AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7 and Title 13, relative to planning regulations.
Summary
HB0652 limits local planning authorities in Tennessee from requiring more than one means of ingress and egress for a proposed subdivision unless the subdivision contains at least 70 residential dwellings. The bill applies this rule across multiple levels of local government, including regional planning commissions, municipal planning commissions, county legislative bodies, and other chief legislative bodies of municipalities. It also declares any conflicting local requirement void.
The measure is aimed at standardizing subdivision access requirements and preventing local governments from imposing multiple-access mandates on smaller developments. By setting a statewide threshold, the bill would constrain local discretion in subdivision planning and make the rule uniform for regulations enacted or amended on or after July 1, 2025.
Impact
The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated in Title 13 by adding new provisions to sections governing regional, municipal, county, and municipal legislative planning authority. Its practical effect is to preempt local planning regulations that require more than one ingress/egress point for subdivisions with fewer than 70 residential dwellings, while leaving such requirements permissible for larger subdivisions. Local ordinances or regulations that conflict with the new standard would be void for covered future enactments or amendments.
Sentiment
No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate, support, or opposition in the available materials. Based on the text alone, the bill appears to reflect a policy preference for limiting local regulatory burdens and creating a uniform statewide subdivision standard. The absence of recorded legislative discussion makes the overall sentiment difficult to assess beyond the bill’s apparent pro-development, pro-uniformity orientation.
Contention
The main point of contention likely concerns state preemption versus local control: planning commissions and local legislative bodies would lose the ability to require multiple access points for smaller subdivisions. Supporters would likely argue the bill reduces unnecessary development costs and regulatory inconsistency, while opponents may worry about traffic safety, emergency access, and the ability of local governments to tailor subdivision standards to local conditions. The 70-dwelling threshold is the key policy line that determines when multiple access requirements may still be imposed.
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 8; Title 13; Title 16; Title 38; Title 43; Title 49; Title 50; Title 54; Title 58; Title 63; Title 64; Title 65; Title 68; Title 69; Title 70 and Title 71, relative to appointments.
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 8; Title 13; Title 16; Title 38; Title 43; Title 49; Title 50; Title 54; Title 58; Title 63; Title 64; Title 65; Title 68; Title 69; Title 70 and Title 71, relative to appointments.
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 8; Title 12; Title 13; Title 54; Title 64; Title 65; Title 68 and Title 69, relative to utilities.
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