Bills of Interest

These bills have been identified as bills of interest either because of the content of the language or because of the subject of the caption.​

For more information on a federal level, please visit the NAA Federal Legislative Tracker

Detailed bill information can be found by entering the bill number on the Tennessee General Assembly's Legislation page.

H.R. 802 GOVERNMENTAL: To Amend the CARES Act to remove a requirement on lessors to provide to vacate, and for other purposes.

  • Sponsors: Rep. Loudermilk, Barry
  • Summary: A legislative analyst in the Congressional Research Service will begin analyzing this legislation after text becomes available.
  • Fiscal Note: (Dated February 2nd, 2023) NOT SIGNIFICANT
  • House Status: 02/02/23 - Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services

H.R. 827 GOVERNMENTAL: To require the Comptroller General to submit to Congress a report on the capacity of Federally-assisted housing to support broadband service, and for other purposes

  • Sponsors: Rep. Williams, Nikema
  • Summary: A legislative analyst in the Congressional Research Service will begin analyzing this legislation after text becomes available.
  • Fiscal Note: (Dated February 2nd, 2023) NOT SIGNIFICANT
  • House Status: 02/02/23 - Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services

S.32 GOVERNMENTAL: Choice in Affordable Housing Act of 2023

  • Sponsors: Sen. Coons, Christopher A.
  • Summary: A legislative analyst in the Congressional Research Service will begin analyzing this legislation after text becomes available.
  • Fiscal Note: (Dated January 24th, 2023) NOT SIGNIFICANT
  • Senate Status: 01/24/23 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

H.R.408 GOVERNMENTAL: To Amend the Fair Credit Reporting Act to exclude information relating to certain evictions from consumer reports and for other purposes

  • Sponsors: Rep. Cohen, Steve
  • Summary: A legislative analyst in the Congressional Research Service will begin analyzing this legislation after text becomes available.
  • Fiscal Note: (Dated January 20th, 2023) NOT SIGNIFICANT
  • House Status: 01/20/23 - Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services

SB10/HB376 CAMPAIGNS & LOBBYING: Increases HAVA report filing requirements.

  • Sponsors: Sen. Yager, Ken , Rep. Carr, Dale
  • Summary: Adds the state and local government committee of the senate and the local government committee of the house of representatives to the committees who receive the secretary of state's filed annual HAVA report. Broadly captioned.
  • Fiscal Note: (Dated December 9, 2020) NOT SIGNIFICANT
  • Senate Status: 01/13/21 - Referred to Senate State & Local Government Committee.
  • House Status: 02/10/21 - Caption bill held on House clerk's desk.

SB200 LOCAL GOVERNMENT: Removes prohibition on local governments enacting rent control and inclusionary zoning regulations.

  • Sponsors: Sen. Gilmore , Brenda,
  • Summary: Removes the statewide prohibition on local governments enacting rent control and inclusionary zoning regulations.
  • Fiscal Note: (Dated January 20, 2021) NOT SIGNIFICANT
  • Senate Status: 02/10/21 - Referred to Senate State & Local Government Committee.

SB275/HB369 PROFESSIONS & LICENSURE: Contracting performed by unlicensed persons.

  • Sponsors: Sen. Rose, Paul , Rep. Williams, Ryan
  • Summary: Sets requirements for exemptions from contractor licensing requirements for real property owners who intend to construct a residential building on that real property. Requires notice of construction made to the board for licensing contractors and the register of deeds.
  • Fiscal Note: (Dated January 23, 2021) NOT SIGNIFICANT
  • Senate Status: 02/10/21 - Referred to Senate Commerce & Labor Committee.
  • House Status: 02/25/21 - Set for House Business & Utilities Subcommittee 03/03/21.

SB299/HB674 ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES: Defines food hall for purposes of consumption of alcohol on premises.

