Environment

HJR 171 is a procedural resolution confirming Governor Bill Lee's appointment of Michael Bittel of Knoxville to the Heritage Conservation Trust Fund Board of Trustees. The resolution formally approves Bittel's service on the board for a term ending October 31, 2027, as required by Tennessee law (TCA § 11-7-104(b)(2)). This appointment directly affects the board's composition and the oversight of Tennessee's heritage conservation trust fund, which manages land conservation funding. The resolution was unanimously passed by both legislative chambers and signed by the Governor on March 12, 2025.

SB 702 creates the "Climate Resiliency Fund" to finance projects addressing climate change impacts in Tennessee. It requires fossil fuel businesses (coal, oil, gas) operating between 1995 and 2025 to pay cost recovery fees based on their greenhouse gas emissions into the fund. The fund will support climate adaptation projects like flood protections, infrastructure upgrades, and healthcare programs, with priority given to communities designated as "environmental justice focus populations" (low-income, high-minority, or limited English proficiency areas). The bill defines specific eligible projects, including nature-based solutions, stormwater system improvements, and resilience planning for vulnerable infrastructure.