Environment

failed · Tennessee · House Feb 26, 2025

HB 681: Soil Conservation - As introduced, enacts the "Healthy Soil Act." - Amends TCA Title 4 and Title 43, Chapter 14.

HB 681, the "Healthy Soil Act," creates a state program within Tennessee's Department of Agriculture to support farming and land management practices that improve soil health. The bill establishes a "Healthy Soil Program" offering voluntary soil assessments, education, and grants to help farmers and ranchers adopt methods like cover cropping, no-till farming, compost application, and integrated livestock systems. It defines "healthy soil" as soil that boosts organic matter, carbon content, and water retention while providing technical assistance through local districts and USDA partners. The program aims to enhance soil productivity, profitability, and environmental benefits for agricultural landowners across Tennessee.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill creates state program funding soil conservation practices (cover cropping, no-till) that boost organic matter and carbon, directly advancing environmental protection and conservation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Public Lands

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in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 18, 2026

HB 946: Energy - As introduced, requires an applicant and an electric utility service to perform and submit to the locality a site assessment prior to the approval of a rezoning request, special exception, or special use permit for the siting of a new high energy use facility (HEUF). - Amends TCA Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 13; Title 54; Title 65 and Title 68.

HB 946 requires applicants and electric utilities to conduct and submit site assessments before local governments approve zoning changes or permits for new high energy use facilities (HEUFs), defined as projects needing 100+ megawatts of power (including large data centers). The assessments must examine sound impacts on homes and schools within 500 feet, as well as effects on water, agriculture, parks, and historic sites. Electric utilities must also detail required power infrastructure like new substations and transmission voltage. This bill directly affects developers of large energy projects, local zoning authorities, and electric utilities, applying only to new facilities - not expansions under 100 MW.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires site assessments examining environmental impacts (water, agriculture, parks) before approving high-energy facilities, strengthening protections for natural resources and communities.95% confidence

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in committee · Tennessee · House May 13, 2025

HB 124: Environment and Conservation, Department of - As enacted, makes various changes related to fees set by the department for environmental regulatory programs; makes changes to the regulation of coal combustion residuals disposal units. - Amends TCA Title 68, Chapter 203, Part 1 and Title 68, Chapter 211, Part 1.

HB 124 amends Tennessee's environmental laws to adjust fees for regulatory programs and update rules for coal ash disposal. It increases certain fees (e.g., raising a fee from $18.75 to $38) and defines "coal combustion residuals" (coal ash from power plants) and "disposal units." The bill requires liners and final caps for new coal ash disposal facilities, with limited exceptions like agricultural use. It also creates a cost-recovery mechanism for the Department of Environment and Conservation to cover oversight costs of coal ash disposal, while exempting these units from standard fee structures. The bill became law as Public Chapter 399 on May 13, 2025.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires liners/final caps for coal ash disposal, strengthens regulatory standards, increases fees to fund environmental programs per amended TCA sections.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate May 27, 2025

SB 885: Taxes - As enacted, allows nuclear energy production facilities to seek pollution control tax credits for certain machinery and equipment. - Amends TCA Title 67.

SB 885 amends Tennessee's tax code to allow nuclear energy production facilities to qualify for pollution control tax credits, expanding eligibility beyond existing wind and solar sources. This change directly affects nuclear energy facilities in Tennessee by enabling them to claim tax credits for certain machinery and equipment used in pollution control. The bill modifies Section 67-4-2004(9)(A) of the Tennessee Code to explicitly include nuclear energy production facilities in the list of eligible energy sources. The policy change takes effect July 1, 2025, and is part of a broader tax incentive framework for clean energy projects.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates new tax credit for nuclear facilities, expanding tax relief under pollution control provisions. Directly modifies tax code to provide fiscal benefit to specific industry, aligning with tax relief indicators.92% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyExpands tax credits to nuclear energy facilities for pollution control, directly funding low-carbon energy infrastructure and aligning with clean energy promotion indicators.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentExpands pollution control tax credits to nuclear facilities, incentivizing emission-reducing equipment investments under environmental protection framework.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Incentives Nuclear Renewable Energy Solar

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in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 12, 2025

HB 798: Environment and Conservation, Department of - As introduced, requires the department to make the catalog of materials on source reduction and recycling created by the department available on the department's website. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7 and Title 68, Chapter 211.

HB 798 requires Tennessee's Department of Environment and Conservation to post its existing catalog of materials about source reduction and recycling on the department's public website. This bill directly affects the Department of Environment and Conservation by mandating online accessibility of these resources. The key provision is a simple administrative change: making the catalog available online without altering the content or creating new programs. The bill amends several sections of Tennessee law to implement this specific website posting requirement.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates online accessibility of existing environmental resource catalog, increasing public access to conservation information without altering content or regulations.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Recycling

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 20, 2026

SB 1352: Environment and Conservation, Department of - As introduced, requires the department to create and maintain an informational tool on the department's website that provides data related to the presence of facilities that are required to submit toxic release inventory data to the environmental protection agency. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 59; Title 60; Title 68 and Title 69.

