Environment and Conservation, Department of - As introduced, requires the department to submit an annual report regarding the number of applications filed pursuant to the Water Quality Control Act; requires the department to include information on the mechanism of compensatory mitigation provided for in permits that are required to have a provision for adequate compensatory mitigation; requires additional information when the mechanism of compensatory mitigation is an in-lieu fee program or mitigation banking. - Amends TCA Title 69.

HB 613 requires Tennessee's Department of Environment and Conservation to submit an annual report starting July 1, 2025, detailing water permit applications and their compensatory mitigation methods. The report must include the total number of permit applications filed and specific information about how environmental restoration (compensatory mitigation) is handled in permits requiring it. For permits using in-lieu fee programs or mitigation banking, the report must specify the sponsor, number of credits sold, and funds received for each project. This bill directly affects the Department of Environment and Conservation (which must file the reports) and entities obtaining water permits (which must provide the required mitigation details). The law amends Tennessee Code Annotated Title 69, Section 69-3-108(g).