Environment and Conservation, Department of

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide specific details about the impact on existing subdivision plans before July 1, 2026.

Subdivision Approval Changes

This bill changes the approval process for proposed subdivisions in Tennessee, requiring local planning commissions to review and approve them before the state's Department of Environment and Conservation can.

What This Bill Does

• Changes the order of approval for proposed subdivisions. Now, a local planning commission must approve plans first before the state's Department of Environment and Conservation can.
• Requires the Department of Environment and Conservation to update its website to allow people to upload official documents showing that their subdivision plans have been approved by local agencies.

Who It Names or Affects

• Local planning commissions in Tennessee
• The Department of Environment and Conservation in Tennessee

Terms To Know

Subdivision

A piece of land that is divided into smaller lots for building houses or other structures.

Local planning commission

An agency in a city or county that makes decisions about how land can be used and developed.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify what happens to existing subdivision plans before July 1, 2026.
• It is unclear if this change will affect the number of subdivisions approved or the quality of planning decisions.

Official Summary Text

Present law prohibits a
proposed subdivision
from
be
ing
approved by a local planning commission or other agency authorized to approve subdivisions un
less
the plans for
the
subdivision have been approved by the commissioner
of environment and conservation ("commissioner"). This bill switches who is to approve a proposed subdivision first.

This bill prohibits the
commissioner
from
approv
ing
a proposed subdivision until the plans for such subdivision have been approved by a local planning commission or other agency authorized to approve subdivisions.

The department
of environment and conservation must
update its website to allow persons whose proposed subdivision plans have been approved by a local planning commission or other agency authorized to approve subdivisions to upload official documentation from such local entities to evidence thei
r approval of such plans.

This bill applies to all permit applications approved by local planning commissions or other agencies authorized to approve subdivision plans after July 1, 2026.

Current Bill Text

SENATE BILL 1892
By Bowling

HOUSE BILL 1928
By Bricken
HB1928
011074
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 5;
Title 6; Title 7; Title 13 and Title 68, Chapter 221,
relative to permits.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 68-221-407, is amended by deleting
the section and substituting:
(a) The commissioner shall not approve a proposed subdivision until the plans
for such subdivision have been approved by a local planning commission or other
agency authorized to approve subdivisions.
(b) The department shall update its website to allow persons whose proposed
subdivision plans have been approved by a local planning commission or other agency
authorized to approve subdivisions to upload official documentation from such local
entities to evidence their approval of such plans.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it, and
applies to all permit applications approved by local planning commissions or other agencies
authorized to approve subdivision plans after such date.