  • Sponsors: Sen. Briggs, Richard , Rep. Freeman, Bob
  • Summary: Adds definition for "food hall" to allow alcohol consumption on the premises.
  • Fiscal Note: (Dated February 8, 2021) Increase State Revenue Exceeds $4,700/FY21-22/ABC Fund Exceeds $4,400/FY22-23 and Subsequent Years/ABC Fund Exceeds $46,300/FY21-22 and Subsequent Years/General Fund Increase Local Revenue Exceeds $36,900/FY21-22 and Subsequent Years/Permissive
  • Senate Status: 02/10/21 - Referred to Senate State & Local Government Committee.
  • House Status: 02/20/21 - Referred to House Department & Agencies Subcommittee.

SB306/HB433 CAMPAIGNS & LOBBYING: Counties to establish convenient voting centers.

  • Sponsors: Sen. Pody, Mark , Rep. Lynn, Susan
  • Summary: Allows all counties to establish convenient voting centers for use on election day upon super majority vote of the county election commission.
  • Senate Status: 02/10/21 - Referred to Senate State & Local Government Committee.
  • House Status: 02/10/21 - Referred to House Elections & Campaign Finance Subcommittee.

SB313 PROPERTY & HOUSING: Written notice of landlord's tenant selection criteria and the grounds for which a rental application may be denied.

  • Sponsors: Sen. Gilmore, Brenda ,
  • Summary: Specifies that at the time an applicant is provided with a rental application, the landlord is required to provide the applicant with written notice of the landlord's tenant selection criteria and the grounds for which the rental application may be denied. Specifies if a landlord denies an applicant and the landlord has not provided the written notice then the landlord shall return the applicant's application fee, security deposit, and any other fee or deposit.
  • Fiscal Note: (Dated February 3, 2021) Increase Local Expenditures Exceeds $100,000/FY20-21*
  • Senate Status: 02/10/21 - Referred to Senate Commerce & Labor Committee.

SB315 LOCAL GOVERNMENT: Removes statewide prohibition on local governments enacting inclusionary zoning regulations.

  • Sponsors: Sen. Gilmore, Brenda ,
  • Summary: Deletes the statewide prohibition on local governments enacting inclusionary zoning regulations. Broadly captioned.
  • Fiscal Note: (Dated January 26, 2021) NOT SIGNIFICANT
  • Senate Status: 02/10/21 - Referred to Senate State & Local Government Committee.

SB320/HB794 GOVERNMENT REGULATION: Discrimination of person wearing or using a medical device.

  • Sponsors: Sen. Hensley, Joey , Rep. Lynn, Susan
  • Summary: Prohibits a person from denying an individual the full and equal enjoyment of goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, and accommodations of a place of public accommodation, resort, or amusement on the grounds of the wearing or use of a medical device or whether the individual has received medical treatment.
  • Senate Status: 02/10/21 - Referred to Senate Commerce & Labor Committee.
  • House Status: 02/20/21 - Referred to House Business & Utilities Subcommittee.

SB459/HB177 PROPERTY & HOUSING: Property managers bringing suit or testifying against tenants.

  • Sponsors: Sen. Bell, Mike , Rep. Russell, Lowell
  • Summary: Authorizes property managers to bring suit or testify against tenants in the same manner as landlords or owners of rental property. Defines "manager" to mean an individual, group, business, or organization hired by a landlord or owner to oversee the day-to-day operations of a premises.
  • Fiscal Note: (Dated January 26, 2021) NOT SIGNIFICANT
  • Senate Status: 02/11/21 - Referred to Senate Commerce & Labor Committee.
  • House Status: 02/25/21 - Set for House Business & Utilities Subcommittee 03/03/21.

SB525/HB949 PROPERTY & HOUSING: Carbon monoxide alarms required for one and two-family rental units.

