Energy

in committee · Tennessee · House May 5, 2026

HB 2535: Gas, Petroleum Products, Volatile Oils - As enacted, makes various changes concerning oil and gas drilling operations; specifies procedural requirements for review of certain administrative actions. - Amends TCA Title 59; Title 60 and Title 68.

HB 2535 amends Tennessee's oil and gas regulations (TCA Titles 59, 60, and 68) by updating definitions and operational requirements for drilling and production. Key changes include reducing the required buffer zone around streams from 0.5 miles to 0.25 miles for well sites, clarifying that "operator" includes those managing well operations, and strengthening permit conditions requiring compliance plans before drilling. The bill also revises terminology (e.g., replacing "crude petroleum" with "oil") and specifies that failure to follow approved plans may result in permit suspension or penalties. These adjustments directly affect oil and gas operators, regulators, and landowners near drilling sites.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyBill reduces buffer zones for oil/gas drilling and eases operational requirements, favoring fossil fuel development over renewable energy policies.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Oil & Gas

Track

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 24, 2026

SB 2560: Energy - As enacted, creates the "Tennessee Energy Freedom Act." - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 60 and Title 68.

SB 2560, the "Tennessee Energy Freedom Act," protects fossil fuel industry activities within Tennessee by limiting legal liability for emissions. It defines "covered activities" as exploration, production, and use of coal, oil, and natural gas, and restricts lawsuits about emissions to cases involving products actually shipped *into* Tennessee ("in-jurisdiction products"). The bill prohibits courts or governments from imposing liability for emissions unless federal environmental laws (like the Clean Air Act) are violated, and allows companies to seek court rulings to establish their emissions calculations. This directly affects fossil fuel companies operating in Tennessee and could shield them from out-of-state lawsuits alleging emissions harm. The bill is currently pending before the Senate Energy Committee.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyProtects fossil fuel industry by limiting emissions liability and restricting lawsuits, opposing clean energy regulation and environmental accountability.95% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill limits legal liability for fossil fuel emissions, restricts lawsuits on emissions, and shields industry activities - directly weakening environmental protections per bill language.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Coal Oil & Gas Air Quality

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signed · Tennessee · Senate May 27, 2026

SB 2641: Public Funds and Financing - As enacted, revises law relative to pension plans and proxy advisors. - Amends TCA Title 9, Chapter 4.

SB 2641 requires local retirement programs (including city, county, and school district pensions not in Tennessee's main TCRS system) to make investment decisions based **solely on financial factors**, excluding environmental, social, or governance (ESG) considerations. It mandates that fiduciaries (like fund managers) conducting an economic analysis to justify voting against a company's board recommendation on shareholder proposals. The bill creates a presumption that voting with a board’s recommendation is financially motivated, while banning votes prioritizing ESG interests unless proven financially beneficial through documented analysis. This applies to all local government retirement programs managing assets for employees’ benefits.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyExcludes environmental factors from retirement fund investments, blocking ESG considerations that typically support renewable energy investments per bill's requirement to prioritize only financial factors.85% confidence

signed · Tennessee · Senate May 5, 2026

SB 2231: Gas, Petroleum Products, Volatile Oils - As enacted, makes various changes concerning oil and gas drilling operations; specifies procedural requirements for review of certain administrative actions. - Amends TCA Title 59; Title 60 and Title 68.

SB 2231 updates Tennessee's oil and gas drilling regulations by revising key definitions (replacing "crude petroleum" with "oil" and clarifying "well" to include production boreholes), reducing required buffer zones from streams from 0.5 miles to 0.25 miles, and mandating permits for surface disturbances and drilling operations. It requires operators to submit and comply with approved plans, with non-compliance risking suspension, permit revocation, or fines. These changes directly affect oil and gas operators, producers, and drilling companies conducting well operations across Tennessee. The bill modernizes procedural requirements while maintaining environmental and operational safeguards for drilling activities.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyReduces buffer zones for oil/gas drilling, easing fossil fuel extraction regulations without addressing renewables or clean energy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Oil & Gas

signed · Tennessee · House Apr 24, 2026

HB 2070: Energy - As enacted, creates the "Tennessee Energy Freedom Act." - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 60 and Title 68.

HB 2070, the "Tennessee Energy Freedom Act," protects fossil fuel industry activities by limiting legal liability for emissions. It prohibits lawsuits or penalties related to emissions from coal, oil, and natural gas operations (defined as "covered activities") unless the emissions violate federal environmental laws like the Clean Air Act. The bill restricts liability claims to "in-jurisdiction products" - meaning only emissions from fossil fuels actually shipped into Tennessee - and bars claims based on emissions from products sold outside the state. This directly affects fossil fuel companies operating in Tennessee and any entities seeking to hold them liable for emissions.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyProtects fossil fuel operations by limiting emissions liability, opposing regulatory measures that would hold them accountable for pollution.95% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentLimits legal liability for fossil fuel emissions, restricting enforcement of environmental protections except when violating federal law.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Coal Oil & Gas Air Quality

signed · Tennessee · House Apr 8, 2025

HB 801: Codes - As enacted, clarifies that, as of July 1, 2025, the roof solar reflectance and thermal emittance requirements of the International Energy Conservation Code for low-sloped roofs do not apply to the 2021 International Code Council adoption; authorizes the state fire marshal to promulgate rules to that effect. - Amends TCA Title 68, Chapter 120.

