HB 1133 amends Tennessee's tax code to allow nuclear energy production facilities to claim pollution control tax credits for specific machinery and equipment, expanding an existing program previously limited to wind energy. This change directly affects nuclear power plants in Tennessee by providing them with a new financial incentive to invest in pollution control technology. The bill modifies Section 67-4-2004(9)(A) of the Tennessee Code to explicitly include nuclear facilities alongside wind energy sources. The law takes effect on July 1, 2025.
SB 438 creates an advisory task force to examine solid waste management issues in Tennessee and authorizes the Department of Environment and Conservation to accept voluntary contributions and apply for private grants for recycling infrastructure, recycling projects, and composting initiatives. The bill requires the department to publish a report on its website regarding these efforts. It amends multiple sections of Tennessee law related to waste management, including provisions for grant funding and reporting. The bill became effective on May 9, 2025.
HB 667 creates a state advisory task force to examine solid waste management issues and authorizes Tennessee's Department of Environment and Conservation to accept private company donations and apply for grants for recycling infrastructure, projects, and composting. The bill requires the department to publish its findings online and amends multiple environmental codes to support these provisions. It directly affects the state department, private waste management companies, and communities managing recycling efforts. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, after becoming Public Chapter 429.
SB 207 creates a new "farmland preservation fund" within Tennessee's state budget to support the long-term protection of agricultural and forested land. The fund provides grants to help farmers and foresters place permanent conservation easements on their property - legal agreements that prevent development while allowing farming or forestry activities. These grants can be awarded directly to landowners or to qualified nonprofit organizations (like 501(c)(3) groups) that hold the easements, with requirements including proof of the easement agreement and ongoing agricultural use. The Tennessee Department of Agriculture will manage the fund, and unspent money will carry forward annually instead of reverting to the general budget.
HB 1325 establishes Tennessee's Farmland Preservation Fund to support conservation easements on farmland and forestland. The bill creates a dedicated fund within the state general fund (administered by the Department of Agriculture) that provides grants for landowners to place permanent conservation easements on their property, held by qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. Key provisions require land to remain in agricultural or forestry use, prohibit selling or transferring easements acquired through the grant, and mandate unspent funds carry forward annually. This directly affects Tennessee landowners seeking to preserve their property through conservation agreements and qualified nonprofit easement holders. The policy change formalizes a grant program to secure long-term land preservation without restricting farming or forestry activities.
HB 125 modifies Tennessee's local parks land acquisition grant program by reducing the required local match for projects in Appalachian Regional Commission-designated distressed or at-risk counties. Specifically, it changes the rule from requiring a 100% local match (equal to the grant amount) to a 25% local contribution for these counties. This applies to county or municipal governments receiving grants under TCA Section 67-4-409 for projects located in designated areas. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025, easing financial burdens for local governments in economically challenged regions seeking park land acquisitions.
SB 880, effective July 1, 2025, requires Tennessee environmental agencies to base new regulations on "best available science" for drinking water, air quality, hazardous substances, and waste handling. It prohibits agencies from adopting stricter rules than federal standards (or new rules without federal equivalents) unless the science is reliable, unbiased, peer-reviewed, and demonstrates a causal link between exposure and human health harm. The law applies only to new regulatory actions after July 2025, not existing rules or federal compliance requirements. It directly affects agencies like the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation when creating new environmental standards.
HB 1112 makes it a Class A misdemeanor to intentionally inject, release, or disperse chemicals into Tennessee's atmosphere with the purpose of altering weather, temperature, or sunlight intensity. It also criminalizes supplying materials for such activities. The law directly affects individuals or entities conducting weather modification within Tennessee, imposing a $100,000 fine per violation in addition to misdemeanor penalties. Enforcement will be handled by state agencies and prosecutors investigating credible reports of violations. The bill amends Tennessee Code sections governing weather modification and criminal penalties, effective July 1, 2025.
SB 702 creates the "Climate Resiliency Fund" to finance projects addressing climate change impacts in Tennessee. It requires fossil fuel businesses (coal, oil, gas) operating between 1995 and 2025 to pay cost recovery fees based on their greenhouse gas emissions into the fund. The fund will support climate adaptation projects like flood protections, infrastructure upgrades, and healthcare programs, with priority given to communities designated as "environmental justice focus populations" (low-income, high-minority, or limited English proficiency areas). The bill defines specific eligible projects, including nature-based solutions, stormwater system improvements, and resilience planning for vulnerable infrastructure.
