Natural Disasters - As introduced, creates the State Disaster Relief Program to be administered by TEMA for the purpose of providing grants to local governments where a natural disaster has occurred that does not exceed the threshold for federal disaster relief. - Amends TCA Title 58, Chapter 2, Part 1.

SB 42 creates Tennessee's State Disaster Relief Program, administered by the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA), to provide grants to counties affected by natural disasters that do not qualify for federal disaster aid. Counties must declare a state of emergency and meet the program's criteria to receive grants covering costs like repairing public roads, buildings, and debris removal, as well as emergency life-saving measures. Grants are limited to $250,000 per county annually and depend on yearly state funding allocations. The program directly supports local governments responding to disasters such as floods, tornadoes, or wildfires that fall below federal aid thresholds.