KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to Tennessee

SB0980 • 2026

Surveyors

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 62 and Title 66, Chapter 5, Part 1, relative to surveyors.

Active

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

Sponsor
Southerland, Hicks G
Last action
2025-04-30
Official status
Effective date(s) 04/11/2025
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide specific details on the impact of these changes on current practices and laws, leaving some uncertainty.

Law about Surveyors in Tennessee

This bill requires that descriptions of real property in deeds must be prepared by registered land surveyors if the property has not been previously described in recorded instruments.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires a description of real property contained within a deed to be prepared by a registered land surveyor if it is not already recorded.
  • Exempts deeds prepared for or by governmental departments and agencies from this requirement.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People buying or selling land who need to write new descriptions of the land in their deeds.
  • Registered land surveyors who will be required to prepare property descriptions under certain conditions.

Terms To Know

Deed
A legal document that transfers ownership of real estate from one person to another.
Registered Land Surveyor
A surveyor who has met certain qualifications and is licensed by the state to practice.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens if a deed needs a description but no registered land surveyor is available.
  • It's unclear how this change will affect existing laws or practices in Tennessee.

Bill History

  1. 2025-04-30 Tennessee General Assembly

    Effective date(s) 04/11/2025

  2. 2025-04-30 Tennessee General Assembly

    Pub. Ch. 178

  3. 2025-04-30 Tennessee General Assembly

    Comp. became Pub. Ch. 178

  4. 2025-04-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Governor.

  5. 2025-04-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Transmitted to Governor for action.

  6. 2025-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by H. Speaker

  7. 2025-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Senate Speaker

  8. 2025-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Enrolled and ready for signatures

  9. 2025-03-31 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed H., Ayes 93, Nays 0, PNV 2

  10. 2025-03-31 Tennessee General Assembly

    Subst. for comp. HB.

  11. 2025-03-31 Tennessee General Assembly

    Comp. SB subst.

  12. 2025-03-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. Placed on Consent Calendar for 3/31/2025

  13. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 3/27/2025

  14. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee

  15. 2025-03-20 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  16. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 3/26/2025

  17. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  18. 2025-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

  19. 2025-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed Senate, Ayes 32, Nays 0

  20. 2025-03-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Consent Calendar 2 for 3/17/2025

  21. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Cities & Counties Subcommittee for 3/19/2025

  22. 2025-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee

  23. 2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Commerce and Labor Committee calendar for 3/11/2025

  24. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Commerce and Labor Committee

  25. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  26. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  27. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Cities & Counties Subcommittee

  28. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to State & Local Government Committee

  29. 2025-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  30. 2025-01-28 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HOUSE BILL 480
By Hicks G

SENATE BILL 980
By Southerland

SB0980
000378
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 62
and Title 66, Chapter 5, Part 1, relative to
surveyors.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 66, Chapter 5, Part 1, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:
The description of real property contained within a deed of conveyance of a
property not previously described in a recorded instrument must be prepared by a land
surveyor, as defined in § 62-18-102, who is registered pursuant to § 62-18-101. This
section does not apply to any deed of conveyance prepared by or for a governmental
department or agency.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.