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TennesseeHB 2070114th General Assembly (2025-2026)House

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 60 and Title 68, relative to the "Tennessee Energy Freedom Act."

Sponsored By: Chris Todd (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Energy

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Businesses and AG can enforce this law

Beginning July 1, 2026, a person or company harmed by a violation, and the Tennessee attorney general, can sue, intervene, or seek court orders, nominal damages, and other relief under this chapter. If a state or local government refuses to honor a record or judgment made under the emissions‑declaration section, a person or company subject to disclosure rules, and the attorney general, can bring an action to force recognition.

Fast court process for emissions records

Beginning July 1, 2026, if you must file emissions reports, you can ask a court to set a final record of your covered emissions in Tennessee. The record can include direct sources, purchased energy, and other indirect upstream and downstream emissions. You may choose the court’s formula or submit your own, supported by strong evidence; independent verification is noted in the order. The Department of Environment and Conservation is the defendant; the court must decide within 60 days, no fees or costs are awarded, and only you may appeal. The declaration is permanent for that period, except where federal or required state law uses a different method, and it remains valid for other uses. If you choose the court’s formula and, after a reasonable check, swear your emissions are under 10% of the “annual emissions baseline” times the years, the law treats your in‑state emissions as zero for that period; the baseline is the highest combined yearly CO2 from China and India in any of the last five years.

Fewer emissions lawsuits against energy

Beginning July 1, 2026, Tennessee courts do not grant injunctions or assign liability for covered emissions from covered fossil‑fuel activities unless those activities break federal environmental law. If federal law is broken, only federal law sets the remedies. Also, except where federal law requires otherwise, any claim must be based only on fossil‑fuel products actually shipped into the state.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Chris Todd

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Kip Capley

    Republican • House

  • John Crawford

    Republican • House

  • Jake McCalmon

    Republican • House

  • Debra Moody

    Republican • House

  • Jay D. Reedy

    Republican • House

  • Greg Vital

    Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 180 • No: 46

Senate vote • 3/23/2026

FLOOR VOTE: Third Consideration 3/23/2026

Yes: 26 • No: 5

House vote • 3/12/2026

FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR PREVIOUS QUESTION PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 3/12/2026

Yes: 67 • No: 19

House vote • 3/12/2026

FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 3/12/2026

Yes: 69 • No: 18

House vote • 3/9/2026

HOUSE CALENDAR & RULES COMMITTEE

Yes: 0 • No: 0

House vote • 3/3/2026

HOUSE AGRICULTURE & NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE

Yes: 11 • No: 3

House vote • 2/18/2026

HOUSE AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES SUBCOMMITTEE

Yes: 7 • No: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by Governor.

    4/16/2026

  2. Transmitted to Governor for his action.

    4/7/2026House

  3. Signed by H. Speaker

    4/1/2026House

  4. Signed by Senate Speaker

    4/1/2026Senate

  5. Enrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker.

    3/24/2026House

  6. Senate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.

    3/23/2026Senate

  7. Passed Senate, Ayes 26, Nays 5

    3/23/2026Senate

  8. Received from House, Passed on First Consideration

    3/16/2026Senate

  9. Passed H., Ayes 69, Nays 18, PNV 1

    3/12/2026House

  10. Sponsor(s) Added.

    3/12/2026House

  11. Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.

    3/12/2026House

  12. Objected to on Consent Calendar.

    3/9/2026House

  13. Sponsor(s) Added.

    3/9/2026House

  14. H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 3/12/2026

    3/9/2026House

  15. H. Placed on Consent Calendar for 3/9/2026

    3/5/2026House

  16. Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 3/5/2026

    3/4/2026House

  17. Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee

    3/3/2026House

  18. Placed on cal. Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee for 3/3/2026

    2/25/2026House

  19. Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee

    2/18/2026House

  20. Placed on s/c cal Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee for 2/18/2026

    2/11/2026House

  21. P2C, ref. to Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee

    2/4/2026House

  22. Assigned to s/c Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee

    2/4/2026House

  23. Intro., P1C.

    2/2/2026House

  24. Filed for introduction

    1/23/2026House

Bill Text

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