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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
SB 527 exempts pesticide manufacturers and sellers from civil lawsuits related to labeling, provided the pesticide was registered with both Tennessee's commissioner of agriculture and the EPA under federal law (FIFRA) and bore an EPA-approved label at the time of sale. The bill specifically removes liability for product safety claims tied to labeling, as long as the pesticide met all federal and state registration requirements. It does not apply if the pesticide was manufactured or sold in violation of Tennessee law or FIFRA. This change directly affects pesticide companies and could influence how product liability cases are handled in Tennessee courts.
SB 862 requires metals recycling facilities in Tennessee to post a visible notice about transferring dangerous materials at every public entrance, rather than just in a general conspicuous location. This change directly affects all metals recycling facilities that accept materials from the public. The bill amends Tennessee Code § 39-17-1403 to specify that the notice must be readily visible to individuals selling materials at each entrance. The law will take effect on July 1, 2025, if passed.
HB 613 requires Tennessee's Department of Environment and Conservation to submit an annual report starting July 1, 2025, detailing water permit applications and their compensatory mitigation methods. The report must include the total number of permit applications filed and specific information about how environmental restoration (compensatory mitigation) is handled in permits requiring it. For permits using in-lieu fee programs or mitigation banking, the report must specify the sponsor, number of credits sold, and funds received for each project. This bill directly affects the Department of Environment and Conservation (which must file the reports) and entities obtaining water permits (which must provide the required mitigation details). The law amends Tennessee Code Annotated Title 69, Section 69-3-108(g).
