Environment (Water Quality)

introduced · Tennessee · House Apr 23, 2026

HR 294: Memorials, Recognition - Memphis Community Against Pollution (MCAP) and President KeShaun Pearson -

This House Resolution honors the Memphis Community Against Pollution (MCAP) and its president, KeShaun Pearson, for their leadership in opposing a proposed crude oil pipeline in Southwest Memphis. The measure commemorates the fifth anniversary of the pipeline project's cancellation, recognizing the group's role in protecting local health, water quality, and environmental justice through community organizing. It formally acknowledges the organization's achievements and expresses appreciation for their continued advocacy on behalf of residents in historically disadvantaged neighborhoods.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill honors group opposing pipeline to protect health, water, and environment.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Environmental Justice Water Quality

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in committee · Tennessee · House Feb 5, 2026

HB 2583: Local Government, General - As introduced, creates the "Tennessee Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund," with monies from the fund to be expended for grants and loans to counties, municipalities, state agencies, and nongovernmental entities for improvement and restoration projects; creates the board of trustees for the trust fund. - Amends TCA Title 68 and Title 70.

HB 2583 creates the "Tennessee Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund" in the state treasury, which will provide grants and loans to counties, municipalities, state agencies, and qualifying nonprofits focused on conservation. The fund finances specific projects like improving state park trails, restoring agricultural lands for wildlife habitat, enhancing public access to waterways, and protecting wetlands or critical areas for clean water and recreation. Monies must be used for conservation-related purposes as defined in the bill, with unspent funds over $20 million reverting to the general fund annually. This bill establishes the fund’s structure, spending rules, and eligibility criteria without specifying budget amounts or future outcomes.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates dedicated fund for conservation projects using state treasury monies, directing government spending toward environmental initiatives per bill's purpose.85% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentCreates Tennessee Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund to fund conservation projects including wetland protection, habitat restoration, and park improvements, directly advancing environmental protection.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Conservation Parks & Recreation Water Quality

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in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 29, 2026

HB 2205: Water - As enacted, requires the department of environment and conservation to add water system projects located in counties having a population of less than 57,000 according to the 2020 census, or a subsequent census, to the priority list for consideration for loans from the water system revolving loan fund. - Amends TCA Title 68, Chapter 221.

HB 2205 requires Tennessee's Department of Environment and Conservation to prioritize water system projects in rural counties (defined as those with under 57,000 residents based on the 2020 or later census) for loans from the water system revolving loan fund. This directly affects smaller counties struggling to fund water infrastructure improvements. The bill amends existing law to add these rural counties to the priority list, ensuring their projects are considered first for available loan funding. It does not create new money but changes how existing loan funds are allocated.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentPrioritizes rural water infrastructure funding to improve environmental protection and water quality, aligning with conservation and pollution control goals under environmental policy.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Drinking Water Water Quality

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 11, 2026

SB 2572: Local Government, General - As introduced, creates the "Tennessee Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund," with monies from the fund to be expended for grants and loans to counties, municipalities, state agencies, and nongovernmental entities for improvement and restoration projects; creates the board of trustees for the trust fund. - Amends TCA Title 68 and Title 70.

SB 2572 creates the "Tennessee Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund" to provide grants and loans for conservation projects. The fund will support counties, municipalities, state agencies, and nonprofit conservation groups for projects like improving parks/trails, restoring wetlands, protecting wildlife habitat, and enhancing public access to outdoor recreation areas. Monies in the fund can be carried forward annually (not lapsing) with strict limits: the board can spend no more than 1% of the fund on its operations, and the finance department no more than 3%. Projects must align with defined conservation values, such as water quality protection, habitat preservation, or military installation buffering. This bill directly affects local governments and conservation organizations seeking funding for outdoor resource management.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates new trust fund allocating state monies for conservation grants, advancing fiscal support for public outdoor projects through dedicated budgeting.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentCreates Tennessee Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund for conservation projects including wetlands restoration, wildlife habitat protection, and park improvements, directly funding environmental stewardship activities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Parks & Recreation Water Quality

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in committee · Tennessee · House Jan 22, 2026

HB 1724: Water Pollution - As introduced, requires local approval of a tipping fee for application of sludge from water treatment plants onto agricultural lands, with proceeds earmarked for water treatment facilities, as a condition of such applications continuing in a locality; places a moratorium on certain permits in jurisdictions that do not provide such local approval. - Amends TCA Section 1-3-105; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 13, Chapter 7; Title 43; Title 68 and Title 69.

