Environment (Conservation)

signed · Tennessee · Senate May 15, 2025

SB 438: Solid Waste Disposal - As enacted, creates the advisory task force on solid waste to examine and review issues related to solid waste; authorizes the department of environment and conservation to accept voluntary contributions, and to apply for grants, from private companies for grants for recycling infrastructure, recycling projects, and composting. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 8; Title 11; Title 13; Title 20; Title 28; Title 39; Title 49; Title 54; Title 55; Title 59; Title 62; Title 64; Title 65; Title 66; Title 67; Title 68 and Title 69.

SB 438 creates an advisory task force to examine solid waste management issues in Tennessee and authorizes the Department of Environment and Conservation to accept voluntary contributions and apply for private grants for recycling infrastructure, recycling projects, and composting initiatives. The bill requires the department to publish a report on its website regarding these efforts. It amends multiple sections of Tennessee law related to waste management, including provisions for grant funding and reporting. The bill became effective on May 9, 2025.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentCreates advisory task force for solid waste management and authorizes funding for recycling/composting infrastructure, directly advancing environmental protection through waste reduction initiatives.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Recycling Waste Management

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 17, 2025

SB 281: Environment and Conservation, Department of - As introduced, prohibits the department from regulating farming activities involving top soil, rock removal, or the building of a pond when the activities are conducted in an area that is less than three acres in size, and the property on which the activities occur has greenbelt classification. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 11; Title 13; Title 43; Title 44; Title 64; Title 66; Title 67; Title 68 and Title 69.

SB 281 exempts small-scale farming activities on properties under three acres with greenbelt classification from regulation by Tennessee's Department of Environment and Conservation. Specifically, it prohibits oversight of topsoil handling, rock removal, or pond construction on such properties. This exemption applies only to land classified as agricultural under Tennessee's 1976 greenbelt program (TCA Title 67). The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, and amends multiple environmental and agricultural code sections to implement this change.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentExempts small farming activities from environmental oversight, reducing regulatory protections for soil/water management per TCA Title 67 greenbelt classification.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 8, 2025

SB 1194: Codes - As enacted, clarifies that, as of July 1, 2025, the roof solar reflectance and thermal emittance requirements of the International Energy Conservation Code for low-sloped roofs do not apply to the 2021 International Code Council adoption; authorizes the state fire marshal to promulgate rules to that effect. - Amends TCA Title 68, Chapter 120.

Senate Bill 1194 exempts low-sloped roofs in Tennessee from the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code's requirements for roof solar reflectance and thermal emittance, effective July 1, 2025. This change applies to all new construction and renovations involving low-sloped roofs, removing a specific energy efficiency standard that previously applied. The bill amends Tennessee state law to reflect this exemption and authorizes the state fire marshal to establish implementing rules. The exemption takes effect upon the bill's enactment.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyExempts low-sloped roofs from energy efficiency standards (solar reflectance/thermal emittance), weakening building code requirements effective 2025.90% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentRemoves energy efficiency requirements for roofs that reduce cooling energy use and emissions, weakening environmental standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Energy Efficiency Solar Conservation

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in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 26, 2025

HB 1397: 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.

HB 1397 requires Tennessee's Department of Environment and Conservation to create a public online tool on its website by January 2026. The tool will let residents search for facilities within a 5-mile radius of their address that report chemical releases to the EPA under federal law, including pending construction or expansion projects. It will also allow users to sign up for notifications about new applications near their location and must be updated within 10 business days of receiving new data. This directly affects residents seeking information about potential chemical exposure risks and businesses subject to toxic release reporting requirements.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires public access to toxic release data, enhancing transparency for pollution monitoring and community awareness per EPA reporting requirements.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation

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introduced · Tennessee · House Feb 10, 2025

HB 994: Solid Waste Disposal - As introduced, changes from March 31 to February 1, the date by which each region must submit its annual report to the commissioner of environment and conservation for the immediately preceding calendar year that includes data on collection, recycling, transportation, disposal, public costs, and other information deemed relevant to solid waste planning and management. - Amends TCA Title 68 and Title 69.

