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HB1137 • 2026

Sewage

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 68, Chapter 221 and Title 69, Chapter 3, relative to subsurface sewage disposal systems.

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Boyd, Reeves
Last action
2025-04-29
Official status
Comp. became Pub. Ch. 229
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide information on what happens if the deadline is missed by TDEC or contract counties, nor does it specify current submission numbers from soil scientists.

Setting Deadlines for Sewage System Applications

This act sets a deadline of ten business days for Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) or contract counties to review applications submitted by soil scientists for subsurface sewage disposal systems.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires TDEC or contract counties to either approve, reject with a report of deficiencies, or request additional information within ten business days after receiving an application and all required documents.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Soil scientists who apply for permits for subsurface sewage disposal systems.
  • Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) and contract counties responsible for reviewing these applications.

Terms To Know

subsurface sewage disposal system
A type of wastewater treatment system that is installed underground, often used in areas without access to public sewer systems.
soil scientist
A professional who studies soil properties and uses this knowledge for environmental management and planning.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens if TDEC or contract counties do not meet the ten business day deadline.
  • It is unclear how many applications are currently submitted by soil scientists each year.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

Amendment 1-0 to HB1137

Plain English: The amendment changes how soil scientists can apply for permits for small subsurface sewage disposal systems and sets a timeline for the department or contract county to review these applications.

  • A certified soil scientist can now submit an application for a permit for a subsurface sewage disposal system with less than 750 gallons per day capacity, including specific documents like an intensity soils map signed by a certified soil scientist and a completed but unsigned construction permit.
  • The department or contract county must review the submission within ten business days and either approve it, reject it with reasons provided, or request additional information.
  • The amendment does not specify what happens if the department requests additional information beyond the initial ten-day period.
Amendment 1-0 to SB0883

Plain English: The amendment changes how soil scientists can apply for permits for small subsurface sewage disposal systems in Tennessee.

  • A certified soil scientist can now submit an application for a permit with less paperwork, including just the completed application and proposed design.
  • Within ten business days, the department or contract county must review the submission and either approve it, reject it with reasons, or ask for more information.
  • The amendment text does not specify what happens if additional information is requested or how long the process takes after receiving that information.
  • It's unclear from this excerpt whether there are any changes to fees or other requirements beyond those mentioned.

Bill History

  1. 2025-04-29 Tennessee General Assembly

    Comp. became Pub. Ch. 229

  2. 2025-04-29 Tennessee General Assembly

    Effective date(s) 04/21/2025

  3. 2025-04-29 Tennessee General Assembly

    Pub. Ch. 229

  4. 2025-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Governor.

  5. 2025-04-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Transmitted to Governor for action.

  6. 2025-04-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by H. Speaker

  7. 2025-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Senate Speaker

  8. 2025-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Enrolled and ready for signatures

  9. 2025-04-07 Tennessee General Assembly

    Comp. SB subst.

  10. 2025-04-07 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  11. 2025-04-07 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed H., Ayes 84, Nays 7, PNV 2

  12. 2025-04-07 Tennessee General Assembly

    Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - HA0219)

  13. 2025-04-07 Tennessee General Assembly

    Subst. for comp. HB.

  14. 2025-04-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/7/2025

  15. 2025-04-03 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  16. 2025-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/3/2025

  17. 2025-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules Committee

  18. 2025-03-31 Tennessee General Assembly

    Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

  19. 2025-03-31 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 28, Nays 0

  20. 2025-03-31 Tennessee General Assembly

    Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0252)

  21. 2025-03-28 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 3/31/2025

  22. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee for 4/1/2025

  23. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  24. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 9, Nays 0 PNV 0

  25. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee for 3/26/2025

  26. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee to 3/26/2025

  27. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  28. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  29. 2025-03-13 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  30. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee for 3/19/2025

  31. 2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee

  32. 2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Ref. to Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee

  33. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, caption bill, held on desk - pending amdt.

  34. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  35. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  36. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  37. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  38. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

ON MARCH 31, 2025, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 883, AS AMEN
DED.

AMENDMENT #1 rewrites this bill to establish a deadline for consideration of certain
subsurface sewage disposal system
applications submitted by soil scientists.

Present law authorizes a soil
scientist certified by
TDEC to s
ubmit an application fo
r a permit for a subsurface sewage disposal system with a capacity of less than 750 gallons per day that includes the completed application, application fee, proposed design, an appropriate intensity soils map signed by a soil scientist certified by the d
e
partment, and a completed but unsigned permit for construction of the subsurface disposal system.
This amendment adds that, n
o later than 10 business days after receipt of the
application and all other required
documents, the
TDEC
or the contract county
m
ust r
eview the submission and:

(
1
) Approve the submission;

(
2
) Reject the submission and submit a report of deficiencies found in the submission to the soil scientist and applicant; or

(
3
) Request additional information needed to determine complianc
e with
applicable legal requirements for the system
.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SENATE BILL 883
By Reeves

HOUSE BILL 1137
By Boyd

HB1137
002815
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4;
Title 68, Chapter 221 and Title 69, Chapter 3,
relative to subsurface sewage disposal systems.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 68-221-406(b), is amended by
deleting "four (4) business days" and substituting "five (5) business days".
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.