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SB0720 • 2026

Boards and Commissions

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4 and Title 69, relative to the board of ground water management.

Elections
Enacted

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

Sponsor
Hatcher, Todd
Last action
2025-05-27
Official status
Comp. became Pub. Ch. 507
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide specific details about how the board will administer the licensure test or the exact duties of alternate members.

Changes to Ground Water Management Board

This legislation changes how members are appointed and what duties they have for the Tennessee Ground Water Management Board.

What This Bill Does

  • Vacates current board members and appoints new ones starting July 1, 2025.
  • Requires new board members to be licensed well drillers and pump installers in Tennessee.
  • Sets different initial term lengths for each member based on their division of the state (one year for western, two years for middle, three years for eastern).
  • Adds three alternate members who can replace regular members if they are unable to attend meetings or have a vacancy.
  • Changes quorum requirement from three to two board members.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Ground Water Management Board in Tennessee
  • People applying for well driller and pump installer licenses

Terms To Know

Quorum
The minimum number of members needed to hold a meeting or make decisions.
Alternate member
A person who can replace another board member if they are not available.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not specify the exact duties of alternate members other than replacing regular members.
  • The effectiveness date is July 1, 2025, but specific details about implementation and initial appointments are not provided in the summary text.

Amendments

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

Amendment 1-0 to HB0894

Plain English: The amendment changes how the board of ground water management is appointed and structured in Tennessee.

  • Vacates and reconstitutes the current board as an advisory body to assist the commissioner with rule preparation, consisting of five members including three licensed well drillers from different regions of the state.
  • Sets specific appointment terms for the regional representatives on the board: one year for the western division, two years for the middle division, and three years for the eastern division.
  • Limits consecutive service to two terms for appointed members after their initial term.
  • The amendment text does not specify all details about how alternate members are selected or replaced.
Amendment 2-0 to HB0894

Plain English: The amendment changes how the board of ground water management is formed and operated in Tennessee.

  • Vacates and reconstitutes the current board as of July 1, 2025, with new membership rules.
  • Establishes an advisory board consisting of five members: two ex-officio non-voting members and three voting members appointed by different officials for varying initial terms.
  • Sets qualifications and term limits for board members and alternate members.
  • The amendment text is detailed, but some specifics about the operational procedures might be too technical to summarize easily without additional context.
Amendment 1-0 to SB0720

Plain English: The amendment changes how the board of ground water management is appointed and structured in Tennessee.

  • Vacates and reconstitutes the current board as of July 1, 2025.
  • Establishes an advisory board with five members: two ex-officio non-voting members from government departments and three voting members who are licensed water well drillers and pump installers.
  • Sets specific appointment terms for the three voting members based on their geographic division of residence.
  • The amendment text does not specify all details about how alternate members will be appointed or replaced, leaving some aspects unclear.

Bill History

  1. 2025-05-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Comp. became Pub. Ch. 507

  2. 2025-05-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Effective date(s) 07/01/2025

  3. 2025-05-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Pub. Ch. 507

  4. 2025-05-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Governor.

  5. 2025-05-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Transmitted to Governor for his action.

  6. 2025-05-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Senate Speaker

  7. 2025-04-30 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by H. Speaker

  8. 2025-04-28 Tennessee General Assembly

    Enrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker.

  9. 2025-04-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  10. 2025-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Companion House Bill substituted

  11. 2025-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed Senate, Ayes 33, Nays 0

  12. 2025-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Senate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.

  13. 2025-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Received from House, Passed on First Consideration

  14. 2025-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/22/2025

  15. 2025-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee

  16. 2025-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.

