TennesseeState law bars local rules and fees for retailer shopping carts
Retailers' carts supplied for customers and employees are covered by state rules, while local governments cannot require business cart policies or charge related fees or fines.
What it does
State law reserves regulation of retailer shopping carts to the state. Local governments cannot require businesses to adopt cart policies or impose cart-related fees or fines.
Argument forRetailers may face one set of statewide cart rules because local governments cannot regulate how shopping carts are bought, used, stored, or moved.
Argument againstLocal officials may have fewer ways to address cart problems because they cannot require business cart policies or impose related fees or fines.
More detail
State law reserves shopping cart regulation to the state and bars local governments from adopting cart rules. This covers counties, metropolitan governments, municipalities, and their agencies, departments, and officials. A shopping cart is a cart or similar device that a retailer supplies and owns for customers or employees to move merchandise. The law took effect when it became law on May 22, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 27Pub. Ch. 1085Latest
- May 27Effective date(s) 05/22/2026
- May 22Signed by Governor Bill Lee.Became Law
- May 11Transmitted to Governor for action.To Governor
- May 7Signed by H. SpeakerMajor
- Apr 30Signed by Senate SpeakerMajor
- Apr 27Enrolled and ready for signaturesMinor
- Apr 21Subst. for comp. HB.Major
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/21/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR PREVIOUS QUESTION PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/21/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 21Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - HA1031)Minor
- Apr 21Passed H., Ayes 76, Nays 11, PNV 2Passed House
- Apr 13Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.
- Apr 9Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0890)
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: as Amended Third Consideration 4/9/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 9Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 23, Nays 4Passed Senate
- Apr 9Sponsor(s) Added.Minor
- Apr 9Engrossed; ready for transmission to HouseMinor
- Apr 7Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/9/2026
- Mar 25Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/25/2026
- Vote recorded SENATE STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE: Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 9, Nays 0 PNV 0 3/25/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 25Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 9, Nays 0 PNV 0
- Mar 24Action deferred in Senate State and Local Government Committee to 3/25/2026
- Mar 24Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/25/2026
- Mar 18Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/24/2026
- Mar 17Action deferred in Senate State and Local Government Committee to 3/24/2026
- Mar 11Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/17/2026
- Mar 10Action deferred in Senate State and Local Government Committee to 3/17/2026
- Mar 3Action deferred in Senate State and Local Government Committee to 3/10/2026
- Mar 3Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/10/2026
- Feb 24Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/3/2026
- Feb 18Sponsor(s) Added.Minor
- Jan 22Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate State and Local Government CommitteeMinor
- Jan 21Introduced, Passed on First ConsiderationMinor
- Jan 15Filed for introductionIntroduced
Government & Ethics