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HB2402 • 2026

Utilities, Utility Districts

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 29; Title 39 and Title 58, relative to workers responding to emergency declarations.

Energy Labor
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Reeves, Johnson
Last action
2026-05-27
Official status
Comp. became Pub. Ch. 988
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Utilities, Utility Districts

ON APRIL 13, 2026, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENTS #1 AND #4 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 2658, AS AMENDED.

What This Bill Does

  • ON APRIL 13, 2026, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENTS #1 AND #4 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 2658, AS AMENDED.
  • AMENDMENT #1 rewrites this bill to make certain additions to present law for emergency utility workers.
  • For purposes of this amendment, an "emergency utility worker" is an individual who: (1) Is employed by, or acting as an authorized contractor for, a privately, publicly, or cooperatively owned facility or system used to transmit or distribute communications, electricity, gas, liquids, steam, sewerage, or other materials to the public; and (2) Is engaged in the installation, maintenance, repair, or restoration of such facilities or systems during a state of emergency declared by the governor that is based on a natural emergency.
  • During a state of emergency declared by the governor, this amendment authorizes an emergency utility worker to travel upon public roads and enter areas subject to curfew or restricted access orders when such access is necessary to perform emergency utili ties restoration activities.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Amendments

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

Amendment 1-0 to HB2402

Plain English: House State & Local Government 1 Amendment No.

  • House State & Local Government 1 Amendment No.
  • 1 to HB2402 Crawford Signature of Sponsor AMEND Senate Bill No.
  • 2658* House Bill No.
  • 2402 HA0926 016584 - 1 - by deleting all language after the enacting clause and substituting: SECTION 1.
Amendment 2-0 to HB2402

Plain English: House Judiciary 1 Amendment No.

  • House Judiciary 1 Amendment No.
  • 2 to HB2402 Farmer Signature of Sponsor AMEND Senate Bill No.
  • 2658* House Bill No.
  • 2402 HA1105 017554 - 1 - by deleting subsection (c) in § 58-2-112 in Section 2 and substituting instead: (c) This section does not limit the authority of state and local law enforcement to prohibit access for a valid law enforcement purpose.
Amendment 1-0 to SB2658

Plain English: Senate State and Local Government 1 Amendment No.

  • Senate State and Local Government 1 Amendment No.
  • 1 to SB2658 Briggs Signature of Sponsor AMEND Senate Bill No.
  • 2658* House Bill No.
  • 2402 SA0896 016584 - 1 - by deleting all language after the enacting clause and substituting: SECTION 1.
Amendment 2-0 to SB2658

Plain English: Amendment No.

  • Amendment No.
  • 2 to SB2658 Yarbro Signature of Sponsor AMEND Senate Bill No.
  • 2658* House Bill No.
  • 2402 SA0985 017427 - 1 - by deleting from 29-34-216(a) in SECTION 4 the language "An emergency utility worker as defined in SECTION 1, and the emergency utility worker's employer, are immune" and substituting the language "An emergency utility worker as defined in SECTION 1 is immune"
Amendment 3-0 to SB2658

Plain English: Amendment No.

  • Amendment No.
  • 3 to SB2658 Johnson Signature of Sponsor AMEND Senate Bill No.
  • 2658* House Bill No.
  • 2402 SA0991 017473 - 1 - by adding the following subsection to § 29-34-216 in Section 4: (d) Subsection (a) does not provide immunity from civil liability to an employer of an emergency utility worker for negligent acts or omissions of the employer, even if those acts and omissions occur during emergency utilities restoration activities.
Amendment 4-0 to SB2658

Plain English: Amendment No.

  • Amendment No.
  • 4 to SB2658 Johnson Signature of Sponsor AMEND Senate Bill No.
  • 2658* House Bill No.
  • 2402 SA1001 017757 - 1 - by deleting the language "resulting from an act or omission committed in good faith" in § 29-34- 216(a) in Section 4 and substituting instead "resulting from an act or omission of the emergency utility worker committed in good faith".

Bill History

  1. 2026-05-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Comp. became Pub. Ch. 988

  2. 2026-05-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Effective date(s) 05/19/2026

  3. 2026-05-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Pub. Ch. 988

  4. 2026-05-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Governor.

  5. 2026-05-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Transmitted to Governor for action.

  6. 2026-05-07 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by H. Speaker

  7. 2026-04-30 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Senate Speaker

  8. 2026-04-30 Tennessee General Assembly

    Enrolled and ready for signatures

  9. 2026-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Concurred, Ayes 32, Nays 0 (Amendment 2 - HA1105)

  10. 2026-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Message Calendar for 4/22/2026

  11. 2026-04-20 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  12. 2026-04-20 Tennessee General Assembly

    Comp. SB subst.

  13. 2026-04-20 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Message Calendar for 4/22/2026

  14. 2026-04-20 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed H., as am., Ayes 89, Nays 2, PNV 4

  15. 2026-04-20 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. adopted am. (Amendment 2 - HA1105)

  16. 2026-04-20 Tennessee General Assembly

    Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - HA0926)

  17. 2026-04-20 Tennessee General Assembly

    Subst. for comp. HB.

