HB 863 requires Tennessee municipalities and counties to post new ordinances and resolutions on a website within one month of adoption. Local governments may choose to post on their own website or the secretary of state's website. The law, effective May 2, 2025, applies to all new ordinances and resolutions adopted after that date.
HB 1306 clarifies that Tennessee's definitions of housing facilities for economic development include affordable and workforce housing, explicitly expanding eligibility for industrial development corporation projects. It modifies housing definitions in multiple statutes to cover multifamily, single-family, condo, and townhome developments intended for low-to-moderate-income, elderly, or disabled residents. The bill also streamlines approval processes by allowing municipalities to amend economic impact plans without new public hearings, reducing administrative barriers for housing projects. This directly affects local governments, housing developers, and residents of affordable housing developments across Tennessee.
HB 331 amends Tennessee Code Annotated Section 13-23-121 to increase the Tennessee Housing Development Agency's (THDA) maximum bond issuance limit from $4 billion to $6 billion. This change directly enables THDA to issue more bonds for financing affordable housing loans, primarily benefiting low- and moderate-income Tennessee residents seeking below-market interest rate mortgages. The bill's key provision adjusts the statutory cap to address growing demand for these housing programs, which THDA has managed within the previous limit since 2008. The increase took effect on May 2, 2025, after receiving legislative and gubernatorial approval.
SB 1079 requires developers (called "declarants") to hold the first 10% of a condo buyer's deposit in a state-licensed escrow account until construction is complete. Developers can access these funds only if they provide a surety bond or letter of credit guaranteeing full repayment to the buyer if construction delays prevent unit delivery. Deposits exceeding 10% may be used for actual construction costs (like materials and labor), but not for salaries, commissions, or advertising. The law applies to new condo contracts signed or amended on or after July 1, 2025.
SB 480 (the "Tennessee Property Rights Protection Act") revises Tennessee housing law to protect non-blighted properties from eminent domain. It deletes the broad definition of "blighted areas" and replaces it with a property-by-property standard for "blighted property," ensuring only properties meeting specific safety/code violations (and not fixed within a reasonable time) can be targeted. Housing authorities can now acquire property without eminent domain through negotiated sales and pay above fair market value for non-blighted properties located in areas designated as blighted. These changes aim to prevent well-maintained properties from being taken while preserving housing authorities' ability to redevelop truly blighted properties. The law took effect on April 3, 2025.
HB 444 (Tennessee Property Rights Protection Act) redefines "blighted property" to require housing authorities to prove individual properties - not entire neighborhoods - meet specific safety code violations before using eminent domain. It deletes the broad "blighted areas" definition, preventing non-blighted properties from being targeted for condemnation, and mandates housing authorities give owners time to fix violations before acquisition. The bill also allows housing authorities to pay above fair market value for non-blighted properties in redevelopment zones through negotiated sales, without eminent domain. These changes aim to limit eminent domain use to truly blighted properties while preserving housing authority powers for redevelopment.
HB 452 changes Tennessee's eviction process for cases where a tenant hasn't paid rent. It requires that trials must be held within 14 days of the landlord filing the case and limits hearings to only rent-related issues, such as lease terms and payment history. After a court rules in the landlord's favor, the tenant must move out within seven days of receiving the court order, and the landlord can request immediate sheriff removal if the tenant doesn't comply. This bill affects tenants and landlords facing nonpayment evictions and takes effect on July 1, 2025.
HB 323 would change the standard of proof required for homeowners to challenge foreclosure sale prices in Tennessee. Currently, debtors only need to show the sale price was below fair market value by a "preponderance of the evidence" (more likely than not). The bill would raise this standard to "clear and convincing evidence," making it harder for homeowners to rebut the legal presumption that foreclosure sale prices equal fair market value. This change would take effect July 1, 2025, and directly affects homeowners seeking to contest foreclosure sales.
SB 806 changes Tennessee eviction procedures for cases based on nonpayment of rent. It requires eviction trials to occur within 14 days of filing (down from a previous minimum of 6 days), limits court hearings to only rent-related issues like lease terms and payment history, and gives tenants 7 days to move after a judgment. This directly affects tenants facing eviction and landlords filing nonpayment lawsuits. The bill aims to streamline the process while narrowing court focus to rent disputes.
