Environment (Conservation)

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 · House Mar 11, 2026

HB 1509: 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.

HB 1509 prevents Tennessee's environmental agency from blocking water utilities from pumping drinking water, unless federal law explicitly requires it. The bill specifically allows state action only when federal mandates (like the Safe Drinking Water Act) demand restrictions - not merely recommend them - and requires the agency to provide written notice citing the exact federal law if restrictions are imposed. It directly affects public water systems operated by local governments or regulated by Tennessee's utility board. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentPrevents state agency from imposing water restrictions beyond federal mandates, weakening environmental protections by limiting regulatory authority.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Drinking Water Water Quality

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Feb 12, 2025

SB 725: Parks, Natural Areas Preservation - As introduced, removes the two-mile buffer between class II scenic rivers and new and expanded landfill sites. - Amends TCA Title 11, Chapter 13 and Title 68.

SB 725 would remove a two-mile buffer requirement that currently prohibits new or expanded landfills from being built within two miles of class II scenic rivers in Tennessee. This change would directly affect landfill operators and developers seeking to site facilities near these protected river areas. The bill deletes specific sections of state law (TCA Sections 11-13-111(b) and 68-211-118, 68-212-120, 68-212-223) that enforced the buffer. Consequently, landfills could be located closer to scenic rivers without the current setback.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentRemoves two-mile buffer protecting scenic rivers from landfills, weakening conservation standards and allowing closer landfill proximity to protected waterways.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Parks & Recreation Waste Management

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 19, 2025

SB 825: Water Pollution - As introduced, prohibits the department of environment and conservation from applying criteria that will result in the classification of real property as a wetland if the property is prior converted cropland that is exempt from classification as a wetland under federal law. - Amends TCA Title 11, Chapter 14, Part 4 and Title 69.

SB 825 prevents Tennessee's Department of Environment and Conservation from classifying prior converted cropland (land previously farmed that is federally exempt from wetland rules) as wetlands under state law. This directly affects landowners who own such properties, as it ensures they won't face additional state wetland regulations beyond federal exemptions. The bill amends Tennessee Code to require state agencies to align with federal classifications, removing potential conflicting state rules. The policy change is purely procedural, ensuring state enforcement matches federal exemptions for this specific land type.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentPrevents state from classifying federally exempt cropland as wetlands, removing potential stricter environmental regulations beyond federal exemptions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Water Quality

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in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 29, 2025

HB 199: Environment and Conservation, Department of - As enacted, requires an agreement or contract entered into between the commissioner and a county health department for the department to implement subsurface sewage disposal requirements to include authority for the commissioner to issue a variance in certain circumstances. - Amends TCA Title 68, Chapter 221, Part 4.

HB 199 gives Tennessee's environmental commissioner authority to issue variances (exceptions) to subsurface sewage disposal rules, overriding stricter local requirements. This directly affects property owners needing sewage systems and county health departments implementing these rules. The bill requires any granted variance to be recorded with the county register of deeds. It amends state law to clarify the commissioner's role in approving these exceptions while ensuring public records are updated.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill grants commissioner authority to issue variances overriding stricter local sewage disposal rules, weakening environmental protections by allowing exceptions to regulatory standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation

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in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 29, 2025

HB 896: 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.

HB 896, the "Sound Science in Regulations Act," prohibits Tennessee environmental agencies from creating new rules on drinking water, air quality, hazardous substances, or waste handling unless they meet strict scientific standards. It requires agencies to base regulations on "best available science" that is reliable, unbiased, and published in peer-reviewed journals with independent verification. The law applies only to new rules stricter than federal standards, effective July 1, 2025, and excludes existing rules or those required by federal law. This directly affects agencies like the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation when developing new environmental regulations.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentProhibits new environmental regulations stricter than federal standards, requiring stringent scientific validation that delays or blocks protections for water, air, and waste management.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Air Quality Conservation Water Quality

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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

Sub-Topics Conservation Drinking Water Water Quality

died · Tennessee · House Feb 5, 2025

HB 670: Environment and Conservation, Department of - As introduced, decreases from 450 to 400 feet from the usual banks of a Class II or Class III scenic river, the maximum area within which development is limited. - Amends TCA Title 11.

HB 670 would reduce the buffer zone for development near Class II and Class III scenic rivers in Tennessee from 450 feet to 400 feet from the river banks. This change would directly affect property owners and developers in these areas by narrowing the area where construction or other development is restricted. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 11, Section 11-13-108(a)(2), to update the distance limit for scenic river protections. The bill was introduced on February 3, 2025, but was withdrawn the following day.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentReduces scenic river buffer zone from 450 to 400 feet, weakening development restrictions and environmental protections near waterways.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill reduces scenic river buffer zones from 450 to 400 feet, allowing more development (including housing) in previously restricted areas. This facilitates housing development.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Property Development

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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 · House Feb 4, 2026

HB 882: Environment and Conservation, Department of - As introduced, prohibits the department from regulating farming activities involving top soil, rock removal, or the building of a pond when the activities are conducted in an area that is less than three acres in size, and the property on which the activities occur has greenbelt classification. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 11; Title 13; Title 43; Title 44; Title 64; Title 66; Title 67; Title 68 and Title 69.

HB 882 prevents Tennessee's Department of Environment and Conservation from regulating certain farming activities on small properties. Specifically, it exempts topsoil handling, rock removal, and pond construction on properties under three acres that have "greenbelt" classification under state law. This exemption applies only to land already designated as agricultural, forest, or open space under the 1976 Agricultural, Forest and Open Space Land Act. The bill would take effect on July 1, 2025, changing how farming operations are regulated on qualifying small farms.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentExempts farming activities from environmental regulation, weakening oversight for soil, water, and land use practices under greenbelt classification.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Forestry

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