  18. 2026-04-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/20/2026

  19. 2026-04-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/16/2026

  20. 2026-04-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee

  21. 2026-04-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Finance, Ways, and Means Committee for 4/15/2026

  22. 2026-04-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec for adopt by s/c ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee

  23. 2026-04-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/15/2026

  24. 2026-04-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/15/2026

  25. 2026-04-15 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  26. 2026-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed behind the budget

  27. 2026-04-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  28. 2026-04-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

  29. 2026-04-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 33, Nays 0

  30. 2026-04-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Amendment withdrawn. (Amendment 2 - SA0985)

  31. 2026-04-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 4 - SA1001)

  32. 2026-04-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Amendment withdrawn. (Amendment 3 - SA0991)

  33. 2026-04-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0896)

  34. 2026-04-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/13/2026

  35. 2026-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  36. 2026-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Senate Reset on calendar for 4/13/2026

  37. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  38. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  39. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  40. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  41. 2026-04-07 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/9/2026

  42. 2026-04-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  43. 2026-04-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Senate Reset on calendar for 4/9/2026

  44. 2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  45. 2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/6/2026

  46. 2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  47. 2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Senate Reset on calendar for 4/6/2026

  48. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 4/7/2026

  49. 2026-03-31 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Judiciary Committee

  50. 2026-03-31 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/2/2026

  51. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 3/31/2026

  52. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in State & Local Government Committee to 3/31/2026

  53. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 9, Nays 0 PNV 0

  54. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/25/2026

  55. 2026-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/25/2026

  56. 2026-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate State and Local Government Committee to 3/25/2026

  57. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 3/24/2026

  58. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in State & Local Government Committee to 3/24/2026

  59. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/24/2026

  60. 2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate State and Local Government Committee to 3/24/2026

  61. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 3/18/2026

  62. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in State & Local Government Committee to 3/18/2026

  63. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/17/2026

  64. 2026-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate State and Local Government Committee

  65. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 3/11/2026

  66. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to State & Local Government Committee

  67. 2026-03-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  68. 2026-03-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  69. 2026-03-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Approved by Delayed Bills Committee

  70. 2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Cities & Counties Subcommittee for 3/4/2026

  71. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Cities & Counties Subcommittee

  72. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to State & Local Government Committee - Judiciary Committee

  73. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  74. 2026-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  75. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Refer to Senate Delayed Bills Committee

  76. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

ON APRIL 13, 2026, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENTS #1 AND #4 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 2658, AS AMENDED.

AMENDMENT #1 rewrites this bill to make certain additions to present law for emergency utility workers.

For purposes of this amendment, an

"emergency utility worker" is an individual who:

(1) Is employed by, or acting as an authorized contractor for, a privately, publicly, or cooperatively owned facility or system used to transmit or distribute communications, electricity, gas, liquids, steam, sewerage, or other materials to the public;
and

(2) Is engaged in the installation, maintenance, repair, or restoration of such facilities or systems during a state of emergency declared by the governor that is based on a natural emergency.

During a state of emergency declared by the governor, this amendment authorizes an emergency utility worker to travel upon public roads and enter areas subject to curfew or restricted access orders when such access is necessary to perform emergency utili
ties restoration activities. This amendment requires state and local law enforcement agencies to allow reasonable access upon presentation of employer or contractor credentials by the emergency utility worker; provided, that law enforcement may address a
n
immediate threat to public safety unrelated to emergency utilities restoration.

Under present law, it is a Class A misdemeanor offense, punishable by a mandatory fine of $5,000 and a minimum 30 days incarceration, for a person to assault a first responder who is discharging or attempting to discharge the first responder's duties. T
he offense is enhanced to aggravated assault against a first responder, which carries a mandatory fine of $15,000 and a minimum 90 days incarceration, if the assault results in serious bodily injury or death of the first responder, or involved a deadly we
ap
on or strangulation. This amendment adds emergency utility workers to the definition of "first responder" for purposes of such offenses.

This amendment provides civil immunity to an emergency utility worker and the emergency utility worker's employer for an act or omission committed in good faith while engaged in emergency utilities restoration activities during a state of emergency decla
red by the governor that is based on a natural emergency. The immunity provided by this amendment does not apply to acts or omissions that constitute:

(1) Willful misconduct;

(2) Gross negligence; or

(3) Conduct unrelated to emergency utilities restoration activities.

This amendment specifies that the grant of civil immunity to emergency utility workers and their employers does not:

(1) Create a duty to act;

(2) Affect liability for the operation of a motor vehicle, except as otherwise provided by law; or

(3) Create a private right of
action.

AMENDMENT #4 clarifies that the civil immunity created for an emergency utility worker and the emergency utility worker's employer extends only to damage resulting from an act or omission of the emergency utility worker, committed in good faith, while en
gaged in emergency utilities restoration activities during a state of emergency declared by the governor that is based on a natural emergency. This amendment does not provide an employer of an emergency utility worker immunity from civil liability for th
e
negligent acts or omissions of the employer or of the emergency utility worker.

ON APRIL 20, 2026, THE HOUSE SUBSTITUTED SENATE BILL 2658 FOR HOUSE BILL 2402, ADOPTED AMENDMENT #2 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 2658, AS AMENDED.

AMENDMENT #2 clarifies that the bill does not limit the authority of state and local law enforcement to prohibit access for a valid law enforcement purpose, rather than for an immediate threat to public safety unrelated to emergency utilities restoration.

ON APRIL 22, 2026, THE SENATE CONCURRED IN HOUSE AMENDMENT #
2
.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SENATE BILL 2658
By Johnson

HOUSE BILL 2402
By Reeves
HB2402
012777
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4;
Title 29; Title 39 and Title 58, relative to workers
responding to emergency declarations.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 58-2-126, is amended by adding the
following as a new subsection:
(d) If a first responder from a local emergency management agency is killed in
the line of duty, the chief executive officer of the local government that employed the first
responder shall order all flags at public buildings in the jurisdiction to be flown at half-
mast for at least one (1) day.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.