HB 994 changes the deadline for Tennessee regions to submit annual solid waste reports from March 31 to February 1 each year. The bill requires regions to provide data on collection, recycling, transportation, disposal, public costs, and other relevant solid waste management information to the Environment Commissioner. This applies directly to all Tennessee regions responsible for waste planning and management under state environmental laws. The change takes effect July 1, 2025, and does not alter the reporting requirements themselves.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates detailed annual reporting on recycling/disposal data for environmental oversight, strengthening waste management transparency under TCA Title 68/69.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Recycling Waste Management

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died · Tennessee · House Feb 20, 2025

HB 895: Parks, Natural Areas Preservation - As introduced, removes the two-mile buffer between class II scenic rivers and new and expanded landfill sites. - Amends TCA Title 11, Chapter 13 and Title 68.

HB 895 removes a requirement that new or expanded landfill sites must be located at least two miles away from designated Class II scenic rivers in Tennessee. This bill directly affects landfill developers and communities near these protected waterways by eliminating a buffer zone designed to limit development close to sensitive river environments. The bill achieves this by deleting specific provisions in Tennessee Code (Sections 68-211-118, 68-212-120, and 68-212-223) that previously enforced the two-mile restriction. The change would allow landfills to be built closer to scenic rivers without needing to comply with this distance rule. The bill is currently in committee referral and has not yet been voted on.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentRemoves buffer protecting scenic rivers from landfills, weakening environmental safeguards by eliminating a conservation requirement.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Parks & Recreation Waste Management

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in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 12, 2025

HB 834: Environment and Conservation, Department of - As introduced, prohibits the board of water and wastewater operator certification from delegating, by contract or other agreement, to a third-party its authority to determine minimum operator competency or to prepare examinations administered to applicants seeking operator certification; establishes requirements for such examinations and minimum scores required for issuance of a certificate. - Amends TCA Title 68, Chapter 221, Part 9.

HB 834 prevents Tennessee's Water and Wastewater Operator Certification Board from outsourcing exam creation, administration, or competency decisions to third parties through contracts or agreements. The bill requires the board to create standardized exams that measure required skills (including at least 10% state regulatory questions per classification), sets a 70% passing score for both total exam and regulatory questions, and bans collecting applicant demographic data (age, race, sex, or cultural background). It directly affects water and wastewater operators seeking certification in Tennessee by ensuring exams are developed and administered internally by the board. The law applies to all certification processes under Tennessee Code Annotated Title 68, Chapter 221, Part 9.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill ensures water/wastewater operator competency via standardized exams (70% pass rate, 10% regulatory questions), directly supporting environmental protection through regulatory integrity in water quality management.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation

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signed · Tennessee · Senate Apr 29, 2025

SB 113: 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.

SB 113 amends Tennessee law to give the state Department of Environment and Conservation commissioner authority to issue variances (exceptions) for subsurface sewage disposal systems, overriding stricter local requirements in certain cases. It directly affects county health departments implementing these systems and property owners needing sewage solutions. The key provision allows the commissioner to grant variances that supersede local rules, while requiring these variances to be recorded with the county register of deeds. This change streamlines state oversight for sewage systems without requiring local approval.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill grants state authority to override stricter local sewage disposal rules with variances, weakening local environmental protections and deregulating standards.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation

signed · Tennessee · House May 8, 2025

HB 125: Parks, Natural Areas Preservation - As enacted, requires a county or municipal government that receives a grant from the local parks land acquisition fund for a project located within a county designated as distressed or at-risk by the Appalachian Regional Commission at the time of the grant application to match the grant with an amount of money equal to 25 percent of the project, instead of requiring a match with an amount of money equal to the grant. - Amends TCA Section 67-4-409.

HB 125 modifies Tennessee's local parks land acquisition grant program by reducing the required local match for projects in Appalachian Regional Commission-designated distressed or at-risk counties. Specifically, it changes the rule from requiring a 100% local match (equal to the grant amount) to a 25% local contribution for these counties. This applies to county or municipal governments receiving grants under TCA Section 67-4-409 for projects located in designated areas. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025, easing financial burdens for local governments in economically challenged regions seeking park land acquisitions.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentReduces local financial burden for parks/natural areas preservation grants in designated counties, facilitating greater conservation funding and project implementation.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Parks & Recreation