House Republicans passed a bill to dissolve the Tennessee Human Rights Commission and handed over the discrimination claims investigation to the state Attorney General’s Office. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)

Tennessee House Republicans overwhelmingly voted to transfer responsibility to the Tennessee Attorney General’s Office to investigate discrimination complaints, effectively disbanding the Tennessee Human Rights Commission.

This scale passed 73-23 with a discussion of less than 10 minutes.

Democrats questioned Rep. Johnny Garrett, a Goodletsville Republican who sponsored the bill, about the need to dismantle independent agencies, and raised questions about Attorney General Jonathan Skulmetti’s ability to investigate unbiased complaints.

“For some reason, I think that politics already infecting AG’s offices will also expand into Title VI and other public policies that have been enacted by the Human Rights Commission,” said GA Hardaway, a Memphis Democrat. “There is no reason to move except that it makes the AG office more susceptible to politics (investigation ability).”

Title VI refers to federal law Discrimination is prohibited based on race, color and country of origin in programs and activities that receive federal funding, including state governments.

Tennessee Legislature to abolish discrimination Watchdog Agency’s advance

Skrmetti led or participated in a lawsuit banning discrimination against women seeking abortion, banning lawsuits seeking to halt transgender care for minors, and sent letters to businesses, warning them against diversity, equity and comprehensive initiatives, among other actions.

Garrett said the only change to how discrimination claims are investigated is the transition to a new Civil Rights Division within the Attorney General’s Office, but Congress will lose the supervisory body it currently has to the Human Rights Commission.

Knoxville Democrat Sam Mackenzie called the Attorney General’s Office “a huge organisation that gets fattened every day.”

The 2026 state budget passed by the House on Wednesday includes $4.5 million to expand the Attorney General’s special litigation force created to investigate former President Joe Biden’s policies. The Human Rights Commission funds will be transferred to the Attorney General’s Office if the bill becomes law.

The 60-year-old committee is a nonpartisan, independent agency responsible for enforcing civil rights laws in employment, housing and public accommodation, and is a discrimination claim against the state of Tennessee.

Under the measure, the committee will be dissolved by July 1, with the 30 staff positions moving to the Attorney General’s Office.

The Senate version of the bill, sponsored by Huntingdon Republican Rep. John Stevens, will go next to the Senate Calendar Committee. Although no dates have been set, Congress is expected to close the year next week.