Part 1 General Provisions 3-1-101 – 3-1-123
Part 2 Tennessee General Assembly Uniform Nepotism Policy Act of 2006 3-1-201 – 3-1-205

Terms Used In Tennessee Code > Title 3 > Chapter 1 - General Assembly

  • Absorptive capacity: is a determination made by a local government evaluating, for a host community within that jurisdiction:
    (A) The capacity of the community's social service and healthcare agencies to meet the existing needs of the community's current residents. See Tennessee Code 4-38-102
  • Adult: means a person who has attained eighteen (18) years of age. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1401
  • Adult bookstore: means a business that offers, as its principal or predominate stock or trade, sexually oriented material, devices, or paraphernalia, whether determined by the total number of sexually oriented materials, devices or paraphernalia offered for sale or by the retail value of such materials, devices or paraphernalia, specified sexual activities, or any combination or form thereof, whether printed, filmed, recorded or live, and that restricts or purports to restrict admission to adults or to any class of adults. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1102
  • Adult cabaret: includes a commercial establishment that features entertainment of an erotic nature, including exotic dancers, strippers, male or female impersonators, or similar entertainers. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1102
  • Adult cabaret: means a cabaret that features topless dancers, go-go dancers, exotic dancers, strippers, male or female impersonators, or similar entertainers. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1401
  • Adult entertainment: means any exhibition of any adult-oriented motion picture, live performance, display or dance of any type, that has as a principal or predominant theme, emphasis, or portion of such performance, any actual or simulated performance of specified sexual activities or exhibition and viewing of specified anatomical areas, removal of articles of clothing or appearing unclothed, pantomime, modeling, or any other personal service offered customers. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1102
  • Adult motion picture theater: means an enclosed building with a capacity of fifty (50) or more persons regularly used for presenting material having as a dominant theme or presenting material distinguished or characterized by an emphasis on matter depicting, describing or relating to specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas as defined in this section, for observation by patrons in the building. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1102
  • Adult-oriented establishment: includes , but is not limited to, an adult bookstore, adult motion picture theater, adult mini-motion picture establishment, adult cabaret, escort agency, sexual encounter center, massage parlor, rap parlor, sauna. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1102
  • Adult-oriented establishment: includes , but is not limited to:
    (A) "Adult book stores" means any corporation, partnership or business of any kind that has as its principal or predominant stock or trade, books, magazines or other periodicals and that offers, sells, provides or rents for a fee:
    (i) Is available for viewing by patrons on the premises by means of the operation of movie machines or slide projectors. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1401
  • advertising: means every kind of conveying to the public notice of sale or notice of intention to conduct a sale, whether by word of mouth, newspaper advertising, magazine advertisement, handbill, written notice, printed notice, printed display, billboard display, poster, radio announcement, and, any and all means including oral, written or printed. See Tennessee Code 6-55-401
  • Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
  • Affiliate: means :
    (A)
    (i) Any person who, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns, controls or holds the power to vote fifteen percent (15%) or more of the outstanding voting securities or other voting ownership interest of a TNInvestco or insurance company. See Tennessee Code 4-28-102
  • Agency: means every department or organization described in chapter 3 of this title. See Tennessee Code 4-33-103
  • Agency action: includes any action by an agency or subdivision thereof that may have substantial economic impact upon any person. See Tennessee Code 4-33-103
  • Agriculture: means :
    (i) The land, buildings and machinery used in the commercial production of farm products and nursery stock. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Allegation: something that someone says happened.
  • Allocation date: means the date on which investment tax credits under §. See Tennessee Code 4-28-102
  • Alternate delegate: means an individual elected as an alternate delegate as provided by this chapter. See Tennessee Code 3-18-102
  • Amendment: A proposal to alter the text of a pending bill or other measure by striking out some of it, by inserting new language, or both. Before an amendment becomes part of the measure, thelegislature must agree to it.
  • Annuity: A periodic (usually annual) payment of a fixed sum of money for either the life of the recipient or for a fixed number of years. A series of payments under a contract from an insurance company, a trust company, or an individual. Annuity payments are made at regular intervals over a period of more than one full year.
  • any prior fiscal year: means any fiscal year beginning on or after July 1, 1984. See Tennessee Code 7-39-403
  • Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
  • Appellate: About appeals; an appellate court has the power to review the judgement of another lower court or tribunal.
  • Appraisal: A determination of property value.
  • Appraisal ratio: means the ratio of appraised values of record to one hundred percent (100%) of current values that are to be derived in accordance with applicable state law for use in ad valorem property tax determinations each tax year. See Tennessee Code 7-39-403
  • Appropriation: The provision of funds, through an annual appropriations act or a permanent law, for federal agencies to make payments out of the Treasury for specified purposes. The formal federal spending process consists of two sequential steps: authorization
  • Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
  • Assessed value basis: means the apportionment of the applicable cost according to the ratio that the assessed value of the individual parcels of property bears to the total assessed value of all such properties at such time as is determined by the legislative body. See Tennessee Code 7-32-101
  • Assessment ratio in effect: means that assessment ratio being applied by the comptroller of the treasury in assessing gas system property of private gas corporations for ad valorem taxation or, if such assessment function ceases to be performed by the comptroller of the treasury, that assessment ratio applied by any authorized department, agency, or official of the state empowered to so apply such an assessment ratio in assessing gas system property. See Tennessee Code 7-39-403
  • Assets: (1) The property comprising the estate of a deceased person, or (2) the property in a trust account.
