Highways, Roads and Bridges - As introduced, requires the commissioner of transportation to establish rules governing reimbursement of relocation costs to a utility; requires reimbursement of at least $2.5 million for projects with utility relocation costs exceeding $2.5 million; requires the department to approve a utility owner's plan to accomplish the proposed new location of utility facilities in highway rights-of-way if the proposal would effectuate the relocation at the lowest cost to the utility's ratepayers; makes other related revisions. - Amends TCA Title 4 and Title 54.
SB 1792 requires Tennessee's Department of Transportation to reimburse utilities for relocation costs when highway projects necessitate moving infrastructure like power lines, water pipes, or fiber optic networks. It sets a $2.5 million minimum reimbursement for projects exceeding that cost, while allowing higher payments at the commissioner's discretion. The bill clarifies that modern infrastructure - including broadband and fiber optics - is included under "utility" (aligning with current policy), and mandates the commissioner consider factors like ratepayer impact and project scale when approving reimbursements. This codifies existing practice without requiring new state funding, directly affecting utilities and highway construction projects.
Bill status
died
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 21, 2026
Last action Jan 22, 2026
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
4
Key actions
0
Committee
1
Jan 22, 2026
Committee
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Transportation and Safety Committee
upper
Jan 21, 2026
Introduced
Introduced, Passed on First Consideration
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Shane Reeves
RRepublican
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