Tennessee Senate Bill SB2003

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/22/26

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 3; Title 54 and Title 68, Chapter 120, relative to family restrooms in safety rest areas.

Summary

SB2003 requires every Tennessee safety rest area that provides public restrooms to include at least one family restroom, as defined in existing law. The bill directs the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) to use existing resources to construct and maintain these restrooms and sets out reporting and implementation deadlines for the department. The bill also requires TDOT to submit a detailed construction schedule to the relevant House and Senate transportation committees by July 1, 2026, including when each rest area will be brought into compliance. By July 1, 2028, TDOT must have completed construction of, or at least begun construction on, one family restroom at a safety rest stop.

Impact

The bill amends Tennessee law governing highway safety rest areas by creating a new statutory requirement for family restrooms at public rest areas. It affects TDOT’s planning, construction, and maintenance responsibilities and may require the department to prioritize or phase restroom upgrades across the rest area system. The measure also adds legislative oversight through a required progress report and compliance schedule, while stating that funding should come from TDOT’s existing resources rather than a new appropriation.

Sentiment

The available vote history suggests strong support for the bill, with the Transportation and Safety Committee recommending passage by a 9-0 vote. No committee transcript was provided, but the unanimous committee action indicates little visible opposition at the committee stage. Overall, the bill appears to have been received favorably as a public-facilities and family-access measure.

Contention

The main potential point of contention is fiscal and operational: the bill requires TDOT to build and maintain family restrooms using existing resources, which could raise concerns about cost, staffing, and prioritization of other transportation projects. Another possible issue is implementation timing, since the bill sets a reporting deadline in 2026 and a construction benchmark in 2028, which may prompt questions about feasibility and how quickly all rest areas can be brought into compliance. No explicit opposition is reflected in the provided materials.