SB 970 Tennessee Senate · 114th Regular Session (2025-2026)

Water Authorities - As enacted, generally authorizes the board of directors of a municipal energy authority to, as part of the transfer of a water and wastewater system, adopt and assume all or any portion of such regulatory powers, authority, duties, obligations, and oversight over the water and wastewater operations as were applicable to the municipal water and wastewater system pursuant to ordinances, resolutions, or other rules or policies that were in effect immediately prior to the transfer of such system to the authority; authorizes later amendment to such rules, regulations, and requirements. - Amends TCA Title 5; Title 6; Title 7 and Title 68.

SB 970 allows municipal energy authorities to take over regulatory authority for water and wastewater systems when they acquire such systems from a municipality. It directly affects these authorities by enabling them to adopt the existing regulatory rules, oversight, and responsibilities that applied to the system before the transfer. The bill requires authorities to follow the same ordinances and policies that were in effect prior to the transfer, while also permitting later changes to those rules. This amendment updates Tennessee Code (Titles 5, 6, 7, and 68) to formalize this process.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Feb 10, 2025 Last action Apr 28, 2025
Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
13
Key actions
4
Committee
5
Mar 26, 2025
Upper · Passed
Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 9, Nays 0 PNV 0
upper
Mar 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
Action deferred in Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee to 3/26/2025
lower
Mar 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee calendar for 3/26/2025
lower
Mar 13, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee calendar for 3/19/2025
lower
Feb 12, 2025
Committee
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee
upper
Feb 10, 2025
Introduced
Introduced, Passed on First Consideration
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Steve Southerland
Steve Southerland
RRepublican
TN
9