  • Associated municipality: means the municipality for the benefit of which an energy acquisition corporation is organized. See Tennessee Code 7-39-102
  • Auxiliary container: means a bag, cup, bottle, can, device, eating or drinking utensil or tool, or other packaging, whether reusable or single use, which is:
    (A) Made of cloth, paper, plastic, including foamed or expanded plastic, cardboard, corrugated material, aluminum, glass, post-consumer recycled material, or similar material or substrates, including coated, laminated, or multilayer substrates. See Tennessee Code 7-51-2001
  • Base investment amount: means fourteen million dollars ($14,000,000) in the case of a qualified TNInvestco receiving one (1) allocation of tax credits and twenty eight million dollars ($28,000,000) in the case of a qualified TNInvestco receiving two (2) allocations of tax credits, which must be available in cash or cash equivalents immediately following the investment by a TNInvestco's participating investors and its owners. See Tennessee Code 4-28-102
  • Baseline: Projection of the receipts, outlays, and other budget amounts that would ensue in the future without any change in existing policy. Baseline projections are used to gauge the extent to which proposed legislation, if enacted into law, would alter current spending and revenue levels.
  • Beneficiary: A person who is entitled to receive the benefits or proceeds of a will, trust, insurance policy, retirement plan, annuity, or other contract. Source: OCC
  • Benefits received basis: means the apportionment of the applicable costs according to an equitable determination by the legislative body of the municipality of the special benefit received by the individual parcel of property from the public facility, taking into account any of the following factors: square footage of parcels or anticipated improvements, or both, front footage, assessed value, type of use, business classification, property location, zones of benefit or a combination of such factors. See Tennessee Code 7-32-101
  • Bestiality: means sexual activity, actual or simulated, between a human being and an animal. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1401
  • Blighted: has the meaning ascribed to that term in title 13, chapters 20 and 21. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1902
  • Board: as used in this part , means a board of waterworks and/or sewerage commissioners as required and authorized in this section, constituted and appointed as provided in §. See Tennessee Code 7-35-406
  • Board: means the state board for licensing contractors, created by §. See Tennessee Code 4-41-102
  • Board: means the adult-oriented establishment board, or, if there is in existence in the county a massage registration board appointed by the county mayor, such board may be substituted for the board. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1102
  • Bonds: means bonds, notes, interim certificates or other obligations of a corporation issued pursuant to this chapter. See Tennessee Code 7-39-102
  • Capital improvement property: means any real or tangible property needed for a governmental purpose and having a useful life of one (1) year or more, and any real or tangible personal property with respect to which capital outlay notes can be legally authorized and issued by a municipality. See Tennessee Code 7-51-901
  • Caucus: From the Algonquian Indian language, a caucus meant "to meet together." An informal organization of members of the legislature that exists to discuss issues of mutual concern and possibly to perform legislative research and policy planning for its members. There are regional, political or ideological, ethnic, and economic-based caucuses.
  • Chambers: A judge's office.
  • Charter: means a document containing a unified government structure, pursuant to this chapter, that constitutes the fundamental law of the unified government. See Tennessee Code 7-21-104
  • Charter commission: means a commission established to propose the charter to the voters for adoption as provided in this chapter. See Tennessee Code 7-21-104
  • Chief executive officer of the county: means the officer vested by either the county charter or general law with the executive powers of the county government. See Tennessee Code 7-21-104
  • City: means any city or territory to be incorporated that may adopt chapters 30-36 of this title. See Tennessee Code 6-30-102
  • city: means any town, city, metropolitan government or county. See Tennessee Code 7-32-101
  • City legislative body: means the city council, board of mayor and aldermen or other body possessing the legislative power and authority of the government of a municipality. See Tennessee Code 7-21-104
  • Code: includes the Tennessee Code and all amendments and revisions to the code and all additions and supplements to the code. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Collector: includes any person entrusted with the collection of public revenue. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Commission: means the state building commission. See Tennessee Code 4-15-107
  • Commission: means the Tennessee commission for the United States semiquincentennial commission. See Tennessee Code 4-44-102
  • Commission: means the state procurement commission, which replaces the board of standards within former title 12, chapter 3, part 4. See Tennessee Code 4-56-101
  • Commissioner: means the commissioner or such official designated by the city ordinance, to be appointed by the municipality. See Tennessee Code 6-55-401
  • Committee: means the state protest committee, which replaces the board of standards protest authority within former §. See Tennessee Code 4-56-101
  • Common law: The legal system that originated in England and is now in use in the United States. It is based on judicial decisions rather than legislative action.
  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • Consideration: means the consideration charged, whether or not received, for the occupancy in a hotel valued in money whether to be received in money, goods, labor or otherwise, including all receipts, cash, credits, property and services of any kind or nature without any deduction therefrom whatsoever. See Tennessee Code 7-4-101
  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Contracting party: means any party to a contract, lease or lease-purchase agreement other than a municipality, and can include individuals, corporations, partnerships, other government agencies, and other business entities. See Tennessee Code 7-51-901
  • Convention center: means any land, improvement, structure, building or part of a building comprised of facilities for conventions, public assemblies, conferences, trade exhibitions or other business, social, cultural, scientific and public interest events, along with any associated hotel accommodations. See Tennessee Code 7-4-101
  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • Corporation: means a nonprofit corporation, which shall be properly incorporated under the laws of this state and approved by the United States internal revenue service as an organization that is exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code (26 U. See Tennessee Code 4-41-102
  • Costs: means cost of labor, materials, equipment necessary to complete an improvement, land, easements, and other necessary expenses connected with an improvement, including preliminary and other surveys, inspections of the work, engineers' fees and costs, attorneys' fees, fiscal agents' fees, preparation of plans and specifications, publication expenses, interest that may become due on bonds before collection of the first improvement assessments, a reasonable allowance for unforeseen contingencies, and other costs of financing. See Tennessee Code 7-33-301
  • Council: means the advisory council on state procurement. See Tennessee Code 4-56-101
  • County: means the county in which any such city or territory to be incorporated under chapters 30-36 of this title is located, or in which the major portion of the population of any such city or territory to be incorporated is located as indicated by the last federal census. See Tennessee Code 6-30-102
  • County: means any county whose voters have adopted a county charter government. See Tennessee Code 7-21-104
  • County: as used in this part , means either a Class A county or a Class B county as classified in §. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1102
  • County governing body: means that body in a particular county that is vested with the power to levy property taxes. See Tennessee Code 7-1-101
  • County legislative body: means that body vested by either the county charter or general law with the legislative powers of the county government. See Tennessee Code 7-21-104
  • County mayor: means and includes "county executive" unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Decedent: A deceased person.
