Tennessee Senate Bill SB0068

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/9/25
• Engrossed: 2/20/25
• Enrolled: 2/20/25
• Passed: 3/10/25
• Chaptered: 3/21/25

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 29 and Title 58, Chapter 2, relative to the Emergency Management Assistance Compact.

Summary

SB0068 amends Tennessee’s statutory sunset provisions to extend the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) through June 30, 2033. The bill removes EMAC from a list of governmental entities scheduled to terminate under Tennessee Code Annotated § 4-29-246 and adds it to a new section, § 4-29-254, that sets a later termination date for certain entities, including EMAC. The measure also preserves the legislature’s ability to continue, reestablish, or restructure the compact in the future under the state’s general sunset-review framework. In practical terms, the bill keeps Tennessee’s participation in EMAC in place by preventing it from expiring under the state’s periodic review statutes. EMAC is the interstate mutual aid framework that allows states to share emergency management resources and assistance during disasters and other emergencies, so the bill affects state emergency management law and the agencies that rely on interstate coordination for disaster response.

Impact

The bill changes Tennessee Code Annotated Title 4, Chapter 29 by deleting EMAC from an existing termination list and adding it to a new sunset date of June 30, 2033. It also references Title 58, Chapter 2, where EMAC is created, but does not alter the compact’s substantive emergency-response powers. The main legal effect is to keep the compact active under state law and avoid automatic termination, thereby preserving the authority of Tennessee officials to participate in interstate emergency assistance arrangements.

Sentiment

The available legislative history suggests broad support and little controversy. The Senate Government Operations Committee recommended passage on a 9-0 vote, indicating unanimous committee approval. No committee transcript excerpts were provided, but the absence of recorded opposition and the straightforward nature of the bill suggest it was viewed as a routine administrative update rather than a contentious policy change.

Contention

No significant points of contention are evident in the available record. Because the bill simply extends the sunset date for EMAC and does not change the compact’s operational terms, there is no indication of debate over policy direction, cost, or state authority. Any potential concern would likely be limited to the general question of whether the compact should remain subject to periodic sunset review, but no specific opposition is shown in the provided materials.