  17. 2025-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed H., as am., Ayes 81, Nays 11, PNV 0

  18. 2025-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. adopted am. (Amendment 2 - HA0318)

  19. 2025-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - HA0239)

  20. 2025-04-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/21/2025

  21. 2025-04-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/21/2025

  22. 2025-04-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/17/2025

  23. 2025-04-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee

  24. 2025-04-17 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  25. 2025-04-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/17/2025

  26. 2025-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/15/2025

  27. 2025-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rule #83(8) Suspended, to be heard in Senate Finance, Ways & Means Committee on 4/15/2025

  28. 2025-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/14/2025

  29. 2025-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed behind the budget

  30. 2025-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/14/2025

  31. 2025-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  32. 2025-04-07 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  33. 2025-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Government Operations Committee for 4/7/2025

  34. 2025-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Government Operations Committee

  35. 2025-03-31 Tennessee General Assembly

    Re-refer to Senate Finance, Ways & Means Committee

  36. 2025-03-31 Tennessee General Assembly

    Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0245)

  37. 2025-03-28 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 3/31/2025

  38. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  39. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee for 4/1/2025

  40. 2025-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee to 4/1/2025

  41. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee calendar for 3/26/2025

  42. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee to 3/26/2025

  43. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee for 3/25/2025

  44. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee

  45. 2025-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee for 3/19/2025

  46. 2025-03-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee calendar for 3/19/2025

  47. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee

  48. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Ref. to Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee - Government Operations for Review

  49. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  50. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  51. 2025-02-06 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  52. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  53. 2025-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  54. 2025-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

ON MARCH 31, 2025, THE SENATE ADOPTED
AMENDMENT #1 AND REFERRED SENATE BILL 720, AS AMENDED, TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.

AMENDMENT #1 rewrites this bill to vacate and reconstitute the board of ground water management effective July 1, 2025. Under present law, the board consists of the commiss
ioner of environment and conservation, the director of water resources, and three gubernatorial appointees (one from each grand division) who are actively engaged in the drilling of wells.

Under this amendment, the ex officio board members remain the sam
e while the three appointed members must be licensed as both water well drillers and pump installers in Tennessee, to be appointed as follows:

(1) The speaker of the house of representatives appoints the member representing the western grand division wh
o serves an initial term of one year;

(2) The governor appoints the member representing the middle grand division who serves an initial term of two years; and

(3) The speaker of the senate appoints the member representing the eastern grand division who
serves an initial term of three years.

All subsequent appointees to the board serve three-year terms, which is the term length under present law.

In addition to the appointment of board members pursuant to (1)-(3), this amendment requires the appointm
ent of three alternate board members who have the same qualifications as members appointed pursuant to (1)-(3) and who serve as replacements should a vacancy occur on the board for any reason, and who may participate in a board meeting as a replacement fo
r
the appointed member from the same grand division in which the alternate member resides if the appointed member is unable to attend the meeting.

This amendment reduces from three to two the number of board members whose presence is required for a quor
um.

Prior to the issuance of a well driller's license or installer's license, present law requires the board to review the license application and make a recommendation to the commissioner either for or against issuance of such license. This amendment a
dds a requirement that the board administer the approved licensure test, including an interview of the applicant without other applicants present.

This amendment adds requirements that the board do the following:

(1) Review all complaints and violatio
ns of adopted rules and make recommendations to the commissioner for remedies to the complaints and violations. This amendment requires the department of environment and conservation to convey a complete list of complaints and violations to board members

and alternate members at least quarterly. Recommended remedies must be made at the next appropriate board meeting; and

(2) Review all continuing education classes and programs and make recommendations to the commissioner for the issuance of the same,
and approve continuing education points.

ON APRIL 21, 2025, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #2 AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 894, AS AMENDED.

AMENDMENT #2 incorporates the changes made by Senate Amendment #1, makes two technical clarifications, and adds that the n
ewly reconstituted board is subject to governmental entity review in 2027.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HOUSE BILL 894
By Todd

SENATE BILL 720
By Hatcher

SB0720
002778
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4 and
Title 69, relative to the board of ground water
management.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 69-10-107(a)(2), is amended by
deleting "more than two (2) consecutive full terms" and substituting "more than three (3)
consecutive full terms".
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.