  • Deed: The legal instrument used to transfer title in real property from one person to another.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Delegate: means an individual elected as provided by this chapter to represent Tennessee at an Article V convention. See Tennessee Code 3-18-102
  • Department: means the department of economic and community development. See Tennessee Code 4-26-102
  • Dependent: A person dependent for support upon another.
  • Deposition: An oral statement made before an officer authorized by law to administer oaths. Such statements are often taken to examine potential witnesses, to obtain discovery, or to be used later in trial.
  • Designated capital: means an amount of money that is invested by a participating investor in a qualified TNInvestco. See Tennessee Code 4-28-102
  • Devise: To gift property by will.
  • Discovery: Lawyers' examination, before trial, of facts and documents in possession of the opponents to help the lawyers prepare for trial.
  • Distributor: means a party engaged in moving energy commodities, industrial materials, or their derivatives, including the transport and delivery to a retailer or customer. See Tennessee Code 7-51-2201
  • Economic development agreement: includes , but is not limited to, leases or other agreements with private entities under the industrial development program provided in title 7, chapter 53, and redevelopment plans and agreements containing tax increment financing provisions authorized under title 13, chapter 20, including development authorities created by private act, as authorized pursuant to §. See Tennessee Code 4-17-102
  • Employee: means a person who performs any service on the premises of an adult-oriented establishment on a full-time, part-time, or contract basis, whether or not the person is denominated an employee, independent contractor, agent or otherwise, and whether or not such person is paid a salary, wage, or other compensation by the operator of such business. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1102
  • End date profit share percentage: means a fee paid to the state by a qualified TNInvestco as provided in §. See Tennessee Code 4-28-102
  • Energy: means a resource that is marketed, or that has the potential to be marketed, as a commodity because of the resource's value as a source of power or fuel. See Tennessee Code 7-51-2201
  • energy acquisition corporation: means a public corporation formed under this chapter, which shall be a public instrumentality of its associated municipality and of the state of Tennessee. See Tennessee Code 7-39-102
  • Energy distribution system: means a system for the distribution of natural gas or electric power that is owned or operated by a municipality or any board or agency of the municipality. See Tennessee Code 7-39-102
  • Energy infrastructure: means the systems or assets, including storage tanks, pipelines, gas transmission lines, or related equipment, that are necessary to produce, generate, transmit, or distribute natural gas, liquefied petroleum, liquid petroleum, and other similar forms of energy to a wholesaler, retailer, distributor, or customer. See Tennessee Code 7-51-2201
  • Entertainer: means any person who provides entertainment within an "adult-oriented establishment" as defined in this section, whether or not a fee is charged or accepted for entertainment and whether or not entertainment is provided as an employee, escort or an independent contractor. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1102
  • Entertainer: means a person who provides:
    (A) Entertainment within an adult-oriented establishment, regardless of whether a fee is charged or accepted for entertainment and regardless of whether entertainment is provided as an employee, escort as defined in §. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1401
  • Equitable: Pertaining to civil suits in "equity" rather than in "law." In English legal history, the courts of "law" could order the payment of damages and could afford no other remedy. See damages. A separate court of "equity" could order someone to do something or to cease to do something. See, e.g., injunction. In American jurisprudence, the federal courts have both legal and equitable power, but the distinction is still an important one. For example, a trial by jury is normally available in "law" cases but not in "equity" cases. Source: U.S. Courts
  • Escort: means a person who, for monetary consideration in the form of a fee, commission, salary or tip, dates, socializes, visits, consorts with, accompanies, or offers to date, socialize, visit, consort or accompany to social affairs, entertainment or places of amusement or within any place of public resort or within any private quarters of a place of public resort. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1102
  • Escort service: means a "person" as defined in this section, who, for a fee, commission, profit, payment or other monetary consideration, furnishes or offers to furnish escorts or provides or offers to introduce patrons to escorts. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1102
  • Escrow: Money given to a third party to be held for payment until certain conditions are met.
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Ex officio: Literally, by virtue of one's office.
  • Executive session: A portion of the Senate's daily session in which it considers executive business.
  • Fair market value: The price at which an asset would change hands in a transaction between a willing, informed buyer and a willing, informed seller.
  • Family recreation center: means any facility, which is oriented principally toward meeting the athletic or recreational needs of families and whose targeted customer is a minor child, including, but not limited to, the provision of one (1) or more of the following:
    (A) Ice skating. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1401
  • farm products: means forage and sod crops. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Fiduciary: A trustee, executor, or administrator.
  • Firearms accessories: means items that are used in conjunction with or mounted upon a firearm but are not essential to the basic function of a firearm, including, but not limited to, telescopic or laser sights, magazines, flash or sound suppressors, folding or aftermarket stocks and grips, speedloaders, ammunition carriers and lights for target illumination. See Tennessee Code 4-54-103
  • Fiscal year: means the year beginning July 1 of each calendar year. See Tennessee Code 7-39-403
  • Fiscal year: The fiscal year is the accounting period for the government. For the federal government, this begins on October 1 and ends on September 30. The fiscal year is designated by the calendar year in which it ends; for example, fiscal year 2006 begins on October 1, 2005 and ends on September 30, 2006.
  • Foreclosure: A legal process in which property that is collateral or security for a loan may be sold to help repay the loan when the loan is in default. Source: OCC
  • Fraud: Intentional deception resulting in injury to another.
