Tennessee Senate Bill SB2057

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/22/26
• Engrossed: 3/9/26
• Enrolled: 4/30/26
• Passed: 5/22/26
• Chaptered: 5/27/26

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 7, Chapter 35; Title 7, Chapter 82 and Title 68, Chapter 221, relative to sewer systems.

Summary

SB2057 amends Tennessee law governing sewer and wastewater utility systems. The bill requires a utility system that provides wastewater service to make a connection available upon request from a real property owner when the utility has an existing gravity sewer line on or adjacent to the property within a street right-of-way, public access easement, or public utility easement, or when it has an existing sewer force main on or adjacent to the property that can be accessed with appropriate technology. In practical terms, the measure expands and clarifies when property owners may request service connections to existing wastewater infrastructure. It is a targeted utility-service bill focused on access to sewer service rather than on broader environmental regulation or rate-setting. The act takes effect immediately upon becoming law.

Impact

The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, primarily Section 7-82-710, and references related titles governing local utility systems and wastewater regulation. It imposes a duty on qualifying utility systems to provide wastewater connections under specified physical-infrastructure conditions, which may affect municipal utilities, utility districts, and property owners seeking sewer access. The change could influence local development, annexation-related service decisions, and infrastructure planning where sewer lines or force mains already exist near private property.

Sentiment

The available voting history shows strong and unanimous support throughout the legislative process, with committee and floor votes passing without opposition. That pattern suggests the bill was viewed as a practical, noncontroversial adjustment to sewer service law. No committee transcript is available, so the recorded sentiment is inferred from the unanimous votes and smooth passage.

Contention

No notable opposition appears in the available record. Because there are no committee transcripts and every recorded vote was unanimous, there is no evidence of disagreement over the bill’s core policy. Any potential concerns would likely have centered on utility obligations, infrastructure access, or implementation costs, but none are reflected in the provided materials.