Highways, Roads and Bridges

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Bridge Study Across Mississippi River

This bill requires Tennessee's Department of Transportation to study building a new bridge over the Mississippi River that connects to Arkansas.

What This Bill Does

• Requires the Department of Transportation to study building a new bridge across the Mississippi River and connecting to Arkansas.
• The study must look at how feasible it is to build this bridge and any needed roads or structures.
• By February 1, 2026, the department has to give a report with its findings and suggestions to certain committees in both houses of the Tennessee General Assembly.
• The report should also list available funds from federal, state, and local sources that could be used for this project.

Who It Names or Affects

• Tennessee's Department of Transportation
• People who live near or use roads crossing the Mississippi River between Tennessee and Arkansas

Terms To Know

viability

Whether something is practical, possible, or likely to succeed.

legislative recommendations

Suggestions for new laws or changes in existing laws that the department might propose based on their study.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify how much money will be spent on the bridge project.
• It is unclear if and when construction of the bridge would start after the study.

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

HOUSE BILL 924
By Towns

SENATE BILL 1192
By Akbari

SB1192
002510
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 54,
relative to a new bridge project crossing the
Mississippi River.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. The Department of Transportation shall conduct a study regarding the
development and viability of a new bridge crossing the Mississippi River and connecting to
Arkansas, together with related highway facilities and structures needed to complete the bridge
project. On or before February 1, 2026, the Department shall report its findings, including any
legislative recommendations, from the study to the transportation and safety committee of the
senate and the committee in the house of representatives having jurisdiction over transportation
infrastructure issues. The report shall identify funds available through federal, state, or local
sources to initiate the development of this bridge and the timing for initiating such development.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.