Environment

signed · Tennessee · House May 1, 2026

HJR 1394: Memorials, Recognition - Tennessee Pollinator Week -

This House Joint Resolution officially recognizes Tennessee Pollinator Week, which is observed annually from June 22 to 28. The bill honors the importance of pollinators like bees and birds for agriculture, ecosystems, and economic development in Tennessee. It does not create new laws or change existing policies but serves as a formal acknowledgment of the state's commitment to protecting pollinator habitats.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill recognizes Pollinator Week to honor pollinators vital for ecosystems and agriculture, signaling state commitment to protecting habitats.75% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted absent

passed · Tennessee · House Apr 23, 2026

HJR 1396: Memorials, Recognition - Trapping, effective wildlife management tool -

This bill is a House Joint Resolution that formally commends regulated trapping as an effective tool for wildlife management and conservation in Tennessee. It highlights how trapping helps maintain balanced ecosystems, protects endangered species, and controls populations of overabundant animals that cause damage to habitats. The resolution also acknowledges the economic and ecological benefits provided by licensed trappers, including contributions to the state's economy and support for federal wildlife programs. As a commemorative measure, the bill does not change existing laws but instead recognizes the role of trapping in responsible natural resource stewardship.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill explicitly commends trapping as a tool for wildlife management, ecosystem balance, and conservation, directly supporting environmental protection goals.85% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted absent

Track

signed · Tennessee · House May 27, 2025

HB 1133: Taxes - As enacted, allows nuclear energy production facilities to seek pollution control tax credits for certain machinery and equipment. - Amends TCA Title 67.

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly expands tax credits for nuclear facilities under pollution control program, directly modifying tax code to provide financial incentive for compliance with environmental standards.95% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill provides tax credits for nuclear pollution control tech, incentivizing clean energy infrastructure investment. Nuclear aligns with low-carbon energy policies per topic description.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentExpands pollution control tax credits to nuclear facilities, incentivizing reduced emissions through financial support for pollution control technology.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Environment

signed · Tennessee · Senate May 15, 2025

SB 438: Solid Waste Disposal - As enacted, creates the advisory task force on solid waste to examine and review issues related to solid waste; authorizes the department of environment and conservation to accept voluntary contributions, and to apply for grants, from private companies for grants for recycling infrastructure, recycling projects, and composting. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 8; Title 11; Title 13; Title 20; Title 28; Title 39; Title 49; Title 54; Title 55; Title 59; Title 62; Title 64; Title 65; Title 66; Title 67; Title 68 and Title 69.

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.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentCreates advisory task force for solid waste management and authorizes funding for recycling/composting infrastructure, directly advancing environmental protection through waste reduction initiatives.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

signed · Tennessee · Senate May 15, 2025

SB 207: Agriculture, Dept. of - As enacted, establishes a fund for the development and implementation of programs that benefit Tennesseans by preserving farmland and forestland, including a grant program for conservation easements. - Amends TCA Title 43, Chapter 1, Part 1.

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates new state budget fund for farmland conservation grants, allocating state resources to preserve agricultural land through program funding.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentSB 207 establishes a farmland preservation fund with grants for conservation easements, directly protecting agricultural/forest land from development and conserving natural resources per bill's explicit purpose.95% confidence ✗ HousingOpposes HousingBill preserves farmland via conservation easements, restricting land development that could otherwise be used for housing. This limits housing development, aligning with 'oppose' indicators.80% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

signed · Tennessee · Senate May 15, 2025

SB 670: Water Pollution - As enacted, requires the division of water resources in the department of environment and conservation, in collaboration with U.S. army corps of engineers, as necessary, to annually report information concerning compensatory mitigation provisions in aquatic resource alteration permits issued during the prior fiscal year to the governor, the comptroller of the treasury, and the chairpersons of the commerce committees; and to establish four categories of isolated wetlands for regulatory purposes; makes related changes. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 11, Chapter 14, Part 4; Title 66; Title 67, Chapter 4, Part 4 and Title 69.