HB 801 removes a specific energy efficiency requirement for low-sloped roofs in Tennessee. It amends state law to clarify that the International Energy Conservation Code's roof solar reflectance and thermal emittance rules no longer apply to such roofs starting July 1, 2025. This change directly affects builders, developers, and homeowners constructing or renovating low-sloped roofs across Tennessee. The bill achieves this by adding a new provision to Tennessee Code Title 68, Chapter 120, eliminating the requirement without creating new rules. The law became effective April 3, 2025, with the policy change taking effect on July 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyRemoves mandatory energy efficiency requirements for low-sloped roofs, weakening building standards that promote energy conservation per the International Energy Conservation Code.95% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentRemoves energy efficiency roof requirements (solar reflectance/thermal emittance), weakening building energy standards that reduce urban heat and energy use.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Energy Efficiency Solar Conservation

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 28, 2025

SB 884: Energy - As enacted, clarifies that a political subdivision that imposes requirements or expectations related to the type of clean or green, or renewable, energy used by a public utility in an ordinance, resolution, or other regulation must include certain sources of energy as permissible sources of clean or green, or renewable, energy, regardless of whether the political subdivision classifies the requirements or expectations as relating to clean or green, or renewable, energy. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 13; Title 64; Title 65; Title 67 and Title 68.

SB 884 clarifies that local governments (like cities or counties) must accept 19 specific energy sources - including solar, wind, nuclear, natural gas, and biomass - as "clean or green energy" when setting requirements for public utilities. It requires these local rules to include all 19 sources as permissible, regardless of whether the government labels the rules as targeting "clean" or "renewable" energy. The bill amends Tennessee law to define "energy project" and "public utility" consistently across multiple code sections. This change ensures utilities comply with local energy rules by using any of the listed sources, without requiring local governments to explicitly classify their requirements as "clean energy" or "renewable energy."

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyBill forces local governments to accept fossil fuels (natural gas) and nuclear as 'clean energy,' weakening strict renewable energy standards by broadening definitions to include non-renewables.92% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentExpands 'clean energy' definition to include natural gas/nuclear, diluting environmental standards by allowing fossil fuels to qualify as 'clean' under local regulations.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Oil & Gas Renewable Energy Solar

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 8, 2025

SB 1194: Codes - As enacted, clarifies that, as of July 1, 2025, the roof solar reflectance and thermal emittance requirements of the International Energy Conservation Code for low-sloped roofs do not apply to the 2021 International Code Council adoption; authorizes the state fire marshal to promulgate rules to that effect. - Amends TCA Title 68, Chapter 120.

Senate Bill 1194 exempts low-sloped roofs in Tennessee from the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code's requirements for roof solar reflectance and thermal emittance, effective July 1, 2025. This change applies to all new construction and renovations involving low-sloped roofs, removing a specific energy efficiency standard that previously applied. The bill amends Tennessee state law to reflect this exemption and authorizes the state fire marshal to establish implementing rules. The exemption takes effect upon the bill's enactment.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyExempts low-sloped roofs from energy efficiency standards (solar reflectance/thermal emittance), weakening building code requirements effective 2025.90% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentRemoves energy efficiency requirements for roofs that reduce cooling energy use and emissions, weakening environmental standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Energy Efficiency Solar Conservation

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signed · Tennessee · House Apr 28, 2025

HB 1143: Energy - As enacted, clarifies that a political subdivision that imposes requirements or expectations related to the type of clean or green, or renewable, energy used by a public utility in an ordinance, resolution, or other regulation must include certain sources of energy as permissible sources of clean or green, or renewable, energy, regardless of whether the political subdivision classifies the requirements or expectations as relating to clean or green, or renewable, energy. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 13; Title 64; Title 65; Title 67 and Title 68.

HB 1143 clarifies that local governments (counties, cities) cannot restrict public utilities from using certain energy sources when creating regulations about clean or renewable energy. It requires all local energy requirements to include 19 specific sources as permissible, including solar, wind, nuclear power, natural gas, and biomass - regardless of how the local rule is worded. This directly affects municipal and county regulations governing utility energy sources and ensures utilities can comply by using any of the listed options. The bill amends multiple Tennessee code sections to define "clean or green energy" broadly and makes local rules that exclude these sources legally invalid.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyRequires inclusion of nuclear/natural gas (fossil-based) as 'permissible' clean energy sources, weakening strict renewable mandates by diluting clean energy definitions.85% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill mandates inclusion of fossil fuels (natural gas) as 'permissible' energy sources in local clean energy regulations, weakening environmental standards by preventing stricter local bans on non-renewable sources.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Oil & Gas Renewable Energy Solar