Tennessee Code Annotated
Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-50-602 (2026)
Public employee's communication with elected public officials
✓ current as of May 2026
- (a) No public employee shall be prohibited from communicating with an elected public official for any job-related purpose whatsoever.
- (b) For purposes of this part, "public employee" means any person providing services for the state of Tennessee, state agencies, counties, municipalities, or subdivisions of such governmental bodies in Tennessee for which compensation is paid.
Acts 1980, ch. 806, § 1.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 9
cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1984–2022 · leading case: Todd v. Jackson, 213 S.W.3d 277 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2006).
Todd v. Jackson, 213 S.W.3d 277 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2006). “At trial, the only evidence set forth by Plaintiff in support of his claim under section 8-50-602 was his own testimony, which was as follows: I contacted [Defendant] Jackson, asked if I could come to his office.”
Medlin v. City of Algood, 355 F. Supp. 3d 707 (M.D. Tenn. 2019). “He also brings state law claims for the false light invasion of privacy, the intentional infliction of emotional distress, and violation of the Tennessee Public Employee Freedom Act, Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-50-602 . II. Standard of Review Motions for Judgment on the Pleadings are…”
Amy Frogge v. Shawn Joseph (Tenn. Ct. App. 2022). “They further alleged that the non-disparagement clause was unenforceable because it contravened Tennessee public policy as expressed in Tennessee Code Annotated section 8-50-602 to the extent that it prohibited Plaintiffs from communicating with other elected public officials.”
Michael B.Todd v. Dean Jackson (Tenn. Ct. App. 2006). “requires that the discriminatory actions of the public employer must have resulted from the employee’s communication with an elected official.”
Larry Robbins v. City of Johnson City, Tennessee (Tenn. Ct. App. 2001). “T.C.A. § 8-50-602(a). No public employee is to be disciplined for exercising his or her right to so communicate with an elected public official.”
Judy Pewitt v. Lillie Buford, A. Cliff Frensley & Williamson Cnty., Tennessee (Tenn. Ct. App. 1995). “" T.C.A. 8-50-602. Public Employee's communication with elected public officials.”
William L. Boone v. Town of Collierville (Tenn. Ct. App. 2019). “” Under section 8-50-602, it is therefore “unlawful for any public employer to discipline, threaten to discipline or otherwise discriminate against an employee because such employee exercised that employee’s right to communicate with an elected public official.”
Janet Thornton v. Coffee Cnty. Bd. of Educ. (2018). “” Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-50-602 (a). The Act further provides that “[i]t is unlawful for any public employer to discipline, threaten to discipline or otherwise discriminate against an employee because such employee exercised that employee’s right to communicate with an elected…”
Sloan v. State, 670 S.W.2d 227 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1984). “§ 8-50-603 provides: It shall be unlawful for any public employer to discipline, threaten to discipline or otherwise discriminate against an employee because such employee exercised his right to communicate with an elected public official.”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-50-602(a) — 5 cases
Todd v. Jackson, 213 S.W.3d 277 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2006). “At trial, the only evidence set forth by Plaintiff in support of his claim under section 8-50-602 was his own testimony, which was as follows: I contacted [Defendant] Jackson, asked if I could come to his office.”
Michael B.Todd v. Dean Jackson (Tenn. Ct. App. 2006). “requires that the discriminatory actions of the public employer must have resulted from the employee’s communication with an elected official.”
Larry Robbins v. City of Johnson City, Tennessee (Tenn. Ct. App. 2001). “T.C.A. § 8-50-602(a). No public employee is to be disciplined for exercising his or her right to so communicate with an elected public official.”
Amy Frogge v. Shawn Joseph (Tenn. Ct. App. 2022). “They further alleged that the non-disparagement clause was unenforceable because it contravened Tennessee public policy as expressed in Tennessee Code Annotated section 8-50-602 to the extent that it prohibited Plaintiffs from communicating with other elected public officials.”
Judy Pewitt v. Lillie Buford, A. Cliff Frensley & Williamson Cnty., Tennessee (Tenn. Ct. App. 1995). “" T.C.A. 8-50-602. Public Employee's communication with elected public officials.”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 8-50-602(b) — 1 case
Judy Pewitt v. Lillie Buford, A. Cliff Frensley & Williamson Cnty., Tennessee (Tenn. Ct. App. 1995). “" T.C.A. 8-50-602. Public Employee's communication with elected public officials.”
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