Environment (Conservation)

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 7, 2026

SB 2653: Business and Commerce - As introduced, creates the "Tennessee Data Center Impact Review Act." - Amends TCA Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 10; Title 62; Title 65; Title 68 and Title 69.

SB 2653, the "Tennessee Data Center Impact Review Act," requires data centers in Tennessee with a power capacity exceeding 20 megawatts to obtain a permit before operation starting January 1, 2027. Operators must submit detailed information on water usage, sources, and impacts on residential, agricultural, and public water supplies, along with conservation plans. The review process prioritizes residential water access over industrial use and mandates public hearings, with the board evaluating wastewater discharge and coordination with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). This act directly affects large data center developers and operators seeking to build or expand facilities in Tennessee.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates water impact assessments, conservation plans, and prioritizes residential water access over industrial use for data centers, directly protecting water resources and conservation.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation

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in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 18, 2026

HB 2133: Solid Waste Disposal - As introduced, enacts the "Tennessee Secondary Aluminum Waste Management Act." - Amends TCA Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 62, Chapter 9 and Title 68.

HB 2133 creates the "Tennessee Secondary Aluminum Waste Management Act" to regulate disposal of aluminum recycling byproducts. It directly affects landfill operators and aluminum recycling facilities by prohibiting mixing secondary aluminum waste (like dross or furnace dust) with regular trash and requiring dedicated landfill units for this waste. The law mandates new rules for landfill permits, liner design, and environmental protection, with the Department of Environment and Conservation developing these standards. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, applying to all such waste disposal after that date.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentProhibits mixing aluminum waste with regular trash, mandates dedicated landfill units, and enforces stricter environmental protection rules for waste disposal per bill summary.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Recycling Waste Management

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died · Tennessee · Senate Feb 9, 2026

SB 2651: Environment and Conservation, Department of - As introduced, clarifies process and sanctions when a county's or municipal solid waste region's solid waste plan is noncompliant under the Solid Waste Management Act of 1991; defines noncompliance; outlines sanctions. - Amends TCA Section 68-211-816.

SB 2651 clarifies the rules for counties and municipal solid waste regions that fail to follow Tennessee's Solid Waste Management Act. It defines four specific ways a local entity can be noncompliant (like missing plan deadlines or failing to implement approved plans) and outlines a clear, step-by-step penalty system. If noncompliance continues for 30 days after a warning, the entity loses access to state solid waste management funds; after 60 days, it faces daily civil penalties up to $5,000. This bill directly affects local governments managing waste, ensuring they must meet state standards to receive funding or avoid financial penalties.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentClarifies enforcement of solid waste compliance with penalties for noncompliance, strengthening regulatory adherence under environmental protection law.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Waste Management

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 11, 2026

SB 2572: Local Government, General - As introduced, creates the "Tennessee Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund," with monies from the fund to be expended for grants and loans to counties, municipalities, state agencies, and nongovernmental entities for improvement and restoration projects; creates the board of trustees for the trust fund. - Amends TCA Title 68 and Title 70.

SB 2572 creates the "Tennessee Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund" to provide grants and loans for conservation projects. The fund will support counties, municipalities, state agencies, and nonprofit conservation groups for projects like improving parks/trails, restoring wetlands, protecting wildlife habitat, and enhancing public access to outdoor recreation areas. Monies in the fund can be carried forward annually (not lapsing) with strict limits: the board can spend no more than 1% of the fund on its operations, and the finance department no more than 3%. Projects must align with defined conservation values, such as water quality protection, habitat preservation, or military installation buffering. This bill directly affects local governments and conservation organizations seeking funding for outdoor resource management.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates new trust fund allocating state monies for conservation grants, advancing fiscal support for public outdoor projects through dedicated budgeting.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentCreates Tennessee Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund for conservation projects including wetlands restoration, wildlife habitat protection, and park improvements, directly funding environmental stewardship activities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Parks & Recreation Water Quality

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passed both · Tennessee · Senate Mar 19, 2026

SB 2172: Environment and Conservation, Department of - As introduced, extends from two years to 27 months the amount of time that the commissioner has to designate the boundaries of a scenic river area following the addition of a river segment to the state scenic rivers system. - Amends TCA Title 11, Chapter 13 and Title 68, Chapter 211.

SB 2172 extends the deadline for Tennessee's Department of Environment and Conservation commissioner to designate boundaries for new scenic river segments from two years to 27 months after a river segment is added to the state scenic rivers system. This change directly affects the commissioner and state conservation planning processes by providing additional time for boundary designations. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Sections 11-13-108(a) and references Title 68, Chapter 211 to implement this timeline adjustment. The policy change focuses solely on administrative timing without altering conservation standards or funding.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentExtends deadline for scenic river boundary designation, facilitating more thorough conservation planning under state scenic rivers system without weakening protections.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation

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signed · Tennessee · Senate May 18, 2026

SB 1590: Parks, Natural Areas Preservation - As enacted, designates segments of the Buffalo River, Duck River, and certain other rivers and creeks as Class II pastoral river areas; expands certain public outreach requirements concerning scenic rivers. - Amends TCA Title 11, Chapter 13.

