AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 13 and Title 33, relative to housing.
Summary
HB0301 authorizes local governments in Tennessee to regulate sober living homes by ordinance or resolution. The bill defines a sober living home as an alcohol- and drug-free residence for unrelated adults recovering from substance abuse, where no formal treatment services are provided, and defines related terms such as operator, local government, and healthcare provider.
Under the bill, a county, city, town, or metropolitan government may require sober living homes to be at least 1,000 feet from K-12 schools, preschools, and daycare facilities. Local governments may also regulate the location or operation of these homes more broadly, and may require a clinical referral from a licensed healthcare provider before an individual is admitted, if the referral indicates that sober living placement is medically necessary. Any local regulation adopted under the bill must comply with the federal Fair Housing Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Impact
The bill would add a new part to Tennessee Code Annotated Title 7 governing sober living homes and would expand local authority over their siting and operation. It could affect operators of recovery residences, people seeking sober housing after substance use treatment, and local zoning or land-use enforcement, while also creating a state-law framework that expressly requires compliance with federal fair housing and disability protections.
Sentiment
No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of legislative debate or vote-based sentiment in the available record. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears to reflect a regulatory approach that balances local control and neighborhood concerns with explicit references to federal anti-discrimination law.
Contention
The main potential points of contention are the 1,000-foot separation requirement, the ability of local governments to regulate sober living homes more broadly, and the medical-referral requirement before admission. Supporters may view these provisions as tools to manage land-use impacts and ensure appropriate placement, while opponents may argue they could restrict access to recovery housing or conflict with fair housing and disability rights protections. The bill itself anticipates this tension by requiring compliance with the Fair Housing Act and the ADA.
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