All Roll Calls
Yes: 164 • No: 24
TennesseeHB 0542114th General Assembly (2025-2026)House
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 7; Title 13, Chapter 7; Title 65 and Title 68, relative to utilities.
Sponsored By: Sponsor information unavailable
Signed by Governor
Utilities, Utility Districts
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.
Developers face inspections and possible fees
For development plans submitted on or after July 1, 2025, utilities must inspect infrastructure installed by approved contractors. This includes work under plans approved through outside review; utilities can also inspect materials and test the infrastructure. Contractors must fix installation problems; in the outside-review process, the customer or approved contractor bears that responsibility and cost. Utilities can refuse to accept or put the infrastructure into service until all applicable requirements are met. Inspection and testing fees must be reasonable and follow an adopted, publicly available schedule; the law sets no dollar amount. Applicable state or federal regulatory requirements prevail when they conflict with this law.
Developers gain review deadlines and refunds
For development plans submitted on or after July 1, 2025, certain customer-prepared utility plans get review deadlines. This covers plans the utility requires customers to prepare but does not usually prepare itself. It excludes plan types the utility usually prepares under its July 1, 2025 practices or a later policy. The utility can charge no more than its adopted review fee. It has 60 business days to finish review after it determines the plans are complete, excluding waits for required state or federal approvals. After a missed deadline, the customer can hire an outside reviewer who is a registered engineer with relevant expertise and liability insurance. The reviewer must submit project details, occupancy type, proof of qualifications and insurance, and other reasonable information. A sworn statement, under penalty of perjury, must confirm that the plans meet applicable laws and codes. The utility then has 10 business days to approve, identify problems, or request more information. No response means the plans are approved and plan-review fees must be refunded. Events beyond the parties' control, such as floods or labor disputes, pause the law's deadlines while their effects last.
Developers get contractor choice with safeguards
For development plans submitted on or after July 1, 2025, customers can choose qualified private contractors to install utility infrastructure. Covered Tennessee utilities include cooperatives and local government utilities providing water, wastewater, electricity, natural gas, or stormwater service. Utilities must publish their approved-contractor list and approval process. Customers must submit the project location, contractor identity, proof of eligibility, and other reasonable information before work starts. Utilities have 10 business days to approve, identify problems, or request more information; no response lets the contractor proceed as approved. Contractors must meet licensing, experience, and work standards, provide performance bonds and warranties, and carry liability insurance. They must protect the utility against liability and transfer the installed infrastructure to it free of charge and liens. Utilities can require their own installation or direct supervision for public safety or reliable service. They can set construction and material standards, but cannot require a specific vendor unless needed for system quality and integrity.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
There is no primary sponsor on record.
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 4/21/2025
FLOOR VOTE: Third Consideration 4/21/2025
Yes: 24 • No: 6
House vote • 4/21/2025
FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/21/2025
Yes: 77 • No: 13
House vote • 4/21/2025
HOUSE CALENDAR & RULES COMMITTEE
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • 4/17/2025
HOUSE FINANCE, WAYS, AND MEANS SUBCOMMITTEE
Yes: 11 • No: 0
House vote • 4/17/2025
HOUSE FINANCE, WAYS, AND MEANS COMMITTEE
Yes: 27 • No: 0
House vote • 3/26/2025
HOUSE COMMERCE COMMITTEE
Yes: 18 • No: 3
House vote • 3/19/2025
HOUSE BUSINESS AND UTILITIES SUBCOMMITTEE
Yes: 7 • No: 2
Actions Timeline
Effective date(s) 07/01/2025
5/27/2025Pub. Ch. 490
5/27/2025Signed by Governor.
5/21/2025Transmitted to Governor for his action.
5/9/2025HouseSigned by Senate Speaker
5/8/2025SenateSigned by H. Speaker
4/30/2025HouseEnrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker.
4/24/2025HousePassed Senate, Ayes 24, Nays 6
4/21/2025SenateAmendment withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - SA0292)
4/21/2025SenateAmendment withdrawn. (Amendment 2 - SA0304)
4/21/2025SenateSenate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.
4/21/2025SenateReceived from House, Passed on First Consideration
4/21/2025SenateEngrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.
4/21/2025HousePassed H., as am., Ayes 77, Nays 13, PNV 0
4/21/2025HouseSponsor(s) Added.
4/21/2025HouseH. adopted am. (Amendment 1 - HA0189)
4/21/2025HouseH. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/21/2025
4/17/2025HousePlaced on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/17/2025
4/17/2025HouseRec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee
4/17/2025HouseRec. for pass by s/c ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee
4/17/2025HousePlaced on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/17/2025
4/16/2025HousePlaced on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/14/2025
4/9/2025HousePlaced behind the budget
4/9/2025HousePlaced on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/9/2025
4/2/2025HouseAssigned to s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee
3/26/2025House
Bill Text
HA0189 (Substitute)
4/21/2025
Enrolled / Public Chapter
Fiscal Note
Introduced
SA0292
SA0304
Related Bills
HB 0489, AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 38; Title 39; Title 40 and Title 55, relative to criminal law.
HB 0162, AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 67, relative to taxes.
SB 2733, AN ACT to amend Chapter 33 of the Private Acts of 1985; as amended by Chapter 85 of the Private Acts of 2004; and any other acts amendatory thereto, relative to the City of Gleason.
SB 2690, AN ACT to make appropriations for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the state government for the fiscal years beginning July 1, 2025, and July 1, 2026, in the administration, operation and maintenance of the legislative, executive and judicial branches of the various departments, institutions, offices and agencies of the state; for certain state aid and obligations; for capital outlay, for the service of the public debt, for emergency and contingency; to repeal certain appropriations and any acts inconsistent herewith; to provide provisional continuing appropriations; and to establish certain provisions, limitations and restrictions under which appropriations may be obligated and expended. This act makes appropriations for the purposes described above for the fiscal years beginning July 1, 2025, and July 1, 2026.
SB 2702, AN ACT to amend Chapter 154 of the Private Acts of 1955; as amended by Chapter 158 of the Private Acts of 1988; Chapter 204 of the Private Acts of 1990; and any other acts amendatory thereto, relative to the City of Charlotte.
SB 2716, AN ACT to amend Chapter 325 of the Private Acts of 1945; as amended by Chapter 335 of the Private Acts of 1968; Chapter 282 of the Private Acts of 1972; Chapter 23 of the Private Acts of 1973; Chapter 93 of the Private Acts of 1983; Chapter 83 of the Private Acts of 1985; Chapter 218 of the Private Acts of 1990; Chapter 11 of the Private Acts of 1991; Chapter 65 of the Private Acts of 1993; Chapter 90 of the Private Acts of 2000; Chapter 77 of the Private Acts of 2002; Chapter 136 of the Private Acts of 2002; Chapter 27 of the Private Acts of 2011; Chapter 41 of the Private Acts of 2022; and any other acts amendatory thereto, relative to the City of Lafayette.