HB 765 requires that 10% of excess proceeds from delinquent property tax sales in Tennessee be allocated to provide tax relief for specific homeowners. It directly affects elderly low-income residents, disabled individuals, disabled veterans, and widows of disabled veterans. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 67, Chapter 5, by adding a new provision directing these funds to a dedicated tax relief program under "part 7" of the chapter. The law would take effect on July 1, 2025, if passed.
HB 1068 creates a Community Grant Advisory Board within Tennessee's Department of Human Services to manage a new grant program supporting community-based nonprofit organizations. The bill establishes a special fund in the state general budget, initially appropriating $1 million to award grants ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 to eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofits serving communities in education, health, housing, social services, or economic development. Grants require applicants to demonstrate need, outline project plans, and prioritize community-driven solutions, with priority given to organizations led by community members they serve. The board must report annually on fund usage and recipient progress, with unspent funds carried forward annually.
HB 744 prohibits organizations or entities receiving Tennessee state financial assistance for programs or activities from denying benefits, excluding participants, or discriminating against eligible individuals based on race, color, religion, or national origin. This applies directly to state-funded programs, such as those providing services or support through state grants. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, to establish this non-discrimination requirement as a condition for receiving state funds. It creates a clear policy change requiring state-funded programs to operate without bias against protected characteristics.
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.
SB 129 increases the Tennessee Housing Development Agency's (THDA) maximum bond limit from $4 billion to $6 billion. This change allows THDA to issue more bonds to fund below-market interest rate loans for low- and moderate-income Tennesseans. The bill directly affects THDA's ability to provide housing assistance programs, addressing rising demand since 2008. It amends Tennessee Code Annotated Section 13-23-121(a) to update the financial cap.
HB 670 would reduce the buffer zone for development near Class II and Class III scenic rivers in Tennessee from 450 feet to 400 feet from the river banks. This change would directly affect property owners and developers in these areas by narrowing the area where construction or other development is restricted. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 11, Section 11-13-108(a)(2), to update the distance limit for scenic river protections. The bill was introduced on February 3, 2025, but was withdrawn the following day.
HB 652 limits local governments' zoning authority for new residential subdivisions. It prohibits planning commissions, city councils, county legislatures, and municipal governing bodies from requiring more than one entrance or exit into a subdivision unless it contains at least 70 homes. This applies to all Tennessee subdivisions subject to local planning regulations and takes effect July 1, 2025. The bill directly affects developers and local governments by standardizing access requirements for smaller subdivisions.
HB 63 creates Tennessee's HOPE pilot program to support homeless families and those at risk of homelessness. It requires the Tennessee Housing Development Agency to establish county-level facilities with health clinics, classrooms, and child-safe spaces, offering four staged support levels - from basic needs like ID assistance and emergency shelter to permanent housing with job training and educational support. The program partners with local nonprofits, streamlines ID documentation using facility addresses, and expires in 2030. It applies only to counties with 100,000-101,000 residents per the 2020 census.
HB 955, the "Affordable Housing and Tenant Protection Act," allows Tennessee local governments to adopt rent control ordinances (requiring a two-thirds legislative vote) to set maximum rents and fees for private residential properties, with specific requirements for local rent agencies and appeal processes. It creates the Increased Housing Program, administered by the Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA), which provides gap financing to developers building affordable housing and down payment assistance to first-time homebuyers for primary residences. The program prioritizes housing developments in areas affected by recent federal disasters and excludes participants from certain tax credits, with THDA required to report annually on program outcomes starting in 2026. This bill directly affects local governments, landlords, renters, developers, and first-time homebuyers by introducing new rent regulation mechanisms and state-funded housing support.
SB 1271 clarifies that definitions for housing facilities under Tennessee's industrial development corporation laws explicitly include affordable and workforce housing. It modifies economic impact plan processes, allowing municipalities or counties to approve amendments to these plans without requiring additional public hearings. The bill directly affects local governments, industrial development corporations, and housing developers by streamlining plan modifications for projects involving affordable/workforce housing. Key provisions update three code sections to include these housing types in definitions and simplify administrative approvals for economic development plans. The changes aim to reduce bureaucratic hurdles for housing projects while maintaining existing regulatory frameworks.