  • Funeral and burial expenses: includes , but is not limited to, the cost of preparing the body for burial or other disposition, the funeral service, any funeral merchandise, flowers, honoraria, acknowledgment cards, postage, transporting the body to the place of burial or disposition, the burial space, crypt, mausoleum or other final resting place, the opening and closing thereof and any marker. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Garnishment: Generally, garnishment is a court proceeding in which a creditor asks a court to order a third party who owes money to the debtor or otherwise holds assets belonging to the debtor to turn over to the creditor any of the debtor
  • Gas operations: means all activities associated with the establishment, development, and administration of a gas system and the business of supplying gas and associated services to the public, including, but not limited to, the generation, purchase, and sale of gas energy and the purchase, use, and consumption of gas energy by ultimate consumers. See Tennessee Code 7-39-403
  • Gas system: means all tangible and intangible property and resources of every kind and description used or held for use in the purchase, generation, transmission, distribution, and sale of gas energy. See Tennessee Code 7-39-403
  • General services district: means a service district within a metropolitan government whose geographical limits are coextensive with the total area in which the government functions. See Tennessee Code 7-1-101
  • Generic and insignificant parts: includes , but is not limited to, springs, screws, nuts and pins. See Tennessee Code 4-54-103
  • Gift: A voluntary transfer or conveyance of property without consideration, or for less than full and adequate consideration based on fair market value.
  • Goods: means all property, including, but not limited to, supplies, equipment, materials, printing, and insurance. See Tennessee Code 4-56-101
  • Governing body: means , with respect to a municipality that is an associated municipality of, or purchaser of gas from, an acquisition corporation established to exercise the powers described in this chapter with respect to natural gas and natural gas substitutes, any board, commission or other instrumentality of such municipality having jurisdiction, control and management of the gas distribution system of that municipality, and, with respect to a municipality that is an associated municipality of, or purchaser of electrical power from, an acquisition corporation established to exercise the powers described in this chapter with respect to electrical power, any board, commission or other instrumentality of such municipality having jurisdiction, control and management of the electrical power distribution system of that municipality. See Tennessee Code 7-39-102
  • Governing body: means the board or body in which the general legislative powers of a municipality are vested. See Tennessee Code 7-33-301
  • Governing body: means the board or body in which the general legislative powers of the municipality are vested. See Tennessee Code 7-51-901
  • governmental entity: means any political subdivision of the state of Tennessee and any municipality, metropolitan government, county or airport authority. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1002
  • Grant: means any grant awarded to the state or awarded by the state for the furnishing by the state of assistance, whether financial or otherwise, to any person to support a program authorized by law. See Tennessee Code 4-56-101
  • Guarantor: A party who agrees to be responsible for the payment of another party's debts should that party default. Source: OCC
  • Highway: includes public bridges and may be held equivalent to the words "county way" "county road" or "state road". See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Hotel: means any structure, or any portion of any structure, that is occupied or intended or designed for occupancy by transients for dwelling, lodging or sleeping purposes, and includes any hotel, inn, tourist court, tourist camp, tourist cabin, motel, short-term rental unit or any place in which rooms, lodgings or accommodations are furnished to transients for a consideration. See Tennessee Code 7-4-101
  • Impeachment: (1) The process of calling something into question, as in "impeaching the testimony of a witness." (2) The constitutional process whereby the House of Representatives may "impeach" (accuse of misconduct) high officers of the federal government for trial in the Senate.
  • Improvement: means the construction, installation or substantial reconstruction of sanitary sewers. See Tennessee Code 7-33-301
  • Improvement assessment: means an assessment made each year against benefited property to pay the costs of an improvement, in the proportion that the assessed value of each parcel or lot of benefited property bears to the total assessed value of all benefited property according to the latest assessments of such property for purposes of municipal property taxation or as provided by this part. See Tennessee Code 7-33-301
  • Improvement to real property: means :
    (A) The construction or erection of new buildings or structures in which the state of Tennessee or any of its departments, institutions or agencies have an interest, whether financed by public or private funds or both. See Tennessee Code 4-15-107
  • In the line of duty: means in the course of employment and in the actual discharge of the duties of the position. See Tennessee Code 4-1-501
  • Industrial infrastructure: means the systems or assets, including storage tanks, pipelines, or related equipment, that are necessary to produce, transmit, or distribute industrial materials to a wholesaler, retailer, distributor, or customer. See Tennessee Code 7-51-2201
  • Injunction: An order of the court prohibiting (or compelling) the performance of a specific act to prevent irreparable damage or injury.
  • Inspector: means an inspector of the department of licenses. See Tennessee Code 6-55-401
  • Intangible property: Property that has no intrinsic value, but is merely the evidence of value such as stock certificates, bonds, and promissory notes.
  • Interest: means either or both of the following rights under the organic law of an unincorporated entity:
    (A) The right to receive distributions from the entity either in the ordinary course or upon liquidation. See Tennessee Code 48-11-201
  • Interest rate: The amount paid by a borrower to a lender in exchange for the use of the lender's money for a certain period of time. Interest is paid on loans or on debt instruments, such as notes or bonds, either at regular intervals or as part of a lump sum payment when the issue matures. Source: OCC
  • Investment period: means the period January 1, 2010, through December 31, 2019. See Tennessee Code 4-28-102
  • Joint committee: Committees including membership from both houses of teh legislature. Joint committees are usually established with narrow jurisdictions and normally lack authority to report legislation.
  • Joint resolution: A legislative measure which requires the approval of both chambers.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Lands: includes lands, tenements and hereditaments, and all rights thereto and interests therein, equitable as well as legal. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Lease: A contract transferring the use of property or occupancy of land, space, structures, or equipment in consideration of a payment (e.g., rent). Source: OCC
  • Legislative session: That part of a chamber's daily session in which it considers legislative business (bills, resolutions, and actions related thereto).
  • Liabilities: The aggregate of all debts and other legal obligations of a particular person or legal entity.
  • License: means a license issued pursuant to this part. See Tennessee Code 6-55-401
  • Licensee: means any person to whom a license has been issued pursuant to this part. See Tennessee Code 6-55-401
  • Lien: A claim against real or personal property in satisfaction of a debt.
