Official Summary Text
ON APRIL 6, 2026, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENTS #1 AND 2, AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 2366, AS AMENDED.
AMENDMENT #1 makes the following changes:
Changes the definition for the term "tourism development zone" to have the same meaning as the one in present law.
Removes the prohibition for a local government to ingress or egress into a tourism development zone by private or commercial vehicles or pedestrian traffic.
Authorizes a local government to temporarily prohibit ingress or egress or block streets or other rights-of-way into or within a tourism development zone, in accordance with applicable rules described below.
Provides that notwithstanding another law, the Tennessee highway patrol has concurrent law enforcement authority with local law enforcement agencies, including the power to arrest, carry a firearm, and investigate crime within a tourism development zone i
n this state.
Requires the department of tourist development, in consultation with the department of economic and community development, department of environment and conservation, and department of safety and homeland security, to promulgate rules designating tourism
development zones in this state as economic protection zones for the purposes of protecting and stimulating economic activity within the tourism development zones.
Requires the rules to: (i) apply uniformly to tourism development zones in this state, (ii) regulate ingress and egress into businesses and public property in a manner that facilitates access to tourists and residents, and (iii) regulate unlawful loiterin
g, sitting, camping, or sleeping on public property in a manner that maintains ingress and egress into places of business and maintains clear and unobstructed streets, alleys, sidewalks, parks, plazas, parking lots, driveways, rights-of-way, public buildi
ng
s, or other locations open to or accessible by the public for the purpose of facilitating vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
Provides that this bill does not supersede or alter the regulatory authority of the department of transportation over state highway rights-of-way or limit the statutory authority of the department of transportation to regulate activities within the jurisd
iction of the department of transportation.
Changes the effective date for all purposes other than promulgating rules to January 1, 2027.
AMENDMENT #2 adds authorization for a local government to temporarily prohibit ingress or egress or block streets or other rights-of-way into or within a tourism development zone in accordance with rules promulgated by the department of tourist developme
nt.
ON APRIL 9, 2026, THE SENATE SUBSTITUTED HOUSE BILL 2366 FOR SENATE BILL 2157, ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 2633, AS AMENDED.
AMENDMENT #1 makes the following changes:
Revises the definition of "tourism development zone," as used in this bill, to mean a geographical area within the jurisdiction of a local government that has been designated as a tourism development zone by present law, or by ordinance or resolution of a
local government.
Requires the department of tourism to collaborate with only the department pf economic and community development, rather than with the departments of community and economic development, environment and conservation, and safety, in promulgating rules desig
nating tourism development zones in this state as economic protection zones.
Requires rules promulgated under this bill to also regulate unlawful loitering, sitting, camping, or sleeping on public property in a manner that maintains ingress and egress into places of business and maintains clear each street, alley, sidewalk, park,
plaza, parking lot, driveway, right-of-way, public building, or other location open to or accessible by the public for the purpose of facilitating vehicular or pedestrian traffic.
Requires rules promulgated under this bill to also regulate sanitation, including trash, litter, and debris removal and street cleaning, remediation of noxious odors, and pest control.
Requires rules promulgated under this bill to also facilitate enhanced marketing and promotion of businesses, the attraction of events and customers, and the creation of programs for general economic development and sustainability.
Clarifies that rules promulgated under this bill that apply to tourism development zones in this state preempt local laws, ordinances, resolutions, or policies that conflict with such rules.
Removes the provision that provides that the bill does not supersede or alter the regulatory authority of the department of transportation over state highway rights-of-way or limit the statutory authority of the department of transportation to regulate ac
tivities within the jurisdiction of the department of transportation.
ON APRIL 14, 2026, THE HOUSE NON-CONCURRED IN SENATE AMENDMENT #1.