Page Image: 

The Tennessee State Legislature reviews and often passes legislation pertinent to our environment, and specifically our water quality.  From January to June of each year legislators meet in committees, on the floor of their respective houses, and with a variety of lobbyists to discuss legislation.  Each General Assembly session takes two years.  The 107th session began in January of this year and will end in 2012.  During this time all legislation which has been introduced is still in play, but at the end of each session, any current business ceases.  If a bill is introduced in 2011, doesn't pass during that year, it is still eligible for movement through the committees and to the floor in 2012.  However, if the bill doesn't pass in 2012 it must be introduced in the next session and start the process all over again.  Learn more about Tennessee's General Assembly. 
 
2011 Legislation relevant to water quality:

SB0578 Stewart/HB0291 McDonald: The Scenic Vistas Act, or commonly known as the legisislation to stop mountain top removal mining. - SUPPORT, sign-on to a petition in support of the Scenic Vistas Protection Act.
 
SB0148 Watson/HB0271 Cobb:  Seeks to change the Water Quality Control Board appointment process - SUPPORT
 
SB0310 Gresham/HB0204 Fitzhugh:  Prohibits clear cutting in state parks - SUPPORT
 
SB1118 Bell/HB1233 Forgety:  Requires mitigation funds paid to the state be used in the county in which stream impacts occured - SUPPORT
 
SB1391 Finney/HB1612 Shaw:  Requires impact analysis and community involvement before landfills can be created - SUPPORT
 
HB0901 Nicely: Limits eminent domain applications to farm land - SUPPORT
 
HB1785 McDonald:  Adds requirements in order for coal ash to be disposed or transported - SUPPORT
 
 
2011 Changes

This year witnessed a significant change to the make up of the state legislature, and these changes along with the major budget deficit will greatly impact the work of TCWN and the state agencies with which we work.
 
In the State House of Representatives Republicans won 14 previously Democratic held seats, but not a single Democrat won a seat previously held by a Republican. Therefore Republicans took the majority over Democrats 64 to 34 with one Independent.  On the first day of session, Beth Harwell (R-Nashville) was selected to serve as Speaker of the House.  The margin in the State Senate will be 20-13, Republican-Democrat. 
 
The Committees which review and vote on water related legislation have not changed significantly in composition.  Most changes are a result of new members of the legislature and the absence of those who did not return.  A unique change in the House committees is the elimination of subject specific sub-committees.  Committees now have general sub-committees to review legislation before it moves on to the full committee.
 
The committees most frequently involved in water quality legislation are the House Conservation & Environment Committee and the Senate Environment, Conservation & Tourism Committee.  It is the role of these committees to review all legislation impacting the condition of our streams, changing water quality regulations, and all matters pertaining to water quality pollution.
 
 
Learn more about TCWN's role in Tennessee's Legislature:
2010
2009