  • Sponsors: Sen. Briggs, Richard , Rep. Littleton, Mary
  • Summary: Requires landlords of one or two-family rental units with a fossil-fuel burning heater or appliance, a fireplace, or other feature, fixture, or element that emits carbon monoxide to install carbon monoxide alarms 10 feet from every bedroom. Makes it unlawful for anyone to tamper with carbon monoxide alarms and adds the expectation of tenet to examine alarms to ensure they are in working order and notify the unit owner if they are not. Requires smoke alarms with tamper-resistant batteries that operate for a minimum of 10 years to replace existing smoke alarms in all in one-family, two-family, and multi-family residential dwellings constructed before July 1, 2021, if existing smoke alarms are more than 10 years old, is expired, is not working, or if tenants residing in the unit change.
  • Senate Status: 02/11/21 - Referred to Senate Commerce & Labor Committee.
  • House Status: 02/22/21 - Referred to House Business & Utilities Subcommittee.

SB549/HB34 PROPERTY & HOUSING: Authorizes THDA to provide affordable housing to displaced tenants.

  • Sponsors: Sen. Kyle, Sara , Rep. Cooper, Barbara
  • Summary: Authorizes the THDA to provide eligible displaced tenants who have been denied requests for housing or housing repairs by local governmental entities with affordable housing and services. Broadly captioned.
  • Senate Status: 02/11/21 - Referred to Senate State & Local Government Committee.
  • House Status: 01/27/21 - Referred to House Property & Planning Subcommittee.

SB680/HB793 PROPERTY & HOUSING: Defines blighted property for purposes of redevelopment projects by housing authorities.

  • Sponsors: Sen. Niceley, Frank , Rep. Carr, Dale
  • Summary: Defines "blighted property" for purposes of redevelopment projects by housing authorities and clarifies that housing authorities may acquire real property without using eminent domain. Authorizes housing authorities to pay more than fair market value for properties that are not blighted but that are in a blighted area; makes other related changes.
  • Senate Status: 02/11/21 - Referred to Senate State & Local Government Committee.
  • House Status: 03/02/21 - Taken off notice in House Civil Justice Subcommittee.

SB803/HB1064 PROPERTY & HOUSING: Renting or leasing to a person who has been previously convicted of a criminal offense.

  • Sponsors: Sen. Yager, Ken , Rep. Curcio, Michael
  • Summary: Establishes that a landlord is not guilty of negligence for renting or leasing to a person who has been previously convicted of a criminal offense solely because the person had been previously convicted. Specifies that evidence that the person has been convicted is not admissible in a court proceeding. Creates exceptions if the landlord knew of the offense or the person was convicted of a violent offense.
  • Senate Status: 02/11/21 - Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee.
  • House Status: 02/22/21 - Referred to House Business & Utilities Subcommittee.

SB814/HB593 PROPERTY & HOUSING: Tennessee Source of Income Protection and Fair Access to Housing Act.

  • Sponsors: Sen. Yarbro, Jeff , Rep. Clemmons, John
  • Summary: Enacts the "Tennessee Source of Income Protection and Fair Access to Housing Act," which prohibits landlords from taking certain actions based solely on a person's income. Includes refusing to rent or lease a property or otherwise making a property unavailable in the list of prohibited actions. Specifies that landlords are allowed to refuse to rent or lease their property based on the prospective rentee's previous conduct, inability to pay rent considering the value of their housing assistance or for other reasons consistent with state and county law. Requires the department of economic and community development and the housing development agency to enforce this act by informing landlords and individuals of their rights.
  • Fiscal Note: (Dated February 9, 2021) NOT SIGNIFICANT
  • Senate Status: 02/11/21 - Referred to Senate Commerce & Labor Committee.
  • House Status: 02/20/21 - Referred to House Business & Utilities Subcommittee.

SB815/HB818 PROPERTY & HOUSING: Types of lessees with whom a housing authority may negotiate payments in lieu of taxes.

  • Sponsors: Sen. Yarbo, Jeff , Rep. Clemmons, John
  • Summary: Expands the definition of a "mixed-finance project" to include a private party on property that is owned by an authority and leased to the party. Authorizes a local governing body to delegate the authority to negotiate and accept payments instead of ad valorem taxes from the housing authority's lessees operating mixed-finance projects to a housing authority. Deletes subsections relating to low-income housing tax credit property.
  • Senate Status: 02/11/21 - Referred to Senate State & Local Government Committee.
  • House Status: 02/20/21 - Referred to House Property & Planning Subcommittee.

