Official Summary Text
This bill prohibits the Tennessee historical commission, and any other state entity other than the state building commission engaged in the historic preservation of real property, from doing the following:
Approving or recommending the renovation, alteration, or demolition of structural design elements of improved public or private real property that is or may be of historical, architectural, or cultural significance in this state
Taking adverse action against the owner of such real property, including the assessment of a civil or other penalty or fine
This bill authorizes the Tennessee historical commission to only approve or recommend alterations or renovations to the aesthetics, non-structural elements, and building design elements of historic impr
oved real property that is listed on the Tennessee register of historic places.
ON APRIL 3, 2025, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 7, AS AMENDED.
AMENDMENT #1 rewrites the bill to, instead, prohibit the Tennessee historical commis
sion, and any other state entity other than the state building commission engaged in the historic preservation of real property, from regulating the renovation, alteration, or demolition of improved public or private real property that is not listed on th
e
Tennessee register of historic places, or take any adverse action against the owner of such real property, if the real property meets either of the following criteria:
The real property has been eligible for placement on the Tennessee register of historic places and considered for placement, but not added to the register.
The real property has not been provided with any protection, grant, or other benefits associated with eligibility for the Tennessee register of historic places.
ON APRIL 16, 2025, THE
HOUSE SUBSTITUTED SENATE BILL 7 FOR HOUSE BILL 73, ADOPTED AMENDMENTS #1 AND #2 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 7, AS AMENDED.
AMENDMENT #1 rewrites the bill to, instead, prohibit
the Tennessee historical commission, and any other state entity other than the sta
te building commission engaged in the historic preservation of real property,
from
regulat
ing
the renovation, alteration, or demolition of improved public or private real property that is not listed on the Tennessee register of historic places, or tak
ing
a
ny adverse action against the owner of such real property, if the real property
either:
Has been eligible for, offered placement on, or considered for placement on the Tennessee register of historic places, but the commission declined placement on the register and the property was not added to the register; or
Has not been provided with any protection, grant, or other benefits associated with eligibility for the Tennessee register of historic places.
AMENDMENT #2 adds a requirement to this bill and p
resent law that t
he Tennessee historical commission complete its review of any and all relevant information relating to a community development block grant proposed to be issued to a property meeting the description under
this bill
no later than 15 busines
s days after the date
that this bill becomes a law
. If the commission fails to complete its review as required under this
amendment,
the joint government operations committee
will
require the commission to appear before the committee to justify its noncomp
liance.
Current Bill Text
Read the full stored bill text
SENATE BILL 7
By Lowe
HOUSE BILL 73
By Howell
HB0073
000546
- 1 -
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4;
Title 7; Title 8; Title 13 and Title 66, relative to
historic preservation.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 11, Part 1, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:
(a) Notwithstanding another law to the contrary and except as provided in
subsection (b), the Tennessee historical commission, and any other state entity other
than the state building commission engaged in the historic preservation of real property,
shall not:
(1) Approve or recommend the renovation, alteration, or demolition of
structural design elements of improved public or private real property that is or
may be of historical, architectural, or cultural significance in this state; or
(2) Take adverse action against the owner of such real property,
including the assessment of a civil or other penalty or fine.
(b) The Tennessee historical commission may only approve or recommend
alterations or renovations to the aesthetics, non-structural elements, and building design
elements of historic improved real property that is listed on the Tennessee register of
historic places created pursuant to § 4-11-201.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.