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SB0877 • 2026

Environment and Conservation, Department of

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 7; Title 59; Title 65; Title 66; Title 68 and Title 69, relative to water.

Water
Active

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

Sponsor
Reeves, Todd
Last action
2026-03-11
Official status
Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on the definition of large withdrawals beyond the volume threshold. The summary also lacks clarity on update frequency and penalties, which are noted as unknowns.

Water Withdrawal Reporting Act

This bill requires the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation to publish online a list of water withdrawals that are 10,000 gallons or more per day.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires the department to put a list of large water withdrawals on its website.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation
  • People who withdraw large amounts of water

Terms To Know

Surface Water
Water found on the surface of the ground, like lakes or rivers.
Groundwater
Water that is underground in rocks and soil.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how often this list must be updated.
  • It's unclear if there are penalties for non-compliance with the new rule.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee

  2. 2026-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  3. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  4. 2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  5. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee

  6. 2025-03-13 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  7. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  8. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  9. 2025-02-06 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  10. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  11. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  12. 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 893
By Todd

SENATE BILL 877
By Reeves

SB0877
002248
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4;
Title 7; Title 59; Title 65; Title 66; Title 68 and Title
69, relative to water.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 69-7-304(a), is amended by adding
the following language after the existing language:
A list of withdrawals registered pursuant to this subsection (a) must be made
available in a publicly accessible location on the department's website.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.