---
type: "Bill"
title: "Statutes and Codification - As enacted, requires that undefined words be given their natural and ordinary meaning, without forced or subtle construction that would limit or extend the meaning of the language, except when a contrary intention is clearly manifest. - Amends TCA Title 1, Chapter 3."
description: "Statutes and Codification - As enacted, requires that undefined words be given their natural and ordinary meaning, without forced or subtle construction that would limit or extend the meaning of the language, except when a contrary intention is clearly manifest. - Amends TCA Title 1, Chapter 3."
jurisdiction: "us/states/tn"
legislature: "Tennessee General Assembly"
session: "110"
identifier: "SB 1085"
citation: "Tennessee SB 1085 (110)"
classification: ["bill"]
subjects: ["Statutes and Codification"]
status: "enacted"
primary_sponsors: ["Farmer", "Stevens"]
version_count: 1
action_count: 33
vote_count: 1
first_action: "2017-02-09"
last_action: "2017-05-19"
source: "openstates"
source_identifier: "ocd-bill/3d5ab17a-b054-4eca-a923-39e44cd602fc"
source_url: "http://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/default.aspx?BillNumber=SB1085&GA=110"
source_hash: "28fc7819de7c516e0a06bc39d6f07b80b2cf68cc8a6a0dd2efe73100b617dd53"
vintage: "2026-07-01"
source_snapshot: "https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-06"
confidence: "reported"
tags: ["legislation", "bill", "us-tn"]
---

# Tennessee SB 1085 (110) — Statutes and Codification - As enacted, requires that undefined words be given their natural and ordinary meaning, without forced or subtle construction that would limit or extend the meaning of the language, except when a contrary intention is clearly manifest. - Amends TCA Title 1, Chapter 3.

## Version chain

The bill's text revisions, in order — the diff chain from filing to enrollment.

1. **Current Version** (committee substitute) — [source](http://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/110/Bill/SB1085.pdf)

## Votes

- SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee 4/18/2017 Passed (1) — **5–2** (pass) · upper

## Sponsors

- Farmer — primary (person)
- Stevens — primary (person)

## Timeline

The legislative action history — every referral, reading, and vote.

- **2017-02-09** Introduced, Passed on First Consideration `introduction`
- **2017-02-09** Filed for introduction `introduction, reading-1`
- **2017-02-09** Intro. `introduction`
- **2017-02-09** Filed for intro. `introduction, reading-1`
- **2017-02-13** Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee
- **2017-02-13** P1C.
- **2017-02-15** Assigned to s/c Civil Justice Subcommittee `referral-committee`
- **2017-02-15** P2C, ref. to Civil Justice Committee `referral-committee`
- **2017-02-22** Placed on s/c cal Civil Justice Subcommittee for 3/1/2017
- **2017-03-01** Placed on cal. Civil Justice Committee for 3/7/2017
- **2017-03-01** Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Civil Justice Committee `committee-passage-favorable`
- **2017-03-07** Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee `committee-passage-favorable`
- **2017-03-08** Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 3/9/2017
- **2017-03-09** H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 3/16/2017
- **2017-03-16** Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.
- **2017-03-16** Passed H., Ayes 70, Nays 23, PNV 0 `passage`
- **2017-03-16** Sponsor(s) Added.
- **2017-03-20** Received from House, Passed on First Consideration `introduction`
- **2017-04-12** Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 4/18/2017
- **2017-04-18** Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee
- **2017-04-25** Placed on Senate Regular Calendar calendar for 4/27/2017
- **2017-04-27** Sponsor(s) Added.
- **2017-04-27** Companion House Bill substituted
- **2017-04-27** Enrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker.
- **2017-04-27** Passed Senate, Ayes 23, Nays 6, PNV 1 `passage`
- **2017-04-27** Senate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.
- **2017-05-01** Signed by H. Speaker
- **2017-05-02** Transmitted to Governor for his action. `executive-receipt`
- **2017-05-02** Signed by Senate Speaker
- **2017-05-05** Signed by Governor. `executive-signature`
- **2017-05-19** Comp. became Pub. Ch. 302
- **2017-05-19** Pub. Ch. 302
- **2017-05-19** Effective date(s) 05/05/2017

## Source

OpenStates / OpenCivicData bulk snapshot [2026-07-01](https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump); origin `ocd-bill/3d5ab17a-b054-4eca-a923-39e44cd602fc`. Confidence: reported (aggregated from official Tennessee legislature records).