SB 6007 provides property tax relief to owners of real or personal property damaged or destroyed by a FEMA-certified disaster occurring between September 26 and September 30, 2024. The state treasurer must disburse payments equal to 130% of the 2024 property tax bill to qualifying owners who owned the property during the disaster and reside in a county covered by the FEMA declaration. Owners must submit required documentation by June 30, 2025, to receive payments, and the program expires December 31, 2025. The bill also updates emergency response rules to allow government entities to deploy personnel and equipment across jurisdictional lines during emergencies with approval from their chief executive.
HB 6007 requires Tennessee's state treasurer to pay property owners 130% of their 2024 property taxes for real or personal property destroyed or damaged by a FEMA-certified disaster occurring between September 26 and 30, 2024. This applies to owners in counties covered by the FEMA declaration who owned the property during the disaster, with payments disbursed by June 30, 2025, after submitting required documentation. The bill also amends state law to allow local governments to deploy personnel and equipment across jurisdictional boundaries during emergencies, with chief executive approval. The property tax provision expires December 31, 2025, and applies only to the specified disaster window.
HB 6003 creates two state funds to support disaster recovery in Tennessee. The Hurricane Helene Interest Payment Fund helps local governments cover interest costs (capped at 5% or prime rate) on loans used for Hurricane Helene-related recovery, specifically for counties included in the federal disaster declaration. The Governor's Response and Recovery Fund provides broader assistance for agricultural recovery, unemployment aid, and business support following state emergencies, including Hurricane Helene. Both funds are managed by the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency and must be used exclusively for approved recovery purposes, with annual reports to legislative committees.
