the state return the shared sales tax that was taken from the city by the state many years ago.

Representative Darby also stood firm in his opposition to the governor's school voucher program, asserting that he believes it would not pass a vote today. After consulting with local school directors, Rep. Darby confirmed that the program provides no benefit to his representative district, as virtually no students are lost to private schools. He argued that the program diverts hundreds of millions of dollars that should instead be invested in public education, aligning with his campaign promise to support West Tennessee's public school systems.

Local Concerns Addressed in Q&A

During a spirited question-and-answer session, constituents raised several critical local issues:

• Tax Relief: Barry Mac Murphy of Huntingdon advocated for securing permanent funding for the tax relief program for disabled veterans and low-income seniors. He also suggested removing the sales tax on food and changing property appraisals to a two-year cycle rather than a five-year cycle.
• First Responders: A local bill to officially classify utility electric company linemen as first responders received strong support. Rep. Darby, who recently met the lineman, Chance Carlton, whose death inspired the bill, immediately signed on as a co-sponsor, committing to push for its passage.

About Representative Darby

First elected in 2020, Rep. Darby is a graduate of Greenfield High School and the University of Tennessee at Martin, and he is a small business owner in the produce industry. He serves as Chair of the Banking and Consumer Affairs Subcommittee and is a member of the prestigious Fiscal Review Committee, among others. He resides in Greenfield with his family. He gave high praise to his legislative assistant calling her a "rock star" for her responsiveness to constituents.

He also praised Representative Brock Martin (R-Huntingdon) and State Senator John Stevens (R-Huntingdon) for their advocacy for the area and strong leadership in Tennessee.