The Tennessee Valley Authority Transparency Act of 2025 mandates that the TVA Board meet at least four times annually and expands public access to its deliberations by applying stricter Sunshine Act requirements to all board discussions, while still allowing for limited exemptions related to competitive business information.
Tim Burchett
Representative
TN-2
The Tennessee Valley Authority Transparency Act of 2025 mandates that the TVA Board meet at least four times annually and significantly expands the definition of a "meeting" to include all deliberations, subject to federal Sunshine Act requirements. This legislation requires the TVA to post meeting announcements and required public information directly on its website. While increasing public access, the bill allows the Board to keep certain competitive business information, such as contract negotiations, confidential.
TVA Transparency Act Mandates 4 Annual Meetings and Online Posting, But Keeps Contract Talks Secret
The newly proposed Tennessee Valley Authority Transparency Act of 2025 is essentially an upgrade for the TVA Board’s operating manual, focusing squarely on opening up its decision-making process. The big takeaway is that the Board must now meet at least four times a year. More importantly, it significantly tightens the rules around what counts as a meeting under federal transparency laws. This bill mandates that all discussions, including those by committees or subcommittees, are considered a “meeting” subject to public disclosure rules—even if they aren't taking a formal vote. This means less closed-door strategizing and more public visibility on how the TVA—which manages power for millions of people—is run.
The Sunshine Act Gets a Power Boost
For anyone who relies on the TVA for electricity, this bill makes it easier to track what the Board is doing. The Act requires that meeting announcements and all public information mandated by the federal Sunshine Act must be posted directly on the TVA Board’s website. No more digging through obscure government filings; if the public needs to know it, it should be online and easy to find. This is a huge win for accountability, ensuring that the public can actually see the timeline and topics being discussed before decisions are finalized. For the average ratepayer, this means better access to the discussions that ultimately affect their utility bills.
Where the Doors Stay Shut
While the bill pushes for more transparency, it maintains some important carve-outs that could impact competitive markets and labor. The TVA Board can still legally keep certain information private if disclosing it would hurt the corporation’s “competitive standing.” This exemption specifically covers details about requests for power availability and information related to contract negotiations, including labor discussions or procurement actions. Think of it this way: if the TVA is trying to negotiate a better deal on coal or solar panels, or hammering out a new contract with its unionized workforce, those talks can still happen behind closed doors. For businesses that compete with the TVA or contractors trying to bid on projects, this means that crucial market information will likely remain confidential.
The Emergency Clause: A Potential Bypass?
Normally, the public gets at least one week's notice before a TVA Board meeting. However, this bill includes a provision allowing the Chairman to declare an “emergency special meeting.” If this happens, the standard one-week advance notice requirement is thrown out the window. While emergency meetings are sometimes necessary for genuine crises (like a sudden grid failure), this provision gives the Chairman significant power to bypass public notice when quick action is needed—or when they simply want to limit public scrutiny of a time-sensitive decision. It’s a necessary safety valve, but the potential for overuse is something to watch, as it limits the public’s ability to weigh in on rapid-fire decisions.