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SB2547 • 2026

Solid Waste Disposal

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7 and Title 68, Chapter 211, relative to solid waste.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Reeves, Todd
Last action
2026-04-10
Official status
Transmitted to Governor for action.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on the process updates or review criteria establishment as mentioned in the candidate explanation.

Solid Waste Disposal Act

This bill updates Tennessee's solid waste management policies by changing notification timelines for board vacancies and setting new requirements for regional waste plans.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the timeline for notifying about vacancies on the Underground Storage Tanks and Solid Waste Disposal Control Board from 90 days to 45 days.
  • Requires each solid waste region to develop a plan that outlines where waste will be disposed of and managed over the next ten years, including goals for reducing waste and recycling.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Solid waste regions in Tennessee
  • The Department of Environment and Conservation
  • The Underground Storage Tanks and Solid Waste Disposal Control Board

Terms To Know

solid waste region
A specific area designated for managing solid waste disposal.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not specify the exact effective date, only that it takes effect upon becoming law.
  • Does not provide details on how regional plans will be funded or enforced beyond setting deadlines and review criteria.

Amendments

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

Amendment 1-0 to HB2516

Plain English: The amendment adds new requirements and policies related to solid waste disposal planning in Tennessee.

  • Adds a new subsection (d) to Section 68-211-803 of the Tennessee Code Annotated, stating that it is state policy to plan for sufficient landfill capacity for non-recovered or recycled solid waste.
  • Amends Section 68-211-813 by updating the requirement for regions to develop a ten-year waste management and disposal plan, including details on where waste will be managed and how they will meet recycling goals.
  • Modifies Section 68-211-814 to set deadlines for submitting regional plans to the Department of Environment and Conservation and outlines procedures for reviewing and approving these plans.
  • The amendment text does not provide specific details on how the new policies will be implemented or enforced, leaving some aspects unclear.
Amendment 1-0 to SB2547

Plain English: The amendment updates Tennessee's solid waste management laws to ensure regions plan for sufficient landfill capacity and submit detailed plans every ten years.

  • Adds a new subsection (d) to Section 68-211-803, stating that the state aims to have enough landfill space for non-recycled or unrecovered solid waste.
  • Amends Section 68-211-813 by requiring regions to develop ten-year plans detailing where and how waste will be managed and recycled.
  • Modifies Section 68-211-814, setting a deadline for submitting new or revised regional plans by July 1, 2028, and establishing a process for reviewing these plans within strict timelines.
  • Adds a new subdivision (4) to Section 68-211-814, requiring the underground storage tanks and solid waste disposal control board to create criteria for plan reviews by December 31, 2027.
  • The amendment text does not specify what sanctions will be imposed if regions do not comply with these new requirements.
Amendment 2-0 to SB2547

Plain English: The amendment adds new requirements and policies related to solid waste disposal planning in Tennessee.

  • Adds a new subsection (d) to Section 68-211-803 of the Tennessee Code, stating that it is state policy to plan for sufficient landfill capacity for non-recovered or recycled solid waste.
  • Amends Section 68-211-813 by updating the requirements for regional plans on waste disposal and management over a ten-year period.
  • Modifies Section 68-211-814 to set deadlines for submitting new or revised regional plans, outlines review processes by the Department of Environment and Conservation, and establishes timelines for resubmitting corrected plans if disapproved.
  • Adds a new subdivision (4) to Section 68-211-814, requiring the Underground Storage Tanks and Solid Waste Disposal Control Board to create criteria for reviewing regional waste disposal plans by December 31, 2027.
  • The amendment text does not provide specific details on how the new policies will be implemented or enforced beyond setting deadlines and review processes.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Transmitted to Governor for action.

  2. 2026-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by H. Speaker

  3. 2026-04-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Senate Speaker

  4. 2026-04-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Enrolled and ready for signatures

  5. 2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed H., Ayes 78, Nays 0, PNV 12

  6. 2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - HA0781)

  7. 2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Subst. for comp. HB.

  8. 2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Comp. SB subst.

  9. 2026-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  10. 2026-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/2/2026

  11. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 3/26/2026

  12. 2026-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules Committee

  13. 2026-03-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

  14. 2026-03-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  15. 2026-03-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 24, Nays 0, PNV 3

  16. 2026-03-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Amendment withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - SA0706)

  17. 2026-03-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 2 - SA0818)

  18. 2026-03-20 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 3/23/2026

  19. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee for 3/24/2026

  20. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  21. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  22. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee for 3/18/2026

  23. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee

  24. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Ref. to Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee

  25. 2026-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  26. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  27. 2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  28. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  29. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  30. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  31. 2026-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  32. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  33. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

ON MARCH 23, 2026, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #2 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 2547, AS AMENDED.

AMENDMENT #2
rewrites the bill to, instead, declare that it is the policy of this state to plan for sufficient landfill capacity to dispose of solid waste that is not recovered or recycled. Present law requires each municipal solid waste region to develop a plan for
a ten-year disposal capacity, and for achieving compliance with the waste reduction and recycling goal. This amendment, instead, requires each solid waste region to develop a plan that includes a narrative identifying where waste will be disp
osed and managed for the next 10 years, and for achieving compliance with the waste reduction and recycling goal. Such a plan must be updated and resubmitted to the department at least every 10 years.

Present law requires each solid waste region to submit its plan to the department of environment and conservation. The department must approve or disapprove the plan within 90 days. If a plan is disapproved, then the department must state in detail the
reasons for such disapproval, and the region must resubmit a plan that corrects all deficiencies within 60 days.

This amendment requires each solid waste region to submit a new or revised plan by July 1, 2028. The department must notify the region within 30 days whether the plan includes all necessary information, or identify what additional information is require
d. If the department determines the plan is incomplete, the region must submit all additional required information within 60 days. The department must approve or disapprove the plan within 120 days. If a plan is disapproved, then the region must resubm
it
a plan that corrects all deficiencies within 60 days, or the region may file an appeal within 30 days of receiving the letter of disapproval.

RULEMAKING

This amendment requires the underground storage tanks and solid waste disposal control board to promulgate rules to effectuate this amendment, including promulgating rules to establishing criteria for review of regional plans by December 31, 2027.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HOUSE BILL 2516
By Todd

SENATE BILL 2547
By Reeves
SB2547
012281
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4;
Title 5; Title 6; Title 7 and Title 68, Chapter 211,
relative to solid waste.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 68-211-111(c)(2), is amended by
deleting the first sentence and substituting:
If the board incurs a vacancy, it shall notify the appointing authority in writing
within forty-five (45) days after the vacancy occurs.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.