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TennesseeSB 1274114th General Assembly (2025-2026)SenateWALLET

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 68, Chapter 203, Part 1 and Title 68, Chapter 211, Part 1, relative to environmental regulatory programs.

Sponsored By: Jack Johnson (Republican)

Became Law

Environment and Conservation, Department of

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 2 costs, 1 mixed.

Set fees for solid waste landfills

The law sets the filing and processing fee for a solid waste landfill permit at $10,000. It excludes coal ash (CCR) disposal units. Owners and operators must also pay a $15,000 yearly maintenance fee. These are fixed amounts for each application and each year.

Coal ash operators face cost recovery

The department can bill operators of coal ash disposal units for its direct and indirect costs. The board’s rules must set an annual cap and can cover permitting, oversight, investigation, regulation, and cleanup. When the department uses these cost-recovery rules, it cannot also charge Chapter 203 fees for those units.

Stronger safety rules for coal ash

The law requires a liner and a final cap for most coal ash disposal permits and expansions. It exempts coal ash used as fill, for agriculture, as engineered feedstock, in wastewater treatment units, or disposal tied to those uses. The department may still issue permits for coal ash units under board rules. These steps help protect people near disposal sites.

State boards now set environmental fees

The state board now sets fees for drinking water, water quality, and oil and gas production. The supervisor sets fees for mineral test hole permits. One named fee rises from $18.75 to $38. Funding for the mineral and geologic division is set at 58% from environmental protection fees and 42% from state appropriations.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Jack Johnson

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Page Walley

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 116 • No: 26

House vote • 4/17/2025

FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/17/2025

Yes: 73 • No: 23

Senate vote • 4/15/2025

FLOOR VOTE: Third Consideration 4/15/2025

Yes: 26 • No: 2

Senate vote • 4/8/2025

SENATE FINANCE, WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE

Yes: 9 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/26/2025

SENATE ENERGY, AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE

Yes: 8 • No: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. Pub. Ch. 399

    5/13/2025

  2. Effective date(s) 05/05/2025

    5/13/2025

  3. Signed by Governor.

    5/5/2025Senate

  4. Transmitted to Governor for action.

    4/23/2025Senate

  5. Enrolled and ready for signatures

    4/22/2025Senate

  6. Signed by Senate Speaker

    4/22/2025Senate

  7. Signed by H. Speaker

    4/22/2025House

  8. Subst. for comp. HB.

    4/17/2025House

  9. Passed H., Ayes 73, Nays 23, PNV 0

    4/17/2025House

  10. Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.

    4/16/2025House

  11. Passed Senate, Ayes 26, Nays 2, PNV 3

    4/15/2025Senate

  12. Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

    4/15/2025Senate

  13. Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/15/2025

    4/14/2025Senate

  14. Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/15/2025

    4/11/2025Senate

  15. Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee

    4/8/2025Senate

  16. Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/8/2025

    4/1/2025Senate

  17. Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee

    3/26/2025Senate

  18. Sponsor(s) Added.

    3/21/2025Senate

  19. Action deferred in Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee to 3/26/2025

    3/19/2025Senate

  20. Placed on Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee calendar for 3/26/2025

    3/19/2025Senate

  21. Placed on Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee calendar for 3/19/2025

    3/13/2025Senate

  22. Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee

    2/12/2025Senate

  23. Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

    2/10/2025Senate

  24. Filed for introduction

    2/6/2025Senate

Bill Text

  • Enrolled / Public Chapter

    PDF

  • Fiscal Note

    PDF

  • Introduced

    PDF

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