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HB2381 • 2026

Public Utilities

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 7; Title 13, Chapter 7; Title 65 and Title 68, relative to utilities.

Energy Taxes
Active

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

Sponsor
Vaughan, Taylor
Last action
2026-04-08
Official status
Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/14/2026
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide details on enforcement or consequences of non-compliance with written request requirements.

Rules for Utility Companies

This bill requires utility companies to submit written requests to the Public Utilities Commission when seeking permission to charge customers more money for building new natural gas equipment.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires that public utilities submit written requests to the Public Utilities Commission regarding cost recovery mechanisms for innovative natural gas infrastructure.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Public utility companies
  • The Public Utilities Commission

Terms To Know

public utility commission
A group that makes rules for public utility companies and decides if they can charge customers more money.
cost recovery mechanism
The way a company asks to be paid back for the cost of building new equipment or services.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not specify how much it will cost companies to follow this rule.
  • Does not explain what happens if a company does not submit a written request.
  • The bill only changes how requests are made, not the decisions about whether costs can be recovered.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

Amendment 1-0 to HB2381

Plain English: The amendment changes Tennessee's utility laws by setting rules for utilities providing materials at cost and limiting fees they can charge.

  • Utilities must provide required construction materials to customers or contractors at the same price they paid, without additional taxes.
  • Utilities cannot require street lights to be installed when installing other infrastructure unless the customer chooses to do so.
  • Fees for inspections and testing are limited to a combined total of 10% of the project cost.
  • The amendment text does not specify what happens if utilities fail to comply with these new rules.
Amendment 1-0 to SB2213

Plain English: This amendment changes Tennessee laws related to utilities by setting rules for material costs, street light installation requirements, design fees, inspection fees, and when these new rules will start.

  • Utilities must provide materials at the same price they paid, without extra taxes, if those materials are only available from them.
  • Customers or contractors installing utility infrastructure do not have to install street lights unless required by law.
  • The fee for reviewing plans and designs cannot be more than 10% of the project cost.
  • Inspection fees can't exceed 10% of the proposed project cost.
  • Some parts of the amendment are technical and might need further explanation to understand fully.
Amendment 2-0 to SB2213

Plain English: This amendment changes Tennessee's utility laws by setting rules for utilities when providing materials to customers and contractors, allowing optional street light installation, and limiting inspection and testing fees.

  • Utilities must provide required construction materials at the same price they paid, without additional taxes, if those materials are only available from the utility.
  • Customers or approved contractors installing utility infrastructure can choose whether to install street lights.
  • Inspection and testing fees charged by utilities cannot exceed ten percent of the project cost.
  • The amendment text does not specify what happens if a utility fails to comply with these new rules.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/14/2026

  2. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed behind the budget

  3. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/8/2026

  4. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee

  5. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee

  6. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Commerce Committee for 4/8/2026

  7. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in Commerce Committee to 4/8/2026

  8. 2026-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.

  9. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Commerce Committee for 4/1/2026

  10. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in Commerce Committee to 4/1/2026

  11. 2026-03-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

  12. 2026-03-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 29, Nays 0

  13. 2026-03-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Amendment withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - SA0702)

  14. 2026-03-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 2 - SA0707)

  15. 2026-03-20 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 3/23/2026

  16. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Commerce Committee for 3/25/2026

  17. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Commerce Committee

  18. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Business & Utilities Subcommittee for 3/18/2026

  19. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Business and Utilities Subcommittee to 3/18/2026

  20. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 8, Nays 1 PNV 0

  21. 2026-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee calendar for 3/11/2026

  22. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Business & Utilities Subcommittee for 3/11/2026

  23. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee to 3/11/2026

  24. 2026-02-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Business & Utilities Subcommittee

  25. 2026-02-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Ref. to Commerce Committee

  26. 2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee calendar for 3/4/2026

  27. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, caption bill, held on desk - pending amdt.

  28. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee

  29. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  30. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  31. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  32. 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 2213
By Taylor

HOUSE BILL 2381
By Vaughan
HB2381
012220
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 7;
Title 13, Chapter 7; Title 65 and Title 68, relative to
utilities.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 65-5-114(c), is amended by deleting
"request" and substituting "request in writing".
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.