  • Litigation: A case, controversy, or lawsuit. Participants (plaintiffs and defendants) in lawsuits are called litigants.
  • Livestock: means all equine as well as animals that are being raised primarily for use as food or fiber for human utilization or consumption including, but not limited to, cattle, sheep, swine, goats, and poultry. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Local action: means an ordinance, resolution, regulation, code, requirement, policy, or other action or omission taken, enacted, adopted, or otherwise imposed by a political subdivision of this state. See Tennessee Code 7-51-2201
  • Local government: means a municipality, county or county having a metropolitan form of government. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1902
  • Local government: means a county, municipality, or county with a metropolitan form of government. See Tennessee Code 7-51-2001
  • local government: means any county, metropolitan government, municipality or other political subdivision of this state. See Tennessee Code 4-30-102
  • Major maintenance: means the repair or renovation of a building or structure or a portion thereof in which this state or a department, institution, or agency thereof has an interest and that:
    (A) Is being funded by direct appropriations for major maintenance. See Tennessee Code 4-15-107
  • Manufactured: means creating a firearm, a firearm accessory or ammunition from basic materials for functional usefulness, including, but not limited to, forging, casting, machining or other processes for working materials. See Tennessee Code 4-54-103
  • Masochism: means sexual gratification achieved by a person through, or the association of sexual activity with, submission or subjection to physical pain, suffering, humiliation, torture or death. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1401
  • Massage parlor: means an establishment or place primarily in the business of providing massage or tanning services where one (1) or more of the employees exposes to public view of the patrons within such establishment, at any time, the bare female breast below a point immediately above the top of the areola, human genitals, pubic region, or buttocks, even if partially covered by opaque material or completely covered by translucent material. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1102
  • Mayor: means such officer vested by either the city charter or general law with the executive powers of a municipality. See Tennessee Code 7-21-104
  • Member: means a person reflected in the required records of an LLC as the owner of some governance rights of a membership interest of the LLC. See Tennessee Code 48-202-101
  • Metropolitan council: means the council of a county having a metropolitan form of government that has a population in excess of five hundred thousand (500,000), according to the 2000 federal census or any subsequent federal census. See Tennessee Code 7-4-201
  • Metropolitan government: means the political entity created by consolidation of all, or substantially all, of the political and corporate functions of a county and a city or cities. See Tennessee Code 7-1-101
  • Metropolitan government: means any county having a metropolitan form of government that has a population in excess of five hundred thousand (500,000), according to the 2000 federal census or any subsequent federal census. See Tennessee Code 7-4-201
  • Minor: means any person who has not attained eighteen (18) years of age. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Minority-owned business: means a business that is wholly owned, or at least fifty-one percent (51%) of the assets or outstanding stock of which is owned, by one (1) or more individuals who are members of any racial or ethnic minority within the state and whose management and daily business operations are under the control of one (1) or more members of any racial or ethnic minority within the state. See Tennessee Code 4-28-102
  • Minority-owned business: means a business that is solely owned, or at least fifty-one percent (51%) of the assets or outstanding stock of which is owned, by an individual who personally manages and controls the daily operations of the business and who is impeded from normal entry into the economic mainstream because of:
    (A) Past practices of discrimination based on race, religion, ethnic background, or sex. See Tennessee Code 7-4-201
  • Month: means a calendar month. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Mortgage: The written agreement pledging property to a creditor as collateral for a loan.
  • Municipal corporation: means an incorporated city or town. See Tennessee Code 7-1-101
  • Municipal corporation: means any incorporated city or town in this state and any utility district created pursuant to chapter 82 of this title. See Tennessee Code 7-35-401
  • Municipality: means an incorporated city or town located within the boundaries of a county whose voters have adopted a county charter government. See Tennessee Code 7-21-104
  • Municipality: means any county, incorporated city, town or metropolitan government, utility district, energy acquisition corporation or gas, electric or energy authority in this state. See Tennessee Code 7-39-102
  • Municipality: means any incorporated city or any incorporated town. See Tennessee Code 6-55-401
  • Municipality: means incorporated city or town. See Tennessee Code 7-33-301
  • Municipality: means any incorporated city or town, metropolitan government, or county that now or hereafter owns and operates a gas system. See Tennessee Code 7-39-403
  • Municipality: means any county or incorporated city or town of the state of Tennessee. See Tennessee Code 7-51-901
  • Municipally-owned: means owned by a municipality as defined in this chapter. See Tennessee Code 7-39-102
  • Nolo contendere: No contest-has the same effect as a plea of guilty, as far as the criminal sentence is concerned, but may not be considered as an admission of guilt for any other purpose.
  • Notice: means , when required by this part, placing the document in the United States mail with sufficient first-class postage to carry it to its destination to the address of the person being notified as contained in their application, unless such person has notified the board in writing of such person's new address. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1102
  • Notice of meeting: means the notice of meeting referred to in this part. See Tennessee Code 7-51-901
  • nursery stock: means all trees, shrubs, or other plants, or parts of such trees, shrubs or other plants, grown or kept for, or capable of, propagation, distribution or sale on a commercial basis. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Oath: includes affirmation. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Oath: A promise to tell the truth.
  • Obligation: An order placed, contract awarded, service received, or similar transaction during a given period that will require payments during the same or a future period.
