MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WGNS) — The City of Murfreesboro has officially suspended its special census efforts following the Tennessee General Assembly's approval of legislation that transitions the state to using annual population estimates for funding allocations. The bill now awaits the Governor’s signature.

The legislation—House Bill 780, sponsored by State Representative Robert Stevens (R-Smyrna)—passed overwhelmingly in both chambers, with a 92-2 vote in the House and a unanimous 32-0 vote in the State Senate:

The change shifts the responsibility of annual population updates to the Boyd Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Tennessee, eliminating the need for cities to conduct their own costly special censuses.

State Representative Mike Sparks (R-Smyrna) praised Stevens legislation:

Murfreesboro had launched a special census to update its population, last officially recorded as 152,769 in the 2020 U.S. Census. City officials estimated the current population to be around 165,430 as of July 2023. With municipalities in Tennessee receiving approximately $175 per resident annually through state-shared revenue, the city hoped to secure additional funding to support essential services such as public safety, education, and infrastructure.

However, the passage of HB780 renders the city's special census unnecessary. Murfreesboro had reached a 40% response rate before pausing the effort. The transition to state-certified annual population estimates is expected to offer a more efficient and uniform method for determining local government funding.

These changes will be reflected in the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 state budget, giving state departments time to establish the new procedures. You can watch the House vote on Big G TV's YouTube page.