BEDFORD COUNTY · ELECTION RECORDS · NOVEMBER 2026
Tennessee’s 2026 Amendments: Bedford Tax Questions and Marsh–Reeves Votes
The ballot language, six local legislative votes and the limits of what the proposals would change.
State amendments, local consequences
Amendment 2 would prohibit a state property tax; it would not abolish Bedford County or Shelbyville property taxes. Amendments 1 and 3 concern bail and crime victims’ rights. Official final floor roll calls show Pat Marsh and Shane Reeves voted aye on the 2025 resolutions submitting all three proposals to the 2026 ballot. Voters decide the amendments on November 3.
Three separate questions on the Bedford ballot
The county’s November 3 state and federal sample ballot contains three constitutional questions. We compared its wording with the General Assembly’s resolutions and final floor roll calls.
| Ballot number | Subject | Legislative resolution | A yes vote would |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment 1 | Bail | SJR 25 | Expand the categories in which bail may be denied before trial, with the stated evidentiary condition and recorded reasons |
| Amendment 2 | State property tax | SJR 1 | Add an explicit constitutional bar on a state tax on property |
| Amendment 3 | Crime victims’ rights | SJR 9 | Replace the existing victims’ rights section with the proposed expanded language |
A no vote rejects the corresponding proposed change. It does not repeal the existing constitutional section. Each amendment is a separate decision; voting on one does not select an answer for the others.
Would Amendment 2 end Bedford or Shelbyville property taxes?
No. The proposed text of SJR 1 concerns a state property tax. Its preamble explains that the statewide tax was repealed in 1949 and describes existing county and municipal taxes. The new operative language would prohibit the legislature from levying, authorizing or permitting a state tax on real, personal or mixed property.
For a Bedford taxpayer, that is different from canceling a county bill, changing a Shelbyville rate, freezing an assessment or granting an exemption. The Tennessee Comptroller’s explanation separates the assessor’s valuation duties from the county commission’s and city governing body’s decisions on local rates.
Local analysis: Amendment 2 is a question about the state’s future taxing authority. A Bedford household looking for a change to its current bill still needs the applicable assessment, local tax rate, exemptions and payment record. This measure does not supply a household savings amount. The Bedford taxes and budget guide and county commission vote coverage address those local decisions.
A no vote would leave the proposed constitutional prohibition unadopted; it would not itself enact a statewide property tax.
Amendment 1: bail eligibility and recorded reasons
The ballot text and SJR 25 would extend the constitutional exception to pretrial bail beyond capital offenses to the specified categories: terrorism, second-degree murder, aggravated rape of a child, aggravated rape, grave torture and qualifying offenses tied to an 85-percent sentence-service requirement as of November 3, 2026.
The proposal retains the condition concerning evident proof or great presumption. For a listed offense, a judge or magistrate granting or denying bail would have to put the reasons in the record. It does not direct that every defendant charged with any crime automatically be detained.
Local analysis: the proposal concerns court decisions that can affect pretrial detention. Predicting Bedford jail occupancy, a budget increase or a specific defendant’s outcome would require local case and fiscal evidence that this review does not contain. A bail decision is also distinct from a conviction.
Amendment 3: victims’ rights and limits
The proposed replacement for Article I, Section 35 addresses notice, presence at public proceedings, participation in release and sentencing matters, parole information, protection, restitution and consultation with prosecutors. Several provisions are triggered by a request; the full wording matters.
The proposal also preserves due-process protections, leaves prosecutorial and court authority intact, and says it does not provide a basis to vacate a conviction. Its limiting language addresses damages claims against government bodies and officials. The General Assembly would retain authority to define and implement the rights through substantive and procedural laws.
Local analysis: this is relevant to how victims receive information and participate in criminal and juvenile proceedings. The text does not establish that Bedford agencies have violated a right, identify a local complainant or provide a verified county implementation cost.