HB 1724 requires counties, municipalities, and metropolitan governments to approve sludge application from wastewater treatment plants onto agricultural land through a two-thirds vote resolution. It establishes a "tipping fee" per ton of sludge paid by wastewater facilities, with the revenue mandated to fund local wastewater treatment infrastructure. The bill places a moratorium on new or renewed sludge application permits in jurisdictions without such local approval, effective July 2026. This directly affects wastewater treatment operators, local governments, and agricultural landowners using sludge as fertilizer.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill establishes tipping fee revenue earmarked for wastewater infrastructure funding, directly advancing public service investment per budget/tax indicators.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates local approval for sludge application, funds water treatment infrastructure via tipping fee, and enforces moratorium to prevent pollution from improper sludge disposal.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Drinking Water Water Quality

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Feb 11, 2026

SB 1657: Water Pollution - As introduced, requires local approval of a tipping fee for application of sludge from water treatment plants onto agricultural lands, with proceeds earmarked for water treatment facilities, as a condition of such applications continuing in a locality; places a moratorium on certain permits in jurisdictions that do not provide such local approval. - Amends TCA Section 1-3-105; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 13, Chapter 7; Title 43; Title 68 and Title 69.

SB 1657 requires counties, municipalities, and metropolitan governments to approve sludge application from wastewater treatment plants to agricultural land through a two-thirds vote resolution. This approval must establish a fee per ton of sludge collected by the wastewater facility and remitted to the local government, with funds restricted to building and maintaining local wastewater facilities. The bill places a moratorium on new or renewed permits for sludge application in areas without such local approval, effective July 2026. It directly affects wastewater operators, local governments, and agricultural landowners by creating a new local permitting requirement tied to funding for water infrastructure.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires local approval for sludge application with funds earmarked for water treatment facilities, strengthening pollution control measures under water pollution regulations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drinking Water Water Quality

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died · Tennessee · Senate Feb 10, 2025

SB 665: Environment and Conservation, Department of - As introduced, requires the department to submit an annual report regarding the number of applications filed pursuant to the Water Quality Control Act; requires the department to include information on the mechanism of compensatory mitigation provided for in permits that are required to have a provision for adequate compensatory mitigation; requires additional information when the mechanism of compensatory mitigation is an in-lieu fee program or mitigation banking. - Amends TCA Title 69.

SB 665 requires Tennessee's Department of Environment and Conservation to submit annual reports starting July 2025 on water quality permit applications and the compensatory mitigation methods used in those permits. The report must track the number of permit applications and detail how developers offset environmental impacts - such as through wetland restoration projects, in-lieu fee programs, or mitigation banking - including specific financial details like fees collected or credits sold. This affects the department (which must prepare the reports), permit applicants (whose mitigation methods are tracked), and state officials (who receive the reports). The bill aims to increase transparency around how environmental damage from development is compensated, without changing existing permit requirements.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates detailed annual reporting on compensatory mitigation methods (wetland restoration, fee programs) for water quality permits, ensuring environmental impacts are properly tracked and offset per regulations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Water Quality

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died · Tennessee · House Feb 5, 2025

HB 613: Environment and Conservation, Department of - As introduced, requires the department to submit an annual report regarding the number of applications filed pursuant to the Water Quality Control Act; requires the department to include information on the mechanism of compensatory mitigation provided for in permits that are required to have a provision for adequate compensatory mitigation; requires additional information when the mechanism of compensatory mitigation is an in-lieu fee program or mitigation banking. - Amends TCA Title 69.

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).

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires detailed annual reporting on compensatory mitigation mechanisms for water permits, enhancing transparency and oversight of environmental protection measures under the Water Quality Control Act.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Water Quality

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