  • Occupancy: means the use or possession, or the right to the use or possession, of any room, lodgings or accommodations in a hotel for a period of less than thirty (30) continuous days. See Tennessee Code 7-4-101
  • Officer: means the mayor, aldermen, city attorney and city judge. See Tennessee Code 6-1-101
  • Official: means an agent, employee, member, or representative of a state governmental entity, but does not mean the attorney general and reporter. See Tennessee Code 4-42-102
  • Open office: means an office at the escort service from which the escort business is transacted and that is open to patrons or prospective patrons during all hours during which escorts are working, which is managed or operated by an employee, officer, director or owner of the escort service having authority to bind the service to escort and patron contracts and adjust patron and consumer complaints. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1102
  • Operator: means the person operating the hotel, whether as owner, lessee or otherwise. See Tennessee Code 7-4-101
  • Operator: means any person, partnership, or corporation operating, conducting or maintaining an adult-oriented establishment. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1102
  • Outlays: Outlays are payments made (generally through the issuance of checks or disbursement of cash) to liquidate obligations. Outlays during a fiscal year may be for payment of obligations incurred in prior years or in the same year.
  • Oversight: Committee review of the activities of a Federal agency or program.
  • Participating governmental unit: means a county whose voters have adopted a county charter government or a municipality located within that county's boundaries that has elected to participate in the preparation of a charter pursuant to this chapter. See Tennessee Code 7-21-104
  • Participating investor: means any insurance company required to pay the gross premiums tax pursuant to §. See Tennessee Code 4-28-102
  • Partnership: A voluntary contract between two or more persons to pool some or all of their assets into a business, with the agreement that there will be a proportional sharing of profits and losses.
  • Person: means an individual, partnership, limited partnership, firm, corporation or association. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1401
  • Person: includes a corporation, firm, company or association. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Person: means any individual, firm, partnership, joint venture, association, social club, fraternal organization, joint stock company, corporation, estate, trust, business trust, receiver, trustee, syndicate, or any other group or combination acting as a unit. See Tennessee Code 7-4-101
  • Person: means any natural person or entity, including, but not limited to, a corporation, general or limited partnership, trust or limited liability company. See Tennessee Code 4-28-102
  • Person: means any individual, firm, partnership, joint venture, association, social club, fraternal organization, joint stock company, corporation, estate, trust, business trust, business organization, receiver, trustee, syndicate, or any other group or combination acting as a unit. See Tennessee Code 7-4-201
  • Person: means an individual, partnership, limited partnership, firm, corporation or association. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1102
  • Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
  • Plea: In a criminal case, the defendant's statement pleading "guilty" or "not guilty" in answer to the charges, a declaration made in open court.
  • Pleadings: Written statements of the parties in a civil case of their positions. In the federal courts, the principal pleadings are the complaint and the answer.
  • Policy: means an ordinance, resolution, regulation, code, or any other requirement imposed by a political subdivision of this state. See Tennessee Code 7-51-2101
  • Political subdivision: means a municipality. See Tennessee Code 7-51-2101
  • Political subdivision: means a municipality. See Tennessee Code 7-51-2201
  • Precedent: A court decision in an earlier case with facts and law similar to a dispute currently before a court. Precedent will ordinarily govern the decision of a later similar case, unless a party can show that it was wrongly decided or that it differed in some significant way.
  • Presiding officer: A majority-party Senator who presides over the Senate and is charged with maintaining order and decorum, recognizing Members to speak, and interpreting the Senate's rules, practices and precedents.
  • Principal city: means :
    (A) That municipal corporation having the largest population of any municipality in a particular county. See Tennessee Code 7-1-101
  • Principal city: means that municipality having the largest population of any municipality in a particular county. See Tennessee Code 7-21-104
  • Private act: includes , without limitation, the charter and any amendments to the charter of any home rule municipality or any metropolitan government. See Tennessee Code 7-39-403
  • private club: means a club or organization that operates for the purpose of providing members of the club with the opportunity to engage in or view live specified sexual activities, as defined in §. See Tennessee Code 7-51-601
  • Probable cause: A reasonable ground for belief that the offender violated a specific law.
  • Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
  • Procurement: means buying, purchasing, renting, leasing, or otherwise acquiring any goods or services. See Tennessee Code 4-56-101
  • Profit share percentage: means a fee paid to the state by a qualified TNInvestco as provided in §. See Tennessee Code 4-28-102
  • Program end date: means December 31, 2024. See Tennessee Code 4-28-102
  • Project for a private purpose: includes , but is not limited to:
    (a) Any commercial project, commercial subdivision, private residence or residential subdivision that is owned by a nonpublic entity. See Tennessee Code 7-35-401
  • Property: includes both personal and real property. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • property to be benefited: means , as determined by the governing body, land, excluding improvement, that is within a reasonable distance from a sanitary sewer and to which is made available a means of drainage for sewage, or that abuts on a street or other public way to be improved. See Tennessee Code 7-33-301
  • Prosecute: To charge someone with a crime. A prosecutor tries a criminal case on behalf of the government.
  • Public facility: means roads, streets, sidewalks, utilities, including electrical, gas, water and wastewater improvements, related improvements, parking facilities, parks and greenways and any improvements for public safety, including police and fire stations. See Tennessee Code 7-32-101
  • Qualified business: means a business that is independently owned and operated and meets all of the following requirements:
    (i) It is headquartered in this state, its principal business operations are located in this state, and at least sixty percent (60%) of its employees are located in this state. See Tennessee Code 4-28-102
  • Qualified investment: means the investment of cash by a qualified TNInvestco in a qualified business for the purchase of equity, equity options, warrants, or debt convertible to equity. See Tennessee Code 4-28-102
  • Quorum: The number of legislators that must be present to do business.
  • Rap parlor: means an establishment or place primarily in the business of providing nonprofessional conversation or similar service for adults. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1102
  • Real property: Land, and all immovable fixtures erected on, growing on, or affixed to the land.
  • real property: include lands, tenements and hereditaments, and all rights thereto and interests therein, equitable as well as legal. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Record: means information that is inscribed on a tangible medium or that is stored in an electronic or other medium and is retrievable in a perceivable form. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • relative: means a parent, foster parent, parent-in-law, child, spouse, brother, foster brother, sister, foster sister, grandparent, grandchild, son-in-law, brother-in-law, daughter-in-law, sister-in-law, or other family member who resides in the same household. See Tennessee Code 3-1-202
  • Remainder: An interest in property that takes effect in the future at a specified time or after the occurrence of some event, such as the death of a life tenant.
