The event ended on Tuesday morning with a successful legislative breakfast in partnership with the County Officials Association of Tennessee (COAT)
County officials from across Tennessee gathered on February 23–24, 2026, at the DoubleTree Downtown Nashville for TCSA’s 2026 County Government Day to discuss and review all things legislative.
The event opened Monday morning with a full slate of affiliate board meetings and committee sessions, reflecting county officials’ commitment to better advocate for the needs of county government across Tennessee. The committees of Tennessee County Commissioners Association (TCCA) convened throughout the morning, including Membership, Transportation, Veterans’ Affairs, Emergency Services, and Governmental Affairs. TCSA’s Board of Directors met mid-morning, followed by a luncheon and general session featuring a review of the 2026 Legislative Bill Report by TCSA Director David Connor.
A Focus on Policy and Partnerships
Monday afternoon membership meetings allowed affiliate associations, including the Tennessee County Highway Officials Association (TCHOA), Association of County Mayors (ACM), and TCCA to address targeted priorities impacting counties statewide. TCHOA members received a legislative update and heard from key transportation leaders, including Senate and House Transportation chairs, as well as representatives from the Tennessee Road Builders Association and the UT Center for Local Planning. ACM and TCCA also conducted their board and membership meetings, engaging state agency leadership and policy partners in discussions relevant to county operations.
County officials were encouraged to spend the evening meeting directly with their senators and representatives — reinforcing the event’s purpose to strengthen relationships between county and state government.
Legislative Breakfast Allows Ample Opportunity for County Officials Across Tennessee
Tuesday morning’s Legislative Breakfast served as the capstone of County Government Day. Held in the Cumberland Ballroom, the breakfast featured remarks from Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, Comptroller Jason Mumpower, and House Speaker Cameron Sexton.
Comptroller Mumpower discussed fiscal stewardship and oversight issues central to county government, and Speaker Sexton provided insight into legislative dynamics during the 2026 session and highlighted the importance of collaboration between the General Assembly and county officials.
Noting this address to be the final County Government Day speech of his tenure, Governor Lee shared many of his administration’s successes, including strengthening Tennessee’s law enforcement support, decreasing the number of economically distressed counties in the state since he took office in 2018, and stressing his administration’s efforts to improve K-12 public education in Tennessee and provide parents with more choices for educating their children.
In addition to the featured speakers, a significant number of members of the Tennessee General Assembly attended Tuesday’s breakfast, engaging directly with county leaders in attendance. Their presence underscored the strong working relationship between TCSA and lawmakers who rely on local officials for practical insight into how legislation impacts communities on the ground.
Strengthening the County-State Partnership
Following breakfast, members were encouraged to visit the Cordell Hull Building to meet with legislators in their offices — continuing the face-to-face conversations that define County Government Day.
As counties continue navigating growth, infrastructure demands, and evolving statutory responsibilities, County Government Day 2026 reaffirmed a fundamental truth: strong local government depends on strong collaboration with state leadership.