SB 1590 designates specific river segments - including the entire Buffalo River and most of the Duck River - as protected Class II pastoral river areas, while adding four new waterways (Beaverdam Creek, Lick Creek, Piney River, and Swan Creek) to this protected status. It removes previous county exclusions for the Buffalo River and modifies the Duck River segment to exclude only the Normandy Reservoir area managed by the Tennessee Valley Authority. The bill also updates public outreach requirements by changing references from "Duck River" to "any river" in state law. These changes directly affect communities and landowners along the designated waterways, particularly in Hickman, Williamson, and Dickson counties.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentDesignates rivers as protected Class II pastoral areas, expanding conservation for natural waterways and removing development exclusions to preserve natural resources.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Parks & Recreation

failed · Tennessee · Senate Mar 31, 2026

SB 1824: Taxes, Real Property - As introduced, eliminates liability for rollback taxes on agricultural, forest, or open space land with a greenbelt classification when the land is sold; requires that a buyer of property with a greenbelt classification submit a new application to renew the property's greenbelt classification. - Amends TCA Section 11-14-307; Section 11-14-406; Section 11-7-109; Title 66; Section 67-4-409; Title 67, Chapter 5, Part 10 and Section 67-5-2402.

This bill changes Tennessee's property tax rules for agricultural, forest, and open space land (greenbelt classification). When owners sell such land, they no longer face liability for back taxes (rollback taxes) that would otherwise apply. Instead, the buyer must submit a new application to maintain the tax break, but the seller won't owe back taxes regardless of whether the buyer renews the classification. The rule takes effect July 1, 2026, for property sales on or after that date.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEliminates rollback tax liability for sellers of greenbelt land, providing tax relief for agricultural landowners.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMaintains tax incentives for conservation land (agricultural/forest/open space), preventing development by removing seller rollback tax liability and requiring buyer renewal of greenbelt status.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax Tax Incentives Conservation Forestry

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failed · Tennessee · Senate Mar 11, 2026

SB 1750: Water - As introduced, prohibits the department of environment and conservation from prohibiting a utility that provides drinking water from pumping or otherwise withdrawing water from natural waters for purposes of providing drinking water, including as a prerequisite to renewal of the utility's permit, unless the prohibition is required to comply with federal law. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 68, Chapter 221 and Title 69.

SB 1750 prevents Tennessee's Department of Environment and Conservation from blocking public water utilities (like city or county water systems) from pumping or withdrawing water from natural sources for drinking water, unless federal law specifically requires it. The bill allows the department to prohibit such water use only if mandated by federal laws like the Safe Drinking Water Act or Endangered Species Act, and requires them to provide written notice citing the exact federal law. This directly affects water utilities and the state department by limiting the department's authority to restrict water access for drinking water services. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, and applies to permit renewals and ongoing operations.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentPrevents state from imposing stricter water regulations than federal law, weakening environmental protections by limiting department's authority to restrict water use without federal mandate.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Drinking Water Wildlife

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Feb 5, 2026

SB 2008: Environment and Conservation, Department of - As introduced, enacts the "Climate Resiliency Fund Act." - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 3, Part 5; Title 9; Title 60; Title 67 and Title 68.

SB 2008 establishes the "Climate Resiliency Fund" to finance climate adaptation projects across Tennessee. It requires fossil fuel businesses (like coal and oil operations) that existed between 1995 and 2026 to pay cost recovery charges into the fund. The fund will support concrete projects such as flood protections, infrastructure upgrades, nature-based solutions, and healthcare programs addressing climate impacts like extreme weather and heat waves. Priority funding is directed to environmental justice communities facing higher climate burdens due to income, race, or language barriers.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill imposes cost recovery charges on fossil fuel businesses to fund climate adaptation projects, creating a dedicated budget stream for essential environmental services.95% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyRequires fossil fuel businesses to fund climate adaptation projects including infrastructure upgrades, aligning with clean energy infrastructure investment and reducing fossil fuel reliance.85% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentEstablishes Climate Resiliency Fund financed by fossil fuel businesses to fund climate adaptation projects like flood protection and nature-based solutions, directly advancing environmental protection and climate resilience.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly funds healthcare programs addressing climate impacts like extreme weather and heat waves, aligning with healthcare funding indicators.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Coal Oil & Gas Coastal & Flood Protection Conservation Environmental Justice Substance Abuse

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 16, 2026

SB 2073: Holidays and Days of Special Observance - As enacted, designates the month of April as "Tennessee Native Plant Month." - Amends TCA Title 15, Chapter 2.

SB 2073 designates the month of April each year as "Tennessee Native Plant Month" in the state. This ceremonial bill aims to raise public awareness about native plants' ecological and economic benefits, such as supporting pollinators, sustaining local ecosystems, and bolstering agriculture and nursery industries. It does not create new regulations, funding, or direct obligations but formally recognizes Tennessee's native plant species through an annual observance. The designation applies statewide and encourages community engagement with native plant conservation.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill designates April as Native Plant Month to raise awareness of ecological benefits like pollinator support and ecosystem sustainability, directly aligning with environmental protection goals through recognition.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation

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