HB2134 • 2026

Solid Waste Disposal

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 5; Title 6; Title 7 and Title 68, Chapter 211, relative to solid waste disposal.

Active

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

Sponsor: Terry, Reeves
Last action: 2026-02-05
Official status: Assigned to s/c Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and text do not provide specific details about the fiscal impact beyond mentioning a decrease in inspection and tipping fees if agreements cannot be reached. The exact financial impact is uncertain due to multiple unknown factors.

Solid Waste Disposal Rules

This bill changes how Tennessee handles waste disposal by setting rules for communities that want to send their trash to landfills in other areas.

What This Bill Does

It stops cities, counties, and other local groups from sending solid waste to landfills outside their area unless they have a special agreement with the place where the landfill is located.
The bill requires these agreements to include details about how long the deal lasts, what fees are involved, and rules for truck routes and environmental protection.
It also says that before a new permit can be given for a waste disposal site, there must be an approved agreement between the exporting and host communities.
Existing contracts before July 1, 2026, are not affected by this law.

Who It Names or Affects

Cities, counties, and other local groups that want to send their trash to landfills in different areas.
Communities where these landfills are located.

Terms To Know

Exporting jurisdiction: A city, county, or other local group that wants to dispose of waste outside its area.
Host community agreement: An official deal between the exporting and host communities allowing waste disposal in a landfill.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not apply to existing contracts before July 1, 2026.
It's hard to know exactly how much money this will affect because of many unknown factors.

Bill History

2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly
Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee
2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee calendar for 3/4/2026
2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly
Assigned to s/c Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee
2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly
P2C, ref. to Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee
2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee
2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly
Intro., P1C.
2026-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly
Sponsor(s) Added.
2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly
Filed for introduction
2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly
Introduced, Passed on First Consideration
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 2551
By Reeves

HOUSE BILL 2134
By Terry
HB2134
009901
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 5;
Title 6; Title 7 and Title 68, Chapter 211, relative to
solid waste disposal.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 68, Chapter 211, Part 8, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:
(a) As used in this section:
(1) "Exporting jurisdiction" means any county, municipality, or other
political subdivision seeking to dispose of waste in a landfill located in another
jurisdiction in this state;
(2) "Host community agreement" means a written and executed
agreement between the governing body of the exporting jurisdiction and the
governing body of the host jurisdiction that expressly authorizes the acceptance
of solid waste; and
(3) "Host county" or "host municipality" means the jurisdiction in which
the landfill or solid waste disposal facility is physically located.
(b) An exporting jurisdiction shall not dispose of, or contract for the disposal of,
solid waste in a landfill located outside its territorial boundaries unless the host county or
host municipality in which the landfill is located has entered into a host community
agreement approving such disposal.
(c) A host community agreement must:
(1) Specify the duration of the agreement and any renewal or termination
terms;

- 2 - 009901

(2) Identify the landfill or disposal facility to which the agreement applies;
(3) Include provisions addressing compensation or host fees, if any,
payable to the host jurisdiction;
(4) Include provisions addressing truck routes, operating hours,
environmental protections, and enforcement; and
(5) Be approved by resolution of each participating governing body in a
public meeting.
(d) The department shall not issue or renew any permit for a solid waste
disposal facility that accepts waste from outside the host jurisdiction unless:
(1) The applicant provides a copy of the current host community
agreement; and
(2) The department determines the agreement complies with this section.
(e) This section does not apply to:
(1) Waste streams managed under an existing valid contract entered into
prior to July 1, 2026, until such contract expires or is renewed; or
(2) Emergency circumstances declared by the governor or the
commissioner for purposes of disaster response or public health protection.
(f) Nothing in this section prohibits a host county or municipality from imposing
additional conditions, fees, or restrictions on out-of-county waste by ordinance,
resolution, or interlocal agreement.
(g) This section applies to all contracts entered into for the disposal of solid
waste on or after July 1, 2026.
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 68-211-814(b), is amended by
adding the following language as a new subdivision:

- 3 - 009901

No solid waste planning region or county shall approve or permit the
disposal of out-of-county waste at a landfill located within its jurisdiction unless a
host community agreement, as defined in Section 1 of this act, has been
executed.
SECTION 3. This act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it.