Environment (Water Quality)

in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 11, 2026

HB 1509: Water - As introduced, prohibits the department of environment and conservation from prohibiting a utility that provides drinking water from pumping or otherwise withdrawing water from natural waters for purposes of providing drinking water, including as a prerequisite to renewal of the utility's permit, unless the prohibition is required to comply with federal law. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 68, Chapter 221 and Title 69.

HB 1509 prevents Tennessee's environmental agency from blocking water utilities from pumping drinking water, unless federal law explicitly requires it. The bill specifically allows state action only when federal mandates (like the Safe Drinking Water Act) demand restrictions - not merely recommend them - and requires the agency to provide written notice citing the exact federal law if restrictions are imposed. It directly affects public water systems operated by local governments or regulated by Tennessee's utility board. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentPrevents state agency from imposing water restrictions beyond federal mandates, weakening environmental protections by limiting regulatory authority.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Drinking Water Water Quality

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 19, 2025

SB 825: Water Pollution - As introduced, prohibits the department of environment and conservation from applying criteria that will result in the classification of real property as a wetland if the property is prior converted cropland that is exempt from classification as a wetland under federal law. - Amends TCA Title 11, Chapter 14, Part 4 and Title 69.

SB 825 prevents Tennessee's Department of Environment and Conservation from classifying prior converted cropland (land previously farmed that is federally exempt from wetland rules) as wetlands under state law. This directly affects landowners who own such properties, as it ensures they won't face additional state wetland regulations beyond federal exemptions. The bill amends Tennessee Code to require state agencies to align with federal classifications, removing potential conflicting state rules. The policy change is purely procedural, ensuring state enforcement matches federal exemptions for this specific land type.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentPrevents state from classifying federally exempt cropland as wetlands, removing potential stricter environmental regulations beyond federal exemptions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Water Quality

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in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 29, 2025

HB 896: Administrative Procedure (UAPA) - As enacted, generally prohibits a governmental agency from adopting a rule or establishing numeric criteria or numeric limitations applicable to a contaminant, pollutant, hazardous substance, solid waste, or hazardous waste that relates to drinking water, water pollution control, hazardous substances, contaminated site remediation, air quality, or solid or hazardous waste handling unless certain conditions are met. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 5.

HB 896, the "Sound Science in Regulations Act," prohibits Tennessee environmental agencies from creating new rules on drinking water, air quality, hazardous substances, or waste handling unless they meet strict scientific standards. It requires agencies to base regulations on "best available science" that is reliable, unbiased, and published in peer-reviewed journals with independent verification. The law applies only to new rules stricter than federal standards, effective July 1, 2025, and excludes existing rules or those required by federal law. This directly affects agencies like the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation when developing new environmental regulations.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentProhibits new environmental regulations stricter than federal standards, requiring stringent scientific validation that delays or blocks protections for water, air, and waste management.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Air Quality Conservation Water Quality

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signed · Tennessee · Senate Apr 29, 2025

SB 258: Water - As enacted, clarifies that if a point-of-entry treatment device is installed in a facility solely to soften hard water and, because of the installation of such a device, the house, building, or complex of buildings meets the definition of a public water system under the Tennessee Safe Drinking Water Act of 1983, then the facility constitutes a consecutive system, and is required to monitor the influent and finished water for hardness, alkalinity, and pH on a quarterly basis, and sodium on an annual basis, and report the results to the department of environment and conservation within 15 days of the end of the reporting period. - Amends TCA Title 68.

SB 258 clarifies that facilities installing only water softening devices (for hard water) do not become public water systems under Tennessee law, even if the device causes them to meet the definition. It specifically excludes such softening systems from public water system requirements, meaning these facilities are not required to monitor water quality unless they otherwise qualify as a public water system. If a softening system causes a facility to meet the public water system definition, it must monitor hardness, alkalinity, pH quarterly and sodium annually, reporting results to the Department of Environment and Conservation within 15 days of each quarter. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Title 68 and takes effect July 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill exempts water softening facilities from public water system monitoring requirements, reducing regulatory oversight on water quality under environmental protections.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Drinking Water Water Quality

failed · Tennessee · House Feb 4, 2026

HB 1072: Water Pollution - As introduced, prohibits the department of environment and conservation from applying criteria that will result in the classification of real property as a wetland if the property is prior converted cropland that is exempt from classification as a wetland under federal law. - Amends TCA Title 11, Chapter 14, Part 4 and Title 69.

HB 1072 prohibits Tennessee's Department of Environment and Conservation from classifying prior converted cropland as wetlands if federal law already exempts that land from wetland classification. This directly affects agricultural landowners who have converted wetlands to cropland, preventing potential state regulatory burdens on land already federally exempt. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 11, Chapter 14, Part 4 and Title 69 to require state agencies to follow federal exemptions. The key provision ensures state wetland rules align with federal policy for these properties.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentPrevents state regulation of federally exempt cropland, reducing wetland protections and weakening environmental oversight per federal exemptions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Water Quality

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 19, 2025

SB 283: Water Pollution - As introduced, removes requirement that installers of subsurface sewage disposal systems pay a renewal fee as a condition to renewing a septic system installer license; maintains initial permit and fee requirement for such installers. - Amends TCA Title 68, Chapter 221.

