Environment (Conservation)

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

Track

in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 29, 2025

HB 199: Environment and Conservation, Department of - As enacted, requires an agreement or contract entered into between the commissioner and a county health department for the department to implement subsurface sewage disposal requirements to include authority for the commissioner to issue a variance in certain circumstances. - Amends TCA Title 68, Chapter 221, Part 4.

HB 199 gives Tennessee's environmental commissioner authority to issue variances (exceptions) to subsurface sewage disposal rules, overriding stricter local requirements. This directly affects property owners needing sewage systems and county health departments implementing these rules. The bill requires any granted variance to be recorded with the county register of deeds. It amends state law to clarify the commissioner's role in approving these exceptions while ensuring public records are updated.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill grants commissioner authority to issue variances overriding stricter local sewage disposal rules, weakening environmental protections by allowing exceptions to regulatory standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation

Track

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 2, 2025

SB 469: Taxes, Privilege - As introduced, increases from 2.4 to 5 percent, the amount of realty transfer tax and mortgage tax collections retained as commission by county registers for collecting and reporting those taxes; requires 50 percent of such collections to be deposited in the county general fund; allocates the remaining balance to the wetland acquisition fund, local parks land acquisition fund, state lands acquisition fund, agricultural resources conservation fund, and state general fund. - Amends TCA Section 67-4-409.

This bill changes how Tennessee counties handle real estate transfer and mortgage tax collections. It increases the commission county tax collectors retain from 2.4% to 5% of these taxes. Half of that commission (2.5%) must go to the county general fund, while the remaining half (2.5%) is allocated to five specific state funds: wetlands protection, local parks, state lands, farmland conservation, and the state general fund. The bill directly affects county tax offices and determines the distribution of these tax revenues.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill redirects 5% tax commission to fund wetlands, parks, conservation, and state general fund, strengthening fiscal allocation for public services and environmental programs.92% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentAllocates 2.5% of tax commission to wetland acquisition, parks, state lands, and agricultural conservation funds, directly funding environmental protection and conservation efforts.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Conservation

Track

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

Track

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

introduced · Tennessee · House Feb 6, 2025

HB 893: Environment and Conservation, Department of - As introduced, requires the department to make available a list of the registered withdrawals of 10,000 or more gallons of water per day from a surface water or a groundwater source in a publicly accessible place on the department's website. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 7; Title 59; Title 65; Title 66; Title 68 and Title 69.

HB 893 requires Tennessee's Department of Environment and Conservation to post a publicly accessible list online showing all water withdrawals of 10,000 or more gallons per day from surface or groundwater sources. This affects large water users, such as industrial facilities or agricultural operations, that register significant water withdrawals. The key provision mandates the department to make this registration data available on its website, improving public access to water usage information. The bill amends several Tennessee Code sections to implement this transparency requirement.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates public water withdrawal data transparency to enhance environmental oversight and accountability for large water users.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation

Track

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Feb 12, 2025

SB 700: Soil Conservation - As introduced, enacts the "Healthy Soil Act." - Amends TCA Title 4 and Title 43, Chapter 14.

SB 700, the "Healthy Soil Act," creates a state program administered by Tennessee's Department of Agriculture to support farmers and land managers in improving soil health. The program includes voluntary soil health assessments, educational workshops, and grants to promote practices like cover cropping, no-till farming, and compost application. It directly affects agricultural producers by providing technical assistance and prioritizing in-state resources for soil-building methods. The law aims to increase soil organic matter, water retention, and carbon content while supporting local food markets and economic growth.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentPromotes soil health via cover cropping, no-till farming, and compost grants - directly advancing conservation, reducing erosion, and enhancing environmental protection through voluntary agricultural practices.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation

Track

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 28, 2025

SB 1277: 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.

SB 1277 revises Tennessee’s state natural areas program by adjusting acreage measurements for existing protected lands and designating four new natural areas for conservation. The bill specifically adds Clifty Creek Gorge (89 acres in Morgan County, protecting the Virginia spirea), Rocky Hill (1 acre in Rutherford County, safeguarding endangered plants), Union Grove (59 acres in Hamblen County, preserving the Tennessee trillium), and Versailles Knob (40 acres in Rutherford County, protecting Braun’s Rockcress). It also updates acreage figures for multiple existing sites, such as expanding Barnett’s Woods to 156 acres and Emory River to 2,754 acres. These changes directly affect the state’s conservation efforts by formally protecting specific ecosystems and endangered species under Tennessee’s natural areas framework.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentDesignates four new natural areas to protect endangered species (Virginia spirea, Tennessee trillium) and habitats, directly advancing conservation efforts per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Parks & Recreation Wildlife

Track

died · Tennessee · House May 15, 2025

HB 1325: Agriculture, Dept. of - As enacted, establishes a fund for the development and implementation of programs that benefit Tennesseans by preserving farmland and forestland, including a grant program for conservation easements. - Amends TCA Title 43, Chapter 1, Part 1.

HB 1325 establishes Tennessee's Farmland Preservation Fund to support conservation easements on farmland and forestland. The bill creates a dedicated fund within the state general fund (administered by the Department of Agriculture) that provides grants for landowners to place permanent conservation easements on their property, held by qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. Key provisions require land to remain in agricultural or forestry use, prohibit selling or transferring easements acquired through the grant, and mandate unspent funds carry forward annually. This directly affects Tennessee landowners seeking to preserve their property through conservation agreements and qualified nonprofit easement holders. The policy change formalizes a grant program to secure long-term land preservation without restricting farming or forestry activities.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates dedicated state fund within general fund for farmland conservation grants, increasing budget allocation for agricultural preservation programs.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentEstablishes Tennessee's Farmland Preservation Fund for conservation easements to protect farmland/forestland, directly conserving natural resources through dedicated grants and permanent land preservation requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Conservation Forestry

Track

signed · Tennessee · House Mar 12, 2025

HJR 171: General Assembly, Confirmation of Appointment - Michael Bittel, Heritage Conservation Trust Fund Board of Trustees -

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.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentConfirms appointment to board overseeing land conservation trust fund, ensuring continued management of conservation funding.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation