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SB2651 • 2026

Environment and Conservation, Department of

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 68-211-816, relative to noncompliance.

Active

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

Sponsor
Lowe
Last action
2026-02-09
Official status
Sponsor(s) Added.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The candidate explanation included a term 'Solid Waste Management Fund' which was not directly supported by the provided official source material. The bill text mentions this fund but does not provide its definition, so it is removed.

Clarifying Rules for Solid Waste Plans

This bill changes how Tennessee handles counties or regions that do not follow solid waste management rules.

What This Bill Does

  • Defines when a county or region is not following the solid waste plan correctly.
  • Explains what happens if a county or region does not fix their noncompliance within 30 days after getting a warning letter.
  • Says that counties or regions can face fines of up to $5,000 per day if they do not follow rules for more than 60 days after the warning.
  • Requires noncompliant areas to use the state's solid waste plan until their issues are fixed.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Counties and municipal solid waste regions in Tennessee
  • The commissioner who oversees these plans

Terms To Know

Noncompliance
When a county or region does not follow the rules for managing solid waste.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill only affects counties and regions in Tennessee.
  • It does not specify what happens if the commissioner decides more time is needed for compliance beyond the initial 30 days.

Bill History

  1. Date Tennessee General Assembly

  2. 2026-02-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  3. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Withdrawn.

  4. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  5. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  6. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
<BillNo> <Sponsor>

SENATE BILL 2651
By Lowe
SB2651
012380
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Section
68-211-816, relative to noncompliance.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 68-211-816, is amended by deleting
subsection (a) and substituting:
(a) A county or municipal solid waste region is noncompliant if:
(1) It fails to submit an adequate plan in a timely fashion;
(2) The commissioner does not approve a plan submitted by the county
or municipal solid waste region;
(3) It fails to implement an approved plan as determined by the
commissioner; or
(4) It fails to comply with this part.
(b) The commissioner shall impose the following sanctions, as appropriate, on a
noncompliant county or municipal solid waste region:
(1) On the first instance of noncompliance, the commissioner shall issue
a letter of warning to the noncompliant county or municipal solid waste region
indicating the reasons for noncompliance, the sequence of graduated sanctions
for noncompliance, and an offer of technical assistance to remedy the causes of
noncompliance;
(2)
(A) Noncompliance must be resolved as soon as possible. If
noncompliance continues for thirty (30) days after receipt of a warning
letter, the noncomplying county or municipal solid waste region is

- 2 - 012380

ineligible to receive funds from the solid waste management fund, unless
the commissioner states in writing that, due to particular circumstances,
more time to become compliant is appropriate; and
(B) A noncompliant county or municipal solid waste region that
fails to meet the requirements of subdivision (a)(2)(A) and becomes
ineligible to receive funds from the solid waste management fund,
including, but not limited to, grant funds or rebates, is prohibited from
receiving any grant funds administered by a division or program of the
department until the noncompliance is resolved;
(3) If noncompliance continues for sixty (60) days after receipt of the
warning letter, then, in addition to any other penalty imposed by law, the
commissioner may impose a civil penalty of not more than five thousand dollars
($5,000) for each day of noncompliance beyond the sixty-day period; and
(4) The state solid waste management plan, as set forth in § 68-211-603,
must serve as the solid waste management plan for a noncompliant county or
municipal solid waste region, including for purposes of § 68-211-814(b)(2)(B),
until noncompliance is resolved.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it.