  • Remand: When an appellate court sends a case back to a lower court for further proceedings.
  • Renovation: means the change in the functional use or operation of space in existing buildings or structures in which the state of Tennessee or any of its departments, institutions or agencies have an interest. See Tennessee Code 4-15-107
  • Reporter: Makes a record of court proceedings and prepares a transcript, and also publishes the court's opinions or decisions (in the courts of appeals).
  • Representative: when applied to those who represent a decedent, includes executors and administrators, unless the context implies heirs and distributees. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Residential dwelling: means a cabin, house, or structure used or designed to be used as an abode or home of a person, family, or household, and includes a single-family dwelling, a portion of a single-family dwelling, or an individual residential dwelling in a multi-dwelling building, such as an apartment building, condominium, cooperative, or timeshare. See Tennessee Code 7-4-101
  • Resolution: means any resolution duly adopted by a governing body pursuant to this part. See Tennessee Code 7-51-901
  • Restitution: The court-ordered payment of money by the defendant to the victim for damages caused by the criminal action.
  • Retailer: means a party who markets or sells energy or industrial materials to a customer. See Tennessee Code 7-51-2201
  • Retailer: means a person or entity that sells goods or services on behalf of a state governmental entity. See Tennessee Code 4-39-101
  • Road: includes public bridges and may be held equivalent to the words "county way" "county road" or "state road". See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Sadism: means sexual gratification achieved through, or the association of sexual activity with, the infliction of physical pain, suffering, humiliation, torture or death upon another person or animal. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1401
  • Sales: means the sale or any offer to sell to the public goods, wares and merchandise of any and all kinds and descriptions on hand and in stock in connection with a declared purpose, as set forth by advertising, on the part of the seller that such sale is anticipatory to the termination, closing, liquidation, revision, windup, discontinuance, conclusion or abandonment of the business in connection with such sale. See Tennessee Code 6-55-401
  • SAME program: means the state as a model employer program established pursuant to this chapter. See Tennessee Code 4-46-101
  • Sanctuary policy: means any directive, order, ordinance, resolution, practice, or policy, whether formally enacted, informally adopted, or otherwise effectuated, that:
    (A) Limits or prohibits any state governmental entity or official from communicating or cooperating with federal agencies or officials to verify or report the immigration status of any alien. See Tennessee Code 4-42-102
  • Sanitary sewer: means an underground conduit for the passage of a sewer, and pumping stations, pressure lines, and outlets where deemed necessary. See Tennessee Code 7-33-301
  • Sauna: means an establishment or place primarily in the business of providing:
    (A) A steam bath. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1102
  • Seed or early stage investment: means an investment in a company that has a product or service in testing or pilot production that may or may not be commercially available. See Tennessee Code 4-28-102
  • Service of process: The service of writs or summonses to the appropriate party.
  • Services: means all services and agreements obligating the state, except services for highway and road improvements, which are governed by title 54, and designer and construction services, which are governed under chapter 15 of this title. See Tennessee Code 4-56-101
  • Settlement: Parties to a lawsuit resolve their difference without having a trial. Settlements often involve the payment of compensation by one party in satisfaction of the other party's claims.
  • Sewerage system: means all or any part of the following:
    (A) The collecting system. See Tennessee Code 7-35-401
  • sex: means a person's immutable biological sex as determined by anatomy and genetics existing at the time of birth and evidence of a person's biological sex. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Sexual conduct: means the engaging in or the commission of an act of sexual intercourse, oral-genital contact, or the touching of the sexual organs, pubic region, buttocks or female breast of a person for the purpose of arousing or gratifying the sexual desire of another person. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1102
  • Sexual encounter center: means a business or commercial enterprise that, as one of its primary business purposes, offers for any form of consideration:
    (A) Physical contact in the form of wrestling or tumbling between persons of the opposite sex. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1102
  • Sexual gratification: means sexual conduct as defined in this section. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1102
  • Sexual stimulation: means to excite or arouse the prurient interest or to offer or solicit acts of sexual conduct as defined in this section. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1102
  • Sexually-oriented escort: is a n escort that:
    (A) Employs as an employee, agent, or independent contractor an escort bureau runner. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1102
  • Sexually-oriented material: means any book, article, magazine, publication or written matter of any kind, drawing, etching, painting, photograph, motion picture film or sound recording that depicts sexual activity, actual or simulated, involving human beings or human beings and animals, that exhibits uncovered human genitals or pubic region in a lewd or lascivious manner, or that exhibits human male genitals in a discernibly turgid state, even if completely covered. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1401
  • Short-term rental unit: means a residential dwelling that is rented wholly or partially for a fee for a period of less than thirty (30) continuous days and does not include a hotel as defined in §. See Tennessee Code 7-4-101
  • Short-term rental unit marketplace: means a person or entity, excluding a vacation lodging service, that provides a platform for compensation, through which a third party offers to rent a short-term rental unit to an occupant. See Tennessee Code 7-4-101
  • signed: includes a mark, the name being written near the mark and witnessed, or any other symbol or methodology executed or adopted by a party with intention to authenticate a writing or record, regardless of being witnessed. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Smaller city: means any municipality within a county other than the principal city. See Tennessee Code 7-21-104
  • Specified anatomical areas: means :
    (A) Less than completely and opaquely covered:
    (i) Human genitals. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1102
  • Specified sexual activities: means activities, services or performances that include the following sexual activities or the exhibition of the following anatomical areas:
    (A) Human genitals in a state of sexual stimulation or arousal. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1401
  • Specified sexual activities: means :
    (A) Human genitals in a state of sexual stimulation or arousal. See Tennessee Code 7-51-1102
  • Square foot basis: means the apportionment of the applicable costs according to the ratio that the square footage of the individual parcels of property or the buildings expected to be constructed on the property bears to the square footage of all the property or the buildings expected to be constructed on the property. See Tennessee Code 7-32-101
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • State agency: means a board, commission, committee, department, office, or another entity of this state. See Tennessee Code 4-56-101
  • State governmental entity: means a state agency, department, board, or commission, or a public corporation or quasi-public instrumentality that performs essential public functions entrusted to it by the state. See Tennessee Code 4-39-101
  • State governmental entity: means any state agency, bureau, commission, council, department, law enforcement agency, or unit thereof, but does not mean the office of the attorney general and reporter. See Tennessee Code 4-42-102
  • State premium tax liability: means any liability incurred by an insurance company under §. See Tennessee Code 4-28-102
  • State procurement agency: means , as appropriate, the department of general services, state of Tennessee real estate asset management. See Tennessee Code 4-15-107
  • Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
  • Subpoena: A command to a witness to appear and give testimony.