SB 1352 requires Tennessee's Department of Environment and Conservation to create a public website tool by January 2026 that shows facilities reporting toxic releases under federal law. The tool will let residents search by address to see nearby facilities within five miles and get alerts about new construction projects that may require reporting. It must update within 10 business days when new data arrives from the EPA's toxic release inventory. This helps Tennessee residents easily access location-specific information about industrial sites that report pollution data.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires public toxic release data transparency, enabling community awareness of pollution sources. Aligns with pollution control and environmental protection goals.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation

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signed · Tennessee · House Apr 28, 2025

HB 126: Parks, Natural Areas Preservation - As enacted, revises the descriptions of existing state natural areas and designates new natural areas. - Amends TCA Title 11, Chapter 14, Part 1.

HB 126 revises Tennessee's state natural areas by updating acreage descriptions for existing protected lands and designating four new natural areas. It increases protected acreage for sites like Barnett's Woods (from 40 to 156 acres) and adds new areas including Clifty Creek Gorge (89 acres protecting the federally threatened Virginia spirea), Rocky Hill (1 acre safeguarding the endangered running glade clover), Union Grove (59 acres preserving the Tennessee trillium), and Versailles Knob (40 acres protecting Braun's Rockcress). The bill directly affects conservation efforts by expanding legal protections for specific endangered species and habitats across Morgan, Rutherford, and Hamblen counties. Enacted on April 11, 2025, it formalizes these land designations without introducing new funding or regulatory requirements.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentExpands protected acreage for natural areas, designates new sites to conserve endangered species and habitats per bill's explicit purpose.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Parks & Recreation Wildlife

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 26, 2025

SB 968: Energy - As introduced, changes the administrative, reporting, oversight, and accountability of the state energy policy council from the state energy policy council to the department of economic and community development and the department of environment and conservation. - Amends TCA Title 68, Chapter 204.

SB 968 transfers administrative oversight of Tennessee's State Energy Policy Council from the council itself to the Departments of Economic and Community Development and Environment and Conservation. It requires the council to meet quarterly, submit an initial report by July 2026 detailing energy source goals, analysis of strengths/weaknesses, and infrastructure assessments, and distribute reports to relevant legislative committees and the public online. The bill directly affects the council's operations and the two departments responsible for managing its work, without changing energy policy substance.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentTransfers oversight to Department of Environment and Conservation, integrating environmental expertise into energy policy structure, supporting environmental considerations in energy planning.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 11, 2026

SB 269: Solid Waste Disposal - As introduced, enacts the "Tennessee Waste to Jobs Act," which requires producers of goods to participate in a responsibility organization for recycling, reuse, and composting of certain packaging material. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 29, Part 2 and Title 68, Chapter 211.

SB 269, the "Tennessee Waste to Jobs Act," requires producers of packaging materials to join a producer responsibility organization (PRO) that manages recycling, reuse, and composting programs for covered packaging. It directly affects packaging manufacturers and distributors (excluding specific exemptions like medical or long-term storage packaging) by mandating their financial and operational involvement in waste diversion systems. Key provisions establish a statewide PRO to fund local recycling infrastructure, divert packaging waste from landfills, and recover materials for a circular economy - creating jobs while requiring producers to cover costs for collection and processing. The bill excludes certain packaging types (e.g., medical products, beverage containers under future deposit systems) and defines "covered services" to include curbside collection and drop-off centers for households, schools, and small nonprofits.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates producer responsibility for recycling/reuse/composting of packaging, directly reducing waste and promoting resource conservation per bill's core requirement.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Recycling Waste Management

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died · Tennessee · House Feb 12, 2025

HB 1266: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, requires notice of the Class B misdemeanor of transferring dangerous materials to a metals recycling facility without first obtaining a signed written acknowledgment that the item has been transferred to be posted in a conspicuous location at each public entrance to the facility. - Amends TCA Title 36, Chapter 3, Part 6; Title 39; Title 40 and Title 55.

HB 1266 requires metals recycling facilities in Tennessee to post a visible notice at **every public entrance** (not just a general location) informing sellers that they must obtain a signed written acknowledgment before transferring dangerous materials. This affects facilities that accept metals from the public, specifically ensuring sellers are notified about the requirement for written confirmation. The bill amends Tennessee Code Sections 39-17-1403 and related chapters to update the posting location requirement. It takes effect July 1, 2025, and is a procedural change to existing criminal law.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires written acknowledgment for dangerous materials transfer to recycling facilities, preventing improper disposal and potential environmental harm from hazardous waste.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Recycling

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