How Pat Marsh and Shane Reeves voted
The official profiles identify Pat Marsh, House District 62 and Shane Reeves, Senate District 14 as Republicans representing Bedford County. We read each resolution’s final substantive floor vote, not a committee recommendation, sponsorship list or procedural motion.
| Proposal | Marsh: House final concurrence | Reeves: Senate final adoption | Recorded chamber totals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment 1 / SJR 25 | Aye — April 21, 2025 | Aye — March 17, 2025 | House 84–10, 1 present/not voting; Senate 23–6, 1 present/not voting |
| Amendment 2 / SJR 1 | Aye — April 21, 2025 | Aye — March 26, 2025 | House 89–6; Senate 26–5, 1 present/not voting |
| Amendment 3 / SJR 9 | Aye — April 21, 2025 | Aye — March 3, 2025, as amended | House 93–0; Senate 27–5 |
Original finding: both local legislators appear in the aye lists on all three final votes—six recorded individual votes. The “Reeves” entry in the Senate roll call is the relevant Senate record; a House member with that surname is not substituted for Shane Reeves.
These 2025 legislative votes advanced the proposals to voters. They are not November 2026 election returns, a current campaign quote or proof of how either legislator will mark a private ballot. We verified no separate campaign statement for this report. The legislation tracker covers other Marsh and Reeves measures.
How passage is counted statewide
Tennessee’s amendment-counting rule requires more yes votes than no votes and yes votes exceeding half of all votes cast for governor. The official election-office explanation of Article XI, Section 3 documents both tests; that older explainer is used for the counting rule only, not for 2026 ballot subjects or dates.
Illustration, not a forecast: if 2,000,000 votes were cast for governor statewide, an amendment would need at least 1,000,001 yes votes, as well as more yes than no votes. A Bedford-only majority would not establish statewide passage.
There are no November 3 results in this pre-election report. Later coverage must distinguish election-night returns from certified totals and must show the statewide numbers relevant to the threshold.
Evidence, analysis and what remains unknown
Verified records: the county’s scanned sample ballot; the three resolution texts; each bill page’s final floor roll calls; official legislator profiles; and the Comptroller’s explanation of local taxation. The municipal and statewide questions were checked separately.
Analysis: the paragraphs labeled local analysis explain the connection to Bedford taxation, courts and public spending. They do not predict revenue, crime, detention or election outcomes.
Not established: any candidate’s position beyond the recorded legislative action; a county-party endorsement; implementation costs; or the November result. No quotes, interviews or endorsements were invented. The 2026 municipal guide covers Wartrace’s separate on-premises alcohol referendum and the city and town candidate lists.
Frequently asked questions
Does Tennessee Amendment 2 abolish Bedford County property taxes?
No. It proposes a prohibition on a state property tax. It does not abolish county or city property taxes, freeze assessments or create a household exemption.
Did Pat Marsh and Shane Reeves vote for the amendment resolutions?
Yes. Their names appear in the aye lists on all three final substantive floor votes in 2025. Those votes submitted proposals to voters; they are not November 2026 election results.
Does Amendment 1 require automatic detention for every criminal charge?
No. The proposal identifies specified offense categories, retains an evidentiary condition and requires recorded reasons for granting or denying bail in the listed cases.
Is the Wartrace liquor referendum one of Tennessee’s constitutional amendments?
No. It is a separate local municipal question about on-premises alcohol sales in Wartrace.
Can Bedford County’s amendment total determine statewide passage?
No. Passage depends on statewide yes and no totals and the statewide gubernatorial-vote threshold.
Official source and document library
Sources reviewed October 11, 2026. Ballot PDFs remain at the issuing election office; links include the versions published on its current page.
- Bedford County November 3, 2026 sample ballot — printed pages 2–7
- SJR 25 — final House and Senate votes on bail
- SJR 1 — final House and Senate votes on state property tax
- SJR 9 — final House and Senate votes on victims’ rights
- Amendment 1 — resolution text
- Amendment 2 — resolution text
- Amendment 3 — resolution text
- Pat Marsh — official member profile
- Shane Reeves — official member profile
- Tennessee Comptroller — assessment versus taxation
- Official historical explanation of the constitutional counting rule
Update log and reporting status
October 11, 2026 — First edition. Published the amendment comparison and six verified Marsh–Reeves final floor votes, with local tax and public-safety analysis.
This is a pre-election report. The next substantive updates require a corrected official ballot, documented implementation action, official election return or certification. Election results are not yet available for November 3.