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SB0725 • 2026

Parks, Natural Areas Preservation

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 11, Chapter 13 and Title 68, relative to scenic rivers.

Land
Active

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

Sponsor
Lowe, Todd
Last action
2025-02-12
Official status
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide details on how removing the buffer zone will impact environmental protections for scenic rivers.

Scenic Rivers and Landfill Buffer

This bill changes Tennessee's laws about scenic rivers to remove restrictions on landfills near these areas.

What This Bill Does

  • Removes a two-mile buffer zone between class II scenic rivers and new or expanded landfill sites.
  • Amends the Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 11, Chapter 13 to clarify that this chapter does not override existing laws about property rights, zoning ordinances, or legal precedents.
  • Deletes specific sections in Titles 68-211 and 68-212 related to landfill regulations near scenic rivers.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who own land near class II scenic rivers
  • Companies that operate or want to expand landfills

Terms To Know

Class II Scenic Rivers
Rivers in Tennessee that are protected for their natural beauty and recreational value.
Buffer Zone
An area of land around a protected site, like a river, where certain activities are restricted to protect the environment.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how removing the buffer zone will affect environmental protections for scenic rivers.
  • It is unclear what specific regulations were removed from Titles 68-211 and 68-212, as these sections are deleted without explanation.

Bill History

  1. 2025-02-20 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Withdrawn.

  2. 2025-02-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  3. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  4. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  5. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee

  6. 2025-02-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee

  7. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  8. 2025-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  9. 2025-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HOUSE BILL 895
By Todd

SENATE BILL 725
By Lowe

SB0725
000670
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 11,
Chapter 13 and Title 68, relative to scenic rivers.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 11-13-101(b), is amended by adding
the following language immediately preceding the last sentence in the subsection:
It is also not the intent of this chapter to circumvent a law, zoning ordinance, or binding
legal precedent related to property rights, expansion of boundaries, or land acquisitions.
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 11-13-111(b), is amended by
deleting the subsection.
SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 68-211-118, is amended by deleting
the section.
SECTION 4. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 68-212-120, is amended by deleting
the section.
SECTION 5. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 68-212-223, is amended by deleting
the section.
SECTION 6. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.