Tennessee House Bill HB1397

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/6/25
• Refer: 2/12/25

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 59; Title 60; Title 68 and Title 69, relative to toxic release inventory data.

Summary

HB1397 requires the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation to create and maintain a public online informational tool by January 1, 2026, focused on facilities that report toxic release inventory data under federal law. The tool must let a user enter an address and see facilities within five miles, as well as notice of any application to construct or expand a facility that may be subject to toxic release reporting requirements in that area. It must also show the status of those applications, including any comment or public input period, and allow users to sign up for notices when such applications are submitted near a specified address. The bill also requires the department to keep the tool updated with information it receives about covered facilities and applications, including EPA toxic release inventory data, and to post updates within ten business days of receiving information that requires an update. In practical terms, the bill expands public access to environmental and permitting information and creates a notification system for nearby residents who may be affected by new or expanded industrial facilities.

Impact

The bill would add a new section to Tennessee Code Annotated Title 68, Chapter 101, directing the Department of Environment and Conservation to build and maintain a publicly accessible database-style mapping and alert tool. It does not appear to change permitting standards or toxic release reporting obligations themselves, but it would impose new administrative duties on the department to collect, display, and timely update facility and application information. The affected parties include the department, facilities subject to toxic release inventory reporting, applicants seeking to construct or expand such facilities, and residents or property owners within five miles of those sites.

Sentiment

Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee debate or votes in the provided materials, the overall sentiment appears to be informational and transparency-focused rather than overtly partisan. The measure is framed as a public-access and notification bill, suggesting support for community awareness of environmental risks and nearby industrial activity. No recorded opposition or amendments are included in the provided context, so there is no evidence here of significant controversy in the available materials.

Contention

The main potential point of contention is the scope of the notice and mapping requirement, especially the five-mile radius standard and the obligation to track applications for construction or expansion of potentially covered facilities. Environmental and community advocates would likely favor the added transparency and early warning features, while regulated facilities or industry stakeholders could be concerned about administrative burden, public scrutiny, or the practical implications of posting application status and comment periods. Another possible issue is the department’s capacity to maintain accurate, timely updates within the ten-business-day deadline.