Tenn. Code Ann. § 12-2-108: Permanent records of commissioner of general services - Deeds - Records of leases

(a) Upon recordation of the deeds by the secretary of state, the secretary of state shall promptly return the same to the commissioner of general services for safekeeping in the commissioner's office as public records, together with abstracts of title, and certificates of title, covering the property.

(b) It is the further duty of the commissioner to keep a permanent record in the commissioner's office of deeds which have come into the commissioner's possession, showing where the property is located, its size, its cost, when acquired, and such other information as the commissioner deems necessary.

(c) Upon recordation of leases by the secretary of state, the secretary of state shall promptly return the same to the commissioner for safekeeping in the commissioner's office. Such leases may be disposed of pursuant to guidelines established by the public records commission; however, such leases must be maintained for a period of no less than seven (7) years from the termination date of the lease. Leases which have been in existence for more than twenty (20) years on June 25, 1991, may be disposed of pursuant to such guidelines established by the public records commission. Prior to disposal of all other leases, the leases must be preserved on appropriate electronic or other storage media for the duration specified in § 10-7-303(e) .