SB 283 would remove a renewal fee requirement for septic system installers in Tennessee. Specifically, it amends state law to prevent the department from requiring installers in good standing to pay a fee when renewing their license, while maintaining the initial fee needed to obtain the license. This change directly affects current and future licensed septic system installers who must renew their credentials. The bill is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentRemoves renewal fee for septic installers, potentially reducing oversight of water pollution controls while maintaining initial fees, weakening enforcement mechanisms for environmental protection.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Water Quality

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signed · Tennessee · House May 8, 2025

HB 612: Water Pollution - As enacted, expands from wetlands to all areas that an aquatic resource alteration permit may apply to the areas for which the department of environment and conservation is required to exempt from compensatory mitigation an amount of area equal in size to the area for which mitigation would not be required if the permit applicant qualified for coverage under a general permit, if the only factor that disqualifies an applicant for an aquatic resource alteration permit from having the activities for which a permit is sought covered under a general permit is the size of the area that the permit will apply to. - Amends TCA Title 69, Chapter 3.

HB 612 modifies Tennessee's water pollution permitting rules to exempt certain applicants from requiring compensatory mitigation. Specifically, if a project applicant would qualify for a general permit (covering routine activities) but is disqualified solely due to the project's size, the Department of Environment and Conservation must exempt them from needing to replace lost wetland or aquatic habitat. This applies to all areas covered by aquatic resource alteration permits, not just wetlands. The change takes effect July 1, 2025, streamlining permits for smaller projects that otherwise meet general permit criteria. This directly affects developers, contractors, and landowners seeking permits for water-related projects.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentExempts projects from compensatory wetland mitigation requirements, reducing environmental protections for aquatic habitats.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Water Quality

in committee · Tennessee · Senate May 8, 2025

SB 664: Water Pollution - As enacted, expands from wetlands to all areas that an aquatic resource alteration permit may apply to the areas for which the department of environment and conservation is required to exempt from compensatory mitigation an amount of area equal in size to the area for which mitigation would not be required if the permit applicant qualified for coverage under a general permit, if the only factor that disqualifies an applicant for an aquatic resource alteration permit from having the activities for which a permit is sought covered under a general permit is the size of the area that the permit will apply to. - Amends TCA Title 69, Chapter 3.

SB 664 modifies Tennessee's water permit rules to exempt certain applicants from compensatory mitigation requirements. If a project applicant is denied coverage under a simplified "general permit" solely because of the project's size (not other factors), the Department of Environment and Conservation must exempt them from needing replacement wetlands or habitat for an area equal to what would be exempt under the general permit. This directly affects developers or landowners seeking permits for activities impacting water resources who are disqualified only by project scale. The change takes effect July 1, 2025, and applies to permits under Title 69, Chapter 3 of Tennessee law.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentExempts developers from compensatory wetland/habitat mitigation requirements, weakening conservation mandates under water pollution rules.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Water Quality

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signed · Tennessee · Senate May 15, 2025

SB 670: Water Pollution - As enacted, requires the division of water resources in the department of environment and conservation, in collaboration with U.S. army corps of engineers, as necessary, to annually report information concerning compensatory mitigation provisions in aquatic resource alteration permits issued during the prior fiscal year to the governor, the comptroller of the treasury, and the chairpersons of the commerce committees; and to establish four categories of isolated wetlands for regulatory purposes; makes related changes. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 11, Chapter 14, Part 4; Title 66; Title 67, Chapter 4, Part 4 and Title 69.

SB 670 requires Tennessee's Department of Environment and Conservation to annually report on compensatory mitigation for aquatic permits to state officials, and establishes four regulatory categories for isolated wetlands. It also adds a new rule preventing the state from classifying property as a wetland unless it meets federal standards. The bill directly affects developers seeking permits for wetland alterations and state agencies managing environmental regulations. Key changes include mandatory reporting to the governor and legislature, and aligning state wetland rules with federal classifications, effective July 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill restricts state wetland classification to federal standards, limiting regulatory flexibility and preventing stricter state protections.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Water Quality

signed · Tennessee · Senate Apr 29, 2025

SB 880: Administrative Procedure (UAPA) - As enacted, generally prohibits a governmental agency from adopting a rule or establishing numeric criteria or numeric limitations applicable to a contaminant, pollutant, hazardous substance, solid waste, or hazardous waste that relates to drinking water, water pollution control, hazardous substances, contaminated site remediation, air quality, or solid or hazardous waste handling unless certain conditions are met. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 5.

SB 880, effective July 1, 2025, requires Tennessee environmental agencies to base new regulations on "best available science" for drinking water, air quality, hazardous substances, and waste handling. It prohibits agencies from adopting stricter rules than federal standards (or new rules without federal equivalents) unless the science is reliable, unbiased, peer-reviewed, and demonstrates a causal link between exposure and human health harm. The law applies only to new regulatory actions after July 2025, not existing rules or federal compliance requirements. It directly affects agencies like the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation when creating new environmental standards.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill prohibits Tennessee from adopting stricter environmental regulations than federal standards without stringent scientific proof, limiting state-level protections and prioritizing federal baseline.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Air Quality Drinking Water Water Quality