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SB0137 • 2026

Planning, Public

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 8, Chapter 44 and Title 13, Chapter 7, relative to development.

Land
Active

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

Sponsor
Briggs, Keisling
Last action
2025-02-03
Official status
Withdrawn.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill was withdrawn and therefore is no longer active or awaiting another formal step.

Development Approval Without Public Comment

This bill allows local governments in Tennessee to approve development projects without public input if they comply with existing zoning rules that were previously reviewed by the public.

What This Bill Does

  • Allows a county legislative body to approve an application for proposed development without accepting public comments if it is substantially compliant with zoning regulations or maps previously made available for public review and comment.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Local governments in Tennessee
  • People who want to comment on development projects

Terms To Know

Zoning regulations
Rules set by local government that control how land can be used, like for homes or businesses.
Public review and comment
The process where the public can look at plans and give feedback before a decision is made.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This bill was withdrawn on February 3, 2025.
  • It does not specify what happens if there are minor issues with zoning compliance.

Bill History

  1. 2025-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Withdrawn.

  2. 2025-01-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Withdrawn.

  3. 2025-01-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Cities & Counties Subcommittee

  4. 2025-01-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to State & Local Government Committee

  5. 2025-01-16 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  6. 2025-01-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  7. 2025-01-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  8. 2025-01-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  9. 2025-01-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HOUSE BILL 183
By Keisling

SENATE BILL 137
By Briggs

SB0137
001568
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 8,
Chapter 44 and Title 13, Chapter 7, relative to
development.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 13, Chapter 7, Part 1, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:
A county legislative body shall approve an application for a proposed
development without allowing public comment, notwithstanding § 8-44-112, if the county
legislative body determines that the proposed development is in substantial compliance
with the zoning regulations or map that were previously made available for public review
and comment.
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 13, Chapter 7, Part 2, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:
A chief legislative body shall approve an application for a proposed development
without allowing public comment, notwithstanding § 8-44-112, if the chief legislative body
determines that the proposed development is in substantial compliance with the zoning
regulations or map that were previously made available for public review and comment.
SECTION 3. This act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it, and
applies to applications for approval submitted on or after such date.