Tennessee Senate Bill SB1918

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/21/26

Caption

AN ACT to amend Chapter 87 of the Private Acts of 1973; as amended by Chapter 31 of the Private Acts of 2005; and any other acts amendatory thereto, relative to Union County.

Summary

SB1918 is a local private act affecting Union County. It amends prior private acts governing the county assessor of properties by changing the fee structure for building permits. Under the bill, the assessor would be entitled to collect a permit fee of fifty cents per square foot for all buildings that are constructed, erected, or reconstructed. The bill also specifies that no building permit is required, and no fee may be collected, for a shed or barn. In addition, any existing provisions that conflict with this new permit-fee formula are repealed. The measure is limited to Union County and operates as an amendment to earlier private acts from 1973 and 2005.

Impact

The bill would revise local law in Union County by setting a uniform building permit fee tied to square footage and by exempting sheds and barns from permit requirements and related fees. It affects the duties and revenue collection authority of the County Assessor of Properties, and it supersedes any inconsistent local provisions in prior private acts. The act does not take effect unless approved by a two-thirds vote of the Union County legislative body, making local ratification a condition precedent to implementation.

Sentiment

No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate, support, or opposition in the available record. Based on the text alone, the bill appears administrative and locally focused, with a straightforward fee-setting purpose rather than a broader policy change. The conditional local approval requirement suggests the measure was intended to be decided primarily at the county level.

Contention

The main point of potential contention is the new building permit fee of fifty cents per square foot, which could be viewed as increasing costs for construction, reconstruction, or development in Union County. Builders, property owners, and local residents may be concerned about the financial impact, while county officials may support the change as a clearer or more standardized revenue mechanism. Another possible issue is the exemption for sheds and barns, which creates a carve-out that may be important to agricultural or rural property owners.