---
type: "Bill"
title: "Process, Service of - As enacted, adds a private process server to the list of individuals authorized to personally serve a copy of a warrant or summons on behalf of a landlord in an action for forcible entry and detainer to regain possession of such landlord's real property. - Amends TCA Title 29, Chapter 18."
description: "Process, Service of - As enacted, adds a private process server to the list of individuals authorized to personally serve a copy of a warrant or summons on behalf of a landlord in an action for forcible entry and detainer to regain possession of such landlord's real property. - Amends TCA Title 29, Chapter 18."
jurisdiction: "us/states/tn"
legislature: "Tennessee General Assembly"
session: "111"
identifier: "SB 401"
citation: "Tennessee SB 401 (111)"
classification: ["bill"]
subjects: ["Process", "Service of"]
status: "enacted"
primary_sponsors: ["Boyd", "Stevens"]
version_count: 1
action_count: 35
vote_count: 8
first_action: "2019-01-09"
last_action: "2019-04-24"
source: "openstates"
source_identifier: "ocd-bill/c142ae82-5c45-4da8-8ad4-ac1e90645004"
source_url: "http://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/default.aspx?BillNumber=SB0401&GA=111"
source_hash: "fbf836076caf0e563dd4ad15c0bcadb1c566c5889f12e5be0233d95c9270274e"
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 401 (111) — Process, Service of - As enacted, adds a private process server to the list of individuals authorized to personally serve a copy of a warrant or summons on behalf of a landlord in an action for forcible entry and detainer to regain possession of such landlord's real property. - Amends TCA Title 29, Chapter 18.

## 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/111/Bill/SB0401.pdf)

## Votes

- HOUSE FINANCE, WAYS, AND MEANS SUBCOMMITTEE: Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee 3/6/2019 (4) — **0–0** (pass) · lower
- FLOOR VOTE: Third Consideration 4/1/2019 Passed (1) — **31–0** (pass) · upper
- HOUSE CIVIL JUSTICE SUBCOMMITTEE: Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Judiciary 2/19/2019 (6) — **0–0** (pass) · lower
- HOUSE FINANCE, WAYS, AND MEANS COMMITTEE: Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee 3/12/2019 (3) — **0–0** (pass) · lower
- SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee 3/26/2019 Passed (2) — **6–0** (pass) · upper
- FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 3/21/2019 Passed (1) — **94–0** (pass) · lower
- HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: Rec. for pass; ref to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee 2/27/2019 (5) — **0–0** (pass) · lower
- HOUSE CALENDAR & RULES COMMITTEE: H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 3/21/2019 3/14/2019 (2) — **0–0** (fail) · lower

## Sponsors

- Boyd — primary (person)
- Stevens — primary (person)

## Timeline

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

- **2019-01-09** Filed for introduction `reading-1, introduction`
- **2019-01-10** Intro., P1C. `introduction`
- **2019-01-18** P2C, ref. to Judiciary `referral-committee`
- **2019-01-22** Assigned to s/c Civil Justice Subcommittee `referral-committee`
- **2019-01-31** Filed for introduction `reading-1, introduction`
- **2019-02-04** Introduced, Passed on First Consideration `introduction`
- **2019-02-06** Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee
- **2019-02-13** Placed on s/c cal Civil Justice Subcommittee for 2/19/2019
- **2019-02-19** Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Judiciary `committee-passage-favorable`
- **2019-02-20** Placed on cal. Judiciary for 2/27/2019
- **2019-02-27** Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 3/6/2019
- **2019-02-27** Assigned to s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee `referral-committee`
- **2019-02-27** Rec. for pass; ref to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee `committee-passage-favorable`
- **2019-03-06** Placed on cal. Finance, Ways, and Means Committee for 3/12/2019
- **2019-03-06** Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee `committee-passage-favorable`
- **2019-03-12** Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee `committee-passage-favorable`
- **2019-03-13** Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 3/14/2019
- **2019-03-14** H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 3/21/2019
- **2019-03-20** Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/26/2019
- **2019-03-21** Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.
- **2019-03-21** Passed H., Ayes 94, Nays 0, PNV 1 `passage`
- **2019-03-25** Received from House, Passed on First Consideration `introduction`
- **2019-03-26** Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee
- **2019-03-28** Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/1/2019
- **2019-04-01** Companion House Bill substituted
- **2019-04-01** Passed Senate, Ayes 31, Nays 0 `passage`
- **2019-04-01** Senate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.
- **2019-04-02** Enrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker.
- **2019-04-04** Signed by H. Speaker
- **2019-04-08** Signed by Senate Speaker
- **2019-04-10** Transmitted to Governor for his action. `executive-receipt`
- **2019-04-18** Signed by Governor. `executive-signature`
- **2019-04-24** Comp. became Pub. Ch. 160
- **2019-04-24** Pub. Ch. 160
- **2019-04-24** Effective date(s) 04/18/2019

## Source

OpenStates / OpenCivicData bulk snapshot [2026-07-01](https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump); origin `ocd-bill/c142ae82-5c45-4da8-8ad4-ac1e90645004`. Confidence: reported (aggregated from official Tennessee legislature records).