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SB2701 • 2026

Henry County

AN ACT relative to authorizing the levy of a mineral severance tax in Henry County.

Land Taxes
Active

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

Sponsor
Stevens, Darby
Last action
2026-04-02
Official status
Companion House Bill substituted
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The candidate explanation included a term 'lien' which is mentioned in the bill but its definition and application were not central to the summary. The term has been removed from the final output as it was speculative beyond the provided context.

Henry County Mineral Tax Act

This bill allows Henry County to collect a severance tax on certain minerals if approved by two-thirds of the county's legislative body, with funds going towards road maintenance.

What This Bill Does

  • Allows Henry County to impose a severance tax on clay, titanium, and other recognized minerals not already taxed by Tennessee state law.
  • Sets the tax rate equal to the maximum per-ton rate allowed under Tennessee Code §67-7-203, which can increase if that code changes.
  • Requires the Tennessee Department of Revenue to collect this tax in a similar way to how they handle other taxes.
  • Specifies that all collected funds must be used for building and maintaining county roads.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Mineral owners or operators in Henry County who extract clay, titanium, or other recognized minerals.
  • Henry County residents as the tax will impact local businesses involved in mineral extraction.

Terms To Know

Severance Tax
A tax on the removal of natural resources from land.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill will only take effect if it is approved by two-thirds of Henry County's legislative body.
  • Details on how penalties and interest for delinquent payments are handled are not specified in this summary.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-07 Tennessee General Assembly

    Transmitted to Governor for his action.

  2. 2026-04-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Senate Speaker

  3. 2026-04-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by H. Speaker

  4. 2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Companion House Bill substituted

  5. 2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Enrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker.

  6. 2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed Senate, Ayes 31, Nays 0

  7. 2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Senate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.

  8. 2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Received from House, Passed on First Consideration

  9. 2026-03-31 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Local Calendar for 4/2/2026

  10. 2026-03-31 Tennessee General Assembly

    Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.

  11. 2026-03-30 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  12. 2026-03-30 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed H., Ayes 82, Nays 1, PNV 10

  13. 2026-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. Placed on Consent Calendar for 3/30/2026

  14. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  15. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee

  16. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 3/24/2026

  17. 2026-03-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass; ref to State & Local Government Committee

  18. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Private Acts Committee for 3/16/2026

  19. 2026-02-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, held on desk. Local Bill

  20. 2026-02-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  21. 2026-02-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Private Acts Committee - State & Local Government Committee

  22. 2026-02-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  23. 2026-02-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  24. 2026-02-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
HOUSE BILL 2639
By Darby

SENATE BILL 2701
By Stevens
SB2701
012780
- 1 -

AN ACT relative to authorizing the levy of a mineral severance tax
in Henry County.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. There is imposed in Henry County, Tennessee, a severance tax as
provided herein on certain minerals severed from the ground within its jurisdiction. The tax shall
be levied for the use and benefit of Henry County only.
SECTION 2. For purposes of this act:
(1) "Mineral" means clay, titanium, and any other substance commonly
recognized as a mineral, except any material taxed under Tennessee Code
Annotated, Title 67, Chapter 7, Parts 1 and 2; and
(2) "Sever" or "severance" means the extraction or removal of a mineral
from its natural state within Henry County.
SECTION 3.
(a) The rate of the tax shall be equal to the maximum per-ton tax rate authorized
by Tennessee Code Annotated, § 67-7-203, and shall automatically increase if
Tennessee Code Annotated, § 67-7-203, is amended to increase the maximum rate.
(b) If Tennessee Code Annotated, § 67-7-203, is amended to reduce the
maximum rate or is repealed, the tax rate under this act shall remain fixed at the highest
maximum rate previously authorized by Tennessee Code Annotated, § 67-7-203.
(c) The tax shall accrue at the time the mineral is severed and transported from
the mine in its natural or unprocessed state.
SECTION 4.
(a) Every owner or operator severing minerals under this act shall become liable
for the tax at the time of severance.

- 2 - 012780

(b) The Tennessee Department of Revenue shall administer and collect this tax
in the same manner as provided in Tennessee Code Annotated, § 67-7-204, including
promulgation of rules and regulations necessary for administration.
SECTION 5.
All revenues collected under this act, less administrative expenses retained by
the Department of Revenue, shall be remitted quarterly to the Henry County Trustee and
shall become a part of the county road fund, to be used exclusively for the construction,
maintenance, and repair of the county road system.
SECTION 6. The tax levied under this Act shall constitute a lien upon all minerals
severed and any property of the operator, with priority over all other liens and encumbrances.
Penalties and interest for delinquent payments shall be assessed in the same manner as taxes
imposed under Tennessee Code Annotated, §§ 67-7-201 - 67-7-212.
SECTION 7. If any provision of this Act or its application to any person or circumstance
is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of the Act which
can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to that end the provisions of
this Act are declared to be severable.
SECTION 8. This act shall have no effect unless it is approved by a two-thirds (2/3) vote
of the legislative body of Henry County. Its approval or nonapproval shall be proclaimed by the
presiding officer of the legislative body and certified to the secretary of state.
SECTION 9. For the purpose of approving or rejecting the provisions of this act, it shall
be effective upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it. For all other purposes, it shall
become effective as provided in Section 8.