TennesseeTennessee limits street closures that block tourism zone businesses
Tennessee local governments must preserve business access in tourism development zones, with temporary closures allowed for emergency responder access, permitted events, construction work, and purposes allowed by state rules.
What it does
Local governments cannot block streets in tourism development zones in ways that disrupt businesses, deliveries, or passenger transportation. Temporary exceptions cover emergency responder access, permitted events, construction work, and closures allowed by state rules.
State tourism officials must set uniform rules for tourism development zones that protect access to businesses and public property and regulate unlawful loitering, sitting, camping, or sleeping.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol shares policing authority with local agencies inside tourism development zones. Troopers have authority to make arrests, carry firearms, and investigate crimes there.
Argument forLimits on street closures could help businesses receive deliveries and let customers reach shops using public transportation, taxis, or ride services.
Argument againstRules targeting unlawful sitting, camping, or sleeping could expose people without housing to enforcement aimed at keeping public spaces clear.
More detail
Local governments cannot block streets or other travel routes in ways that disrupt businesses, prevent deliveries, or prevent passenger pickups and drop-offs. The restriction covers cities, towns, counties, and metropolitan governments within Tennessee tourism development zones. Passenger access covers taxis, public transportation, and ride services. Temporary closures are allowed to give first responders exclusive access during emergencies, for locally permitted events, for construction or other work on infrastructure, buildings, or utilities, and under the required state rules. The street-access provisions took effect August 1, 2026.
The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development must write rules designating tourism development zones as economic protection zones to protect and encourage economic activity. Rules must apply uniformly across Tennessee tourism development zones and help tourists and residents reach businesses and public property. They must regulate unlawful loitering, sitting, camping, or sleeping to keep entrances and public spaces clear for traffic. Tourism officials must consult the Tennessee departments of Economic and Community Development, Environment and Conservation, and Safety and Homeland Security and follow the state's rulemaking process. The law preserves the Tennessee Department of Transportation's authority over state highway travel routes and other activities it regulates. The law took effect for rulemaking when it became law on May 19, 2026. For all other purposes, it took effect August 1, 2026.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol shares law enforcement authority with local police inside tourism development zones. This authority applies within Tennessee tourism development zones, even if another law says otherwise. The Highway Patrol provision took effect August 1, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 26Pub. Ch. 1024Latest
- May 26Effective date(s) 05/19/2026, 08/01/2026
- May 19Signed by Governor Bill Lee.Became Law
- May 7Transmitted to Governor for his action.To Governor
- May 5Signed by Senate SpeakerMajor
- Apr 30Enrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker.Minor
- Apr 30Signed by H. SpeakerMajor
- Apr 23Requested S. to return.
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: MOTION TO ADOPT CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT 2 4/23/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: Motion to Adopt Conference Committee Report 4/23/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 23Senate returned.
- Apr 23Motion to lift from table adopted CCR 1
- Apr 23Motion to reconsider CCR 1 adopted.
- Apr 23Conference Committee Report 1 reconsidered, withdrawn.
- Apr 23Majority CCR 2 Adopted, Ayes 68, Nays 13, PNV 0Major
- Apr 23Conference Committee report #2 adopted, Ayes 27, Nays 4, PNV 1
- Apr 22Conference Committee appointed (Watson, Jackson, Akbari)
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: MESSAGE CALENDAR 2 MOTION TO ADOPT CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT 4/22/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 22H. Placed on Message Calendar #2 for 4/22/26
- Apr 22Conf. comm. report adopted, Ayes 72, Nays 16 PNV 0
- Apr 21Placed on Senate Message Calendar for 4/22/2026
- Apr 20Placed on Senate Message Calendar for 4/22/2026
- Apr 16Senate refused to recede from amendment
- Apr 16H. Placed on Message Calendar 3 for 4-16-26
- Apr 16H. refused to recede from its non-concurrence
- Apr 16Conf. comm. appointed. (Rep. Stinnett, Vaughan, R. Jones, Shaw, Hawk)
- Apr 15Placed on Senate Message Calendar for 4/16/2026
- Apr 14H. nonconcurred in S. am. no. 1
- Apr 14Placed on Senate Message Calendar for 4/16/2026
- Apr 13H. Placed on Message Calendar
- Apr 9Received from House, Passed on First ConsiderationMinor
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: as Amended Third Consideration 4/9/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 9Senate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.Major
- Apr 9Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0894)
- Apr 9Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 26, Nays 4Passed Senate
- Apr 6H. adopted am. (Amendment 1 - HA0793)Major
- Vote recorded HOUSE CALENDAR & RULES COMMITTEE: H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/6/2026 4/2/2026 Failed. Result: fail.Lower
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR PREVIOUS QUESTION AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/6/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/6/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 6H. adopted am. (Amendment 2 - HA0898)Major
- Apr 6Sponsor(s) Added.Minor
- Apr 6Passed H., as am., Ayes 70, Nays 23, PNV 1Passed House
- Apr 6Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.Minor
- Apr 2H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/6/2026
- Apr 1Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/2/2026
- Mar 30Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules CommitteeMinor
- Vote recorded HOUSE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS COMMITTEE: Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules Committee 3/30/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 25Placed on cal. Government Operations Committee for 3/30/2026
- Mar 24Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Government Operations CommitteeMinor
- Vote recorded HOUSE STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE: Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Government Operations Committee 3/24/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 18Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to State & Local Government CommitteeMinor
- Vote recorded HOUSE CITIES & COUNTIES SUBCOMMITTEE: Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to State & Local Government Committee 3/18/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 18Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 3/24/2026
- Mar 12Placed on s/c cal Cities & Counties Subcommittee for 3/18/2026
- Feb 5P2C, ref. to State & Local Government CommitteeMinor
- Feb 5Assigned to s/c Cities & Counties SubcommitteeMinor
- Feb 4Intro., P1C.Minor
- Feb 2Filed for introductionIntroduced
Economy & JobsTransportationPublic Safety