Environment

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Feb 12, 2025

SB 725: 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.

SB 725 would remove a two-mile buffer requirement that currently prohibits new or expanded landfills from being built within two miles of class II scenic rivers in Tennessee. This change would directly affect landfill operators and developers seeking to site facilities near these protected river areas. The bill deletes specific sections of state law (TCA Sections 11-13-111(b) and 68-211-118, 68-212-120, 68-212-223) that enforced the buffer. Consequently, landfills could be located closer to scenic rivers without the current setback.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentRemoves two-mile buffer protecting scenic rivers from landfills, weakening conservation standards and allowing closer landfill proximity to protected waterways.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Parks & Recreation Waste Management

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 19, 2025

SB 278: Parks, Natural Areas Preservation - As introduced, designates certain portions of the Duck River and certain portions of various creeks as Class II pastoral river areas. - Amends TCA Title 11, Chapter 13.

SB 278 designates specific river segments in Tennessee as Class II pastoral river areas, adding them to the state's scenic river preservation system. It directly affects the Duck River segment within Hickman County, plus Beaverdam Creek, Lick Creek, Piney River, and Swan Creek segments in Hickman, Williamson, and Dickson counties. The bill amends existing law to formally include these waterways under Class II protection, which limits development and commercial activities to preserve natural character. This change ensures these designated river areas receive consistent preservation standards under Tennessee’s scenic river framework. The bill does not create new regulations but expands the current system to cover these additional segments.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentDesignates river segments as Class II pastoral areas, limiting development to preserve natural character and waterways, directly protecting environmental resources.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Parks & Recreation

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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 Mar 21, 2025

HB 230: Sunset Laws - As enacted, extends the air pollution control board to June 30, 2031. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 29 and Title 68, Chapter 201, Part 1.

HB 230 extends the existence of Tennessee's air pollution control board until June 30, 2031, preventing it from automatically ending under sunset provisions. The bill updates two sections of Tennessee law (Title 4, Chapter 29 and Title 68, Chapter 201) to clarify the board's legal foundation and ensure its continued operation. This change directly affects how air pollution regulation is governed in Tennessee, maintaining the board's authority to oversee emissions standards and enforcement. The bill does not create new environmental rules but preserves the existing structure for air quality management. (Note: The bill became law on March 21, 2025.)

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentExtends air pollution control board's operation, maintaining regulatory authority for emissions oversight and enforcement under existing environmental protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Air Quality

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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

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signed · Tennessee · House Apr 28, 2025

HB 1143: Energy - As enacted, clarifies that a political subdivision that imposes requirements or expectations related to the type of clean or green, or renewable, energy used by a public utility in an ordinance, resolution, or other regulation must include certain sources of energy as permissible sources of clean or green, or renewable, energy, regardless of whether the political subdivision classifies the requirements or expectations as relating to clean or green, or renewable, energy. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 13; Title 64; Title 65; Title 67 and Title 68.

HB 1143 clarifies that local governments (counties, cities) cannot restrict public utilities from using certain energy sources when creating regulations about clean or renewable energy. It requires all local energy requirements to include 19 specific sources as permissible, including solar, wind, nuclear power, natural gas, and biomass - regardless of how the local rule is worded. This directly affects municipal and county regulations governing utility energy sources and ensures utilities can comply by using any of the listed options. The bill amends multiple Tennessee code sections to define "clean or green energy" broadly and makes local rules that exclude these sources legally invalid.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyRequires inclusion of nuclear/natural gas (fossil-based) as 'permissible' clean energy sources, weakening strict renewable mandates by diluting clean energy definitions.85% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill mandates inclusion of fossil fuels (natural gas) as 'permissible' energy sources in local clean energy regulations, weakening environmental standards by preventing stricter local bans on non-renewable sources.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Oil & Gas Renewable Energy Solar

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 28, 2025

SB 884: Energy - As enacted, clarifies that a political subdivision that imposes requirements or expectations related to the type of clean or green, or renewable, energy used by a public utility in an ordinance, resolution, or other regulation must include certain sources of energy as permissible sources of clean or green, or renewable, energy, regardless of whether the political subdivision classifies the requirements or expectations as relating to clean or green, or renewable, energy. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 13; Title 64; Title 65; Title 67 and Title 68.

SB 884 clarifies that local governments (like cities or counties) must accept 19 specific energy sources - including solar, wind, nuclear, natural gas, and biomass - as "clean or green energy" when setting requirements for public utilities. It requires these local rules to include all 19 sources as permissible, regardless of whether the government labels the rules as targeting "clean" or "renewable" energy. The bill amends Tennessee law to define "energy project" and "public utility" consistently across multiple code sections. This change ensures utilities comply with local energy rules by using any of the listed sources, without requiring local governments to explicitly classify their requirements as "clean energy" or "renewable energy."

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyBill forces local governments to accept fossil fuels (natural gas) and nuclear as 'clean energy,' weakening strict renewable energy standards by broadening definitions to include non-renewables.92% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentExpands 'clean energy' definition to include natural gas/nuclear, diluting environmental standards by allowing fossil fuels to qualify as 'clean' under local regulations.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Oil & Gas Renewable Energy Solar

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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

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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