SB 670 requires Tennessee's Department of Environment and Conservation to annually report on compensatory mitigation for aquatic permits to state officials, and establishes four regulatory categories for isolated wetlands. It also adds a new rule preventing the state from classifying property as a wetland unless it meets federal standards. The bill directly affects developers seeking permits for wetland alterations and state agencies managing environmental regulations. Key changes include mandatory reporting to the governor and legislature, and aligning state wetland rules with federal classifications, effective July 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill restricts state wetland classification to federal standards, limiting regulatory flexibility and preventing stricter state protections.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✓ Supports Environment

signed · Tennessee · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 1274: Environment and Conservation, Department of - As enacted, makes various changes related to fees set by the department for environmental regulatory programs; makes changes to the regulation of coal combustion residuals disposal units. - Amends TCA Title 68, Chapter 203, Part 1 and Title 68, Chapter 211, Part 1.

SB 1274 updates Tennessee's environmental fee structure and regulates coal combustion residuals (like ash from power plants). It increases fees for regular landfill permits ($10,000) and annual maintenance ($15,000), while excluding coal ash disposal units from these charges. The bill requires new liners and caps for coal ash disposal facilities (except for specific uses like agricultural or engineering applications) and allows the Department of Environment and Conservation to recover regulatory costs for coal ash units through capped fees. These changes directly affect power plants, waste management facilities handling coal ash, and environmental regulatory programs.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires new liners/caps for coal ash disposal (excluding limited uses), strengthening regulatory standards for hazardous waste management under environmental protection.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Environment

signed · Tennessee · House May 8, 2025

HB 612: Water Pollution - As enacted, expands from wetlands to all areas that an aquatic resource alteration permit may apply to the areas for which the department of environment and conservation is required to exempt from compensatory mitigation an amount of area equal in size to the area for which mitigation would not be required if the permit applicant qualified for coverage under a general permit, if the only factor that disqualifies an applicant for an aquatic resource alteration permit from having the activities for which a permit is sought covered under a general permit is the size of the area that the permit will apply to. - Amends TCA Title 69, Chapter 3.

HB 612 modifies Tennessee's water pollution permitting rules to exempt certain applicants from requiring compensatory mitigation. Specifically, if a project applicant would qualify for a general permit (covering routine activities) but is disqualified solely due to the project's size, the Department of Environment and Conservation must exempt them from needing to replace lost wetland or aquatic habitat. This applies to all areas covered by aquatic resource alteration permits, not just wetlands. The change takes effect July 1, 2025, streamlining permits for smaller projects that otherwise meet general permit criteria. This directly affects developers, contractors, and landowners seeking permits for water-related projects.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentExempts projects from compensatory wetland mitigation requirements, reducing environmental protections for aquatic habitats.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✓ Supports Environment

signed · Tennessee · Senate Apr 29, 2025

SB 880: Administrative Procedure (UAPA) - As enacted, generally prohibits a governmental agency from adopting a rule or establishing numeric criteria or numeric limitations applicable to a contaminant, pollutant, hazardous substance, solid waste, or hazardous waste that relates to drinking water, water pollution control, hazardous substances, contaminated site remediation, air quality, or solid or hazardous waste handling unless certain conditions are met. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 5.

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.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill prohibits Tennessee from adopting stricter environmental regulations than federal standards without stringent scientific proof, limiting state-level protections and prioritizing federal baseline.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✓ Supports Environment

signed · Tennessee · Senate Apr 29, 2025

SB 258: Water - As enacted, clarifies that if a point-of-entry treatment device is installed in a facility solely to soften hard water and, because of the installation of such a device, the house, building, or complex of buildings meets the definition of a public water system under the Tennessee Safe Drinking Water Act of 1983, then the facility constitutes a consecutive system, and is required to monitor the influent and finished water for hardness, alkalinity, and pH on a quarterly basis, and sodium on an annual basis, and report the results to the department of environment and conservation within 15 days of the end of the reporting period. - Amends TCA Title 68.

SB 258 clarifies that facilities installing only water softening devices (for hard water) do not become public water systems under Tennessee law, even if the device causes them to meet the definition. It specifically excludes such softening systems from public water system requirements, meaning these facilities are not required to monitor water quality unless they otherwise qualify as a public water system. If a softening system causes a facility to meet the public water system definition, it must monitor hardness, alkalinity, pH quarterly and sodium annually, reporting results to the Department of Environment and Conservation within 15 days of each quarter. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Title 68 and takes effect July 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill exempts water softening facilities from public water system monitoring requirements, reducing regulatory oversight on water quality under environmental protections.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Environment