Tennessee Senate Bill SB1352

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/6/25

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

SB1352 requires the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation to create and maintain a publicly accessible online informational tool by January 1, 2026. The tool must let users enter an address and see facilities within a five-mile radius that are required to file toxic release inventory reports under federal law, as well as notice of any submitted applications to construct or expand such facilities nearby. It must also show the status of those applications, including any comment or input periods, and allow users to sign up for notices when a relevant application is filed near a chosen address. The bill also directs the department to keep the tool updated with information it receives about covered facilities and applications, including data from the EPA’s toxic release inventory, and to post updates within ten business days of receiving information that requires an update. In effect, the measure expands public access to environmental and permitting information and creates a state-managed notification system for residents near potentially regulated industrial facilities.

Impact

The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Titles 68 and related titles to add a new state duty for the Department of Environment and Conservation: building and maintaining a searchable public database/notification tool for toxic release inventory facilities and related construction or expansion applications. It does not change federal reporting requirements, but it uses federal TRI data and state permitting information to create a new transparency and notice mechanism for nearby residents, potentially affecting facility operators, permit applicants, and communities within five miles of covered sites.

Sentiment

The available voting history suggests the bill was received favorably in committee, passing the Senate Energy, Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee 9-0 and being recommended for passage. With no committee transcript available, there is no recorded debate to indicate strong opposition or support beyond the unanimous committee vote, but the action suggests broad agreement on the bill’s transparency and public-notice goals.

Contention

No specific points of contention are documented in the provided materials. Based on the bill’s structure, any concerns would likely center on the administrative burden for the department, the timeliness and accuracy of updates, the scope of the five-mile notification radius, or the potential compliance and public-relations impact on facilities seeking to build or expand. However, the committee vote indicates no recorded opposition at the committee stage.