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HB2094 • 2026

Highways, Roads and Bridges

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 54 and Title 64, Chapter 8, relative to the allocation of funding to transportation planning organizations.

Active

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

Sponsor
Powers, Yager
Last action
2026-03-17
Official status
Taken off notice for cal in s/c Transportation Subcommittee of Transportation Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill requires parity in allocation but does not specify exact equality or division methods.

Transportation Funding for Rural Areas

This act requires the Tennessee Department of Transportation to allocate funding to rural planning organizations in parity with its allocation to metropolitan planning organizations.

What This Bill Does

  • Defines key terms related to transportation planning, such as 'metropolitan planning organization' (MPO) and 'rural planning organization' (RPO).
  • Requires the department to allocate federal and state funds to RPOs in parity with its allocation of such funds to MPOs.
  • Applies these rules starting July 1, 2026, for funds requested or accepted after that date.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Tennessee Department of Transportation
  • Rural planning organizations (RPOs)
  • Metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs)

Terms To Know

Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO)
A group that plans transportation in urban areas.
Nonmetropolitan Area
An area outside of an urbanized city or town.
Rural Planning Organization (RPO)
A group set up to plan transportation in rural areas.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how the funding will be divided between RPOs and MPOs.
  • It is unclear what happens if there are more RPOs than MPOs or vice versa.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Taken off notice for cal in s/c Transportation Subcommittee of Transportation Committee

  2. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Transportation Subcommittee for 3/17/2026

  3. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Transportation and Safety Committee

  4. 2026-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Transportation Subcommittee to 3/17/2026

  5. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Transportation Subcommittee for 3/10/2026

  6. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Transportation and Safety Committee calendar for 3/11/2026

  7. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate Transportation and Safety Committee to 3/11/2026

  8. 2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Transportation and Safety Committee calendar for 3/4/2026

  9. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Transportation Subcommittee

  10. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Transportation Committee

  11. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Transportation and Safety Committee

  12. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  13. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  14. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  15. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SENATE BILL 2180
By Yager

HOUSE BILL 2094
By Powers
HB2094
009645
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4;
Title 54 and Title 64, Chapter 8, relative to the
allocation of funding to transportation planning
organizations.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 54, Chapter 1, Part 1, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:
(a) As used in this section:
(1) "Metropolitan planning organization" or "MPO" has the same meaning
as defined in § 64-8-302;
(2) "Nonmetropolitan area" has the same meaning as defined in 23
U.S.C. § 134;
(3) "Rural planning organization" or "RPO" means an organization
established as the result of a designation under 23 U.S.C. § 135(m); and
(4) "Urbanized area" has the same meaning as defined in 23 U.S.C. §
134.
(b) The department's allocation of federal and state funds to rural planning
organizations (RPOs) for transportation planning and implementation in nonmetropolitan
areas of this state must remain in parity with the department's allocation of federal and
state funds to metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) for transportation planning
and implementation in urbanized areas of this state.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it, and
applies to federal or state funds applied for on or after July 1, 2026, and if no application
occurred before July 1, 2026, applies to federal or state funds accepted on or after July 1, 2027.