Last year, the Tennessee Senate passed a resolution setting up a committee to study ballot access for new and small political parties. The committee, which includes represents of the Constitution, Green, and Libertarian Parties, finally had its first meeting, on December 13. However, according to this news story, the Senators were not willing to lower the number of signatures needed for statewide party status. The article appears to suggest that the Senators do favor a procedure by which a party that is not on the statewide ballot can still get on in particular congressional and legislative districts.

The Tennessee legislature convenes on January 14.