Tennessee Senate Bill SB2524

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/2/26

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 8; Title 53, Chapter 8; Title 58, Chapter 2; Title 62, Chapter 7 and Title 67, Chapter 4, Part 14, relative to emergencies.

Summary

SB2524 creates a voluntary “community storm emergency relief program” to help local residents during declared state or local emergencies caused by severe weather. The program would be administered by the Department of Tourist Development in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, and hotels and food service establishments could opt in by notifying the department. Participating hotels could offer lower pre-set emergency room rates, flexible cancellation and early checkout options, and prorated refunds when conditions improve. Participating food service establishments, including food trucks, could remain open and operate in affected neighborhoods during the emergency. The bill also authorizes the Commissioner of Agriculture to allow food service establishments to participate in the program and to issue temporary permits or waive restrictions needed to facilitate participation. Local governments would be encouraged to do the same for identified participants. State or local agencies could coordinate with participating establishments to provide meals in areas without power, utility service, or grocery access. The Department of Tourist Development could promote participating businesses, maintain a public list, and create an online platform for enrollment. The bill expressly states that participation is voluntary and does not create a mandate, private right of action, penalty, or enforcement obligation.

Impact

The bill would add a new emergency-relief program to Tennessee law in Title 58 and related authority in Title 53, while also touching tourism, agriculture, and local regulatory powers. It would not require hotels, restaurants, food trucks, local governments, or state agencies to participate, but it would give state officials tools to publicize participating businesses and, for food service establishments, to streamline temporary permitting or waive certain restrictions during emergencies. In practice, the measure could expand access to shelter and food during severe weather events and create a state-supported framework for voluntary private-sector emergency assistance.

Sentiment

The available record shows no committee debate or recorded votes, so there is no documented opposition or support from the transcript and voting history provided. Based on the bill text, the measure appears designed as a cooperative, low-regulation emergency response initiative, with an emphasis on voluntary participation and community assistance. Its tone suggests a generally supportive approach toward helping residents during storms while avoiding mandatory obligations on businesses or governments.

Contention

The main potential points of contention are the scope of state involvement and the regulatory flexibility granted to food service establishments. Some stakeholders could question whether the Department of Tourist Development and the Department of Agriculture are the right agencies to administer an emergency shelter-and-food program, or whether public promotion and limited financial assistance should be used for participating businesses. Others may be concerned about temporary permit waivers, local waiver authority, or the practical burdens on hotels and restaurants during emergencies, although the bill attempts to address these concerns by making participation voluntary and by preserving operator discretion based on safety, availability, and business judgment.