Water

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 68, Chapter 221 and Title 69, relative to drinking water.

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor: Warner, Bowling
Last action: 2026-03-11
Official status: Taken off notice for cal in s/c Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee of Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Water Utility Protection Act

This bill stops the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation from prohibiting water utilities from taking water from natural sources for drinking purposes unless required by federal law.

What This Bill Does

Allows water utilities to pump or take water from natural sources for drinking without interference from the state department, except when needed to follow federal laws.
Requires the department to give written notice if it stops a utility from pumping water due to federal requirements.
Gives utilities the right to complain to the board if they think the department has wrongly stopped them from taking water.

Who It Names or Affects

Water utilities that provide drinking water services in Tennessee
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation

Terms To Know

Utility: A company or organization that provides public services like water to communities.
Natural waters: Rivers, lakes, streams, and other bodies of water found in nature.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify what happens if a utility disagrees with the department's decision.
It is unclear how this act will be enforced or monitored by the state.

Bill History

2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly
Taken off notice for cal in s/c Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee of Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee
2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly
Failed in Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee
2026-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee calendar for 3/11/2026
2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on s/c cal Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee for 3/11/2026
2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly
Action Def. in s/c Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee to 3/11/2026
2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly
Action deferred in Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee to 3/11/2026
2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on s/c cal Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee for 3/4/2026
2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee calendar for 3/4/2026
2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee
2026-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly
Introduced, Passed on First Consideration
2026-01-16 Tennessee General Assembly
Filed for introduction
2026-01-14 Tennessee General Assembly
Assigned to s/c Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee
2026-01-14 Tennessee General Assembly
P2C, ref. to Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee
2026-01-13 Tennessee General Assembly
Intro., P1C.
2026-01-12 Tennessee General Assembly
Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

SENATE BILL 1750
By Bowling

HOUSE BILL 1509
By Warner
HB1509
010268
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4;
Title 68, Chapter 221 and Title 69, relative to
drinking water.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 68, Chapter 221, Part 7, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:
(a) As used in this section "utility":
(1) Means:
(A) An entity that provides drinking water services to the public;
and
(B) Is owned or operated by a county, metropolitan government,
city, or town, or is subject to the jurisdiction of the Tennessee board of
utility regulation in accordance with § 7-82-701; and
(2) Includes a public water system.
(b)
(1) Notwithstanding another law and except as provided in subdivision
(b)(2), the department shall not prohibit a utility from pumping or otherwise
withdrawing water from natural waters for purposes of providing drinking water,
including as a prerequisite for renewal of the utility's permit.
(2)
(A) The department may prohibit a utility from pumping or
otherwise withdrawing water from natural waters for purposes of providing
drinking water if required to comply with a federal law, including the

- 2 - 010268

federal Safe Drinking Water Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. §§ 300g-4 and
300g-5), the federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972, P.L. 92-500, as
amended, (33 U.S.C. § 1251 et seq.), or the federal Endangered Species
Act of 1973, Public Law 93-205 (87 Stat. 884) (16 U.S.C. § 1531 et seq.).
This exemption does not apply if the prohibition is only recommended
under federal law.
(B) If the department prohibits a utility from pumping or otherwise
withdrawing water from natural waters under subdivision (b)(2)(A), then
the department must provide the utility with written notice of the action.
The notice must describe the basis for the action, including a citation to
the specific federal law for which the action was taken to comply.
(c) If the department prohibits a utility from pumping or otherwise withdrawing
water in violation of subdivisions (b)(1) or (2), then the utility may submit a complaint to
the board.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it, and
applies to actions taken on or after that date.