  • Supervisory body: means any board or other agency of a municipality established to supervise the management and operation of its gas system and operations, or, in the absence of a board or other agency, the governing body of the municipality. See Tennessee Code 7-39-403
  • Surviving next of kin: means the following persons in the order named:
    (A) The surviving spouse. See Tennessee Code 4-1-501
  • Tax collection official: means the department of finance of the county or municipality, as applicable, or the county clerk, if so designated by ordinance of the legislative body of any municipality having a metropolitan form of government and a population of more than four hundred fifty thousand (450,000), according to the 1990 federal census or any subsequent federal census. See Tennessee Code 7-4-101
  • Tax collection official: means the department of finance of the county or municipality, as applicable, or the county clerk, if so designated by ordinance of the legislative body of any municipality having a metropolitan government. See Tennessee Code 7-4-201
  • Taxing jurisdiction: means any county, incorporated city or town, or metropolitan government in Tennessee having the power to levy taxes, or any special taxing district in Tennessee on behalf of which ad valorem property taxes may be levied, for the support of governmental and related activities and services. See Tennessee Code 7-39-403
  • Tennessee office for refugees: means the state office which administers the refugee program for this state, or the entity or agency to whom the state has delegated such function and that has been designated and recognized by the federal government to administer such program. See Tennessee Code 4-38-102
  • Testify: Answer questions in court.
  • Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
  • TNInvestco: means a partnership, corporation, trust or limited liability company, whether organized on a for-profit or not-for-profit basis that completes the application process in §. See Tennessee Code 4-28-102
  • Tourism: means the planning and conducting of programs of information and publicity designed to attract to the county tourists, visitors and other interested persons from outside the area and also to encourage and coordinate the efforts of other public and private organizations or groups of citizens to publicize the facilities and attractions of the area for the same purposes. See Tennessee Code 7-4-101
  • Tourist commission: means a seven-person body established subject to the same local organic law as other boards and commissions established by the charter of the metropolitan government. See Tennessee Code 7-4-101
  • Transient: means any person who exercises occupancy or is entitled to occupancy for any rooms, lodgings or accommodations in a hotel for a period of less than thirty (30) days. See Tennessee Code 7-4-101
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
  • Trustee: A person or institution holding and administering property in trust.
  • unified: means consolidation or consolidated pursuant to this chapter and that power granted by the Constitution of Tennessee, Article XI, §. See Tennessee Code 7-21-104
  • Unified government: means the governmental entity created by the unification of the governmental and corporate functions of a charter county government with the governmental and corporate functions of one (1) or more municipalities within that county's boundaries. See Tennessee Code 7-21-104
  • Unified municipality: means a former municipality that has merged into a unified government pursuant to this chapter. See Tennessee Code 7-21-104
  • United States: includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • United States: includes district, authority, bureau, commission, department, and any other agency of the United States. See Tennessee Code 48-11-201
  • Urban services district: means a service district within a metropolitan government in which are furnished by the metropolitan government municipal services additional to those provided in the general services district. See Tennessee Code 7-1-101
  • User fees: Fees charged to users of goods or services provided by the government. In levying or authorizing these fees, the legislature determines whether the revenue should go into the treasury or should be available to the agency providing the goods or services.
  • Vacation lodging service: means a person or entity that is engaged in the business of providing the services of management, marketing, booking, and rental of short-term rental units. See Tennessee Code 7-4-101
  • Vendor: means a person or entity that provides or proposes to provide goods or services to the state governmental entity pursuant to a major procurement contract, but does not include an employee of the state governmental entity, retailer or a state governmental entity. See Tennessee Code 4-39-101
  • Vendor: means a legal entity that has been established by the department of finance and administration's division of accounts as a vendor through proper authority for which payment may be made by the state. See Tennessee Code 4-56-101
  • Venue: The geographical location in which a case is tried.
  • Verdict: The decision of a petit jury or a judge.
  • Veto: The procedure established under the Constitution by which the President/Governor refuses to approve a bill or joint resolution and thus prevents its enactment into law. A regular veto occurs when the President/Governor returns the legislation to the house in which it originated. The President/Governor usually returns a vetoed bill with a message indicating his reasons for rejecting the measure. In Congress, the veto can be overridden only by a two-thirds vote in both the Senate and the House.
  • Waterworks system: means all or any part of the following:
    (A) Source of supply. See Tennessee Code 7-35-401
  • Wholesaler: means a party engaging in the bulk purchase and sale of energy products or industrial materials in the wholesale market for the purposes of reselling energy or industrial materials to a retailer. See Tennessee Code 7-51-2201
  • Works: means the waterworks or sewerage system. See Tennessee Code 7-35-401
  • Writ: A formal written command, issued from the court, requiring the performance of a specific act.
  • Writ of certiorari: An order issued by the Supreme Court directing the lower court to transmit records for a case for which it will hear on appeal.
  • written: includes printing, typewriting, engraving, lithography, and any other mode of representing words and letters. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Year: means a calendar year, unless otherwise expressed. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105