SB820/HB919 PROPERTY & HOUSING: Evictions during public health emergency related to COVID-19.

  • Sponsors: Sen. Yarbro, Jeff , Rep. Parkinson, Antonio
  • Summary: Prohibits a landlord from refusing to enter into a rental agreement with a prospective tenant solely based upon the tenant being previously evicted during a public health emergency related to COVID-19. Broadly captioned.
  • Senate Status: 02/11/21 - Referred to Senate Commerce & Labor Committee.
  • House Status: 02/22/21 - Referred to House Business & Utilities Subcommittee.

SB826 PROPERTY & HOUSING: Right to Call for Help Act.

  • Sponsors: Sen. Yarbro, Jeff
  • Summary: Enacts the "Right to Call for Help Act," which establishes a tenant's right to summon emergency services for a victim of a crime or someone in an emergency without limit or penalty from their landlord. Prohibits governmental entities from imposing a penalty against a landlord or tenant for being the victim of a crime or seeking emergency assistance when necessary. Establishes legal remedies for the violation of this act.
  • Senate Status: 02/11/21 - Referred to Senate Commerce & Labor Committee.

SB864/HB1409 LOCAL GOVERNMENT: Incentives that promote the development of single-family housing.

  • Sponsors: Sen. Lundberg, Jon , Rep. Crawford, John
  • Summary: Specifies that in counties recognized as tier three and four by the department of economic and community development that economic development includes providing incentives approved by the local governing body to promote the development of single-family housing.
  • Senate Status: 02/22/21 - Referred to Senate State & Local Government Committee.
  • House Status: 03/01/21 - Referred to House Property & Planning Subcommittee.

SB895/HB716 PROPERTY & HOUSING: Enforcement of regulations in conflict with Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act.

  • Sponsors: Sen. Stevens, John , Rep. Hurt, Chris
  • Summary: Prohibits counties in which the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act applies from enacting or enforcing regulations that conflict with, or are an addition to, the act.
  • Senate Status: 02/22/21 - Referred to Senate Commerce & Labor Committee.
  • House Status: 02/20/21 - Referred to House Business & Utilities Subcommittee.

SB933/HB968 PROPERTY & HOUSING: Incentives that promote the development of single-family housing.

  • Sponsors: Sen. Crowe, Rusty , Rep. Holsclaw, Jr., John
  • Summary: Expands the definition of "economic development" for the purpose of laws governing projects by industrial development corporations to include the promotion of the development of single-family housing. Expands the definition of "project" for the purpose of laws governing projects by industrial development corporations to include the promotion of the development of single-family housing in tier three and tier four counties.
  • Senate Status: 02/22/21 - Referred to Senate State & Local Government Committee.
  • House Status: 02/22/21 - Referred to House Property & Planning Subcommittee.

SB962/HB1555 PROPERTY & HOUSING: Security deposits accepted by landlords.

  • Sponsors: Sen. Yarbro, Jeff , Rep. Mitchell, Bo
  • Summary: Mandates landlords who require a security deposit to offer and accept rental insurance or a bond instead. Specifies requirements for the rental insurance or bond including the coverage provided per claim and the timeframe within which the coverage is effective.
  • Senate Status: 02/22/21 - Referred to Senate Commerce & Labor Committee.
  • House Status: 03/01/21 - Referred to House Business & Utilities Subcommittee.

SB981/HB690 PROPERTY & HOUSING: Landlords to inspect vacated residential property for abandoned animals.

  • Sponsors: Sen. Campbell, Heidi , Rep. Beck, Bill
  • Summary: Requires a landlord or a landlord's designee to inspect their residential property for abandoned animals before a subsequent tenant takes occupancy of the property. Establishes a list of organizations that the landlord can call upon the discovery of an abandoned animal.
  • Senate Status: 02/22/21 - Referred to Senate Commerce & Labor Committee.
  • House Status: 02/20/21 - Referred to House Business & Utilities Subcommittee.

SB1033/HB732 PROPERTY & HOUSING: Electronic notifications required by Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act.

  • Sponsors: Sen. Massey, Becky , Rep. Rudd, Tim
  • Summary: Specifies that if a tenant provides an email address for electronic communication that the landlord must send all electronic notifications to that address, not the one noted in the rental agreement. Broadly captioned.
  • Fiscal Note: (Dated February 9, 2021) NOT SIGNIFICANT
  • Senate Status: 02/22/21 - Referred to Senate Commerce & Labor Committee.
  • House Status: 02/11/21 - Caption bill held on House clerk's desk.

SB1160/HB1399 PROPERTY & HOUSING: Authority of county legislative body in Hamilton County to rezone properties conditionally or based upon contract.

  • Sponsors: Sen. Niceley, Frank , Rep. Campbell, Scotty
  • Summary: Removes the authority of the county legislative body in Hamilton County to rezone properties conditionally or based upon contract, where the agreed conditions are designed to ameliorate injuries created by the rezoning to surrounding property interests or to county interests. Broadly captioned.
  • Senate Status: 02/22/21 - Referred to Senate State & Local Government Committee.
  • House Status: 02/25/21 - Caption bill held on House clerk's desk.

SB1262/HB1172 TAXES BUSINESS: Time for collection of privilege tax on residential development.

  • Sponsors: Sen. Reeves, Shane , Rep. Baum, Charlie
  • Summary: Authorizes local governing bodies to pass a resolution or ordinance requiring 50 percent of the tax on residential development to be paid at the time of application for a building permit and the remaining 50 percent of the tax to be paid prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy.
  • Senate Status: 02/22/21 - Referred to Senate State & Local Government Committee.
  • House Status: 02/24/21 - Referred to House Property & Planning Subcommittee.

SB1304/HB1328 UTILITIES: Cutting off of service by a utility.

  • Sponsors: Sen. Yarbro, Jeff , Rep. Harris, Torrey
  • Summary: Prohibits a utility from cutting off an existing service at an address to establish a new service at the same address without the utility first contacting the registered customer with the existing service at the address and confirms the utility has the correct address; this would apply to all counties. Broadly captioned.
  • Senate Status: 02/22/21 - Referred to Senate State & Local Government Committee.
  • House Status: 02/24/21 - Referred to House Business & Utilities Subcommittee.

SB1307/HB1361: PROPERTY & HOUSING: Right to Call for Help Act.

  • Sponsors: Sen. Yarbro, Jeff , Rep. Mannis, Eddie
  • Summary: Establishes that residents and tenets have the right to call law enforcement or emergency assistance if they are calling on behalf of victims of abuse or crime or are victims themselves. This right may not be waived, and landlords are prohibited from limiting or restricting that right or penalizing tenants for practicing that right. Prohibits government entities from enacting or enforcing ordinances that would impose a penalty on any party for calling law enforcement or emergency assistance.
  • Senate Status: 03/02/21 - Senate Commerce & Labor Committee deferred to 03/09/21.
  • House Status: 03/01/21 - Referred to House Business & Utilities Subcommittee.

SB1381/HB1127 PROPERTY & HOUSING: Use of residential property as a long-term property - prohibitions by HOAs.

  • Sponsors: Sen. Bell, Mike , Rep. Farmer, Andrew
  • Summary: Requires homeowner's associations to provide a record of the votes cast in a vote to amend a declaration that prohibits or effectively prohibits the use of residential property as long-term rental property upon request. Establishes that owners of a property subject to a declaration that prohibits the use of residential property as long-term rental property have a right to use the property as a long-term rental property until they transfer it. Requires business entities that own residential property that is subject to a declaration to send the homeowner's association written notice of the change in business contact information and the new owner of the property within 30 business days of the declaration.
  • Senate Status: 02/22/21 - Referred to Senate Commerce & Labor Committee.
  • House Status: 03/02/21 - House Property & Planning Subcommittee recommended. Sent to full committee.

Detailed bill information can be found by entering the bill number on the Tennessee General Assembly's Legislation page.