TennesseeTennessee sets up a recycling market office and advisory council
Tennessee’s environment department must set up an office to connect recyclable materials with buyers, using available fund money, and a council to advise state leaders.
What it does
The Department of Environment and Conservation must set up an office to share recycling market information and connect available materials with industries, using money available in the solid waste management fund.
A recycling advisory council studies markets, supports recycling efforts, and recommends actions to state leaders. It can advise but cannot require agencies or local governments to follow its recommendations.
Argument forRecycling programs and buyers could find markets for usable materials through shared directories, price information, and help connecting materials with interested industries.
Argument againstBecause the council can only advise, it may be unable to get agencies or local governments to adopt its recycling recommendations.
More detail
The Department of Environment and Conservation must establish an office that gathers and shares recycling market information and helps connect available materials with interested industries. The office may support public, private, for-profit, and nonprofit recycling programs, local governments, and other entities working on recycling markets. The department must use money available in the solid waste management fund. The office must keep private entities’ proprietary, confidential, or competitively sensitive information confidential. The office provisions take effect July 1, 2026.
The recycling market development and diversion advisory council advises the department, governor, and legislature on recycling markets. The governor appoints members from private industry, recycling trade groups, local governments, and conservation organizations. State officials and legislators also serve. The council is advisory only and cannot regulate, charge fees or taxes, or make rules. Members serve without pay but may be reimbursed for necessary expenses. The department provides staff support using existing resources. The council must send its first report by December 31, 2026, and annual reports by December 31 each year after that. It ends June 30, 2030, unless the legislature continues it.
Where do you stand?
Choose your position
Tell your reps
Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.
Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 27Pub. Ch. 1096Latest
- May 27Effective date(s) 05/22/2026, 07/01/2026
- May 22Signed by Governor Bill Lee.Became Law
- May 11Transmitted to Governor for action.To Governor
- May 7Signed by H. SpeakerMajor
- Apr 30Enrolled and ready for signaturesMinor
- Apr 30Signed by Senate SpeakerMajor
- Apr 22Concurred, Ayes 32, Nays 0 (Amendment 2 - HA1205)Major
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: Motion to Concur House Amendment #2 4/22/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: Motion to Concur House Amendment # 3 4/22/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 22Concurred, Ayes 32, Nays 0 (Amendment 3 - HA1223)Major
- Apr 21Subst. for comp. HB.Major
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR MOTION TO ADOPT AMENDMENT # 3 BY TODD AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/21/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR MOTION TO CONSIDER AMENDMENT # 3 BY TODD AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/21/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/21/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 21Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - HA0777)Minor
- Apr 21H. adopted am. (Amendment 2 - HA1205)Major
- Apr 21H. adopted am. (Amendment 3 - HA1223)Major
- Apr 21Passed H., as am., Ayes 78, Nays 13, PNV 0Passed House
- Apr 21Placed on Senate Message Calendar for 4/22/2026
- Mar 19Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.
- Mar 16Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0698)
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: as Amended Third Consideration 3/16/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 16Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 31, Nays 0Passed Senate
- Mar 16Engrossed; ready for transmission to HouseMinor
- Mar 16Sponsor(s) Added.Minor
- Mar 13Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 3/16/2026
- Mar 11Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 9, Nays 0 PNV 0
- Vote recorded SENATE ENERGY, AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE: Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 9, Nays 0 PNV 0 3/11/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 5Placed on Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee calendar for 3/11/2026
- Mar 4Action deferred in Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee to 3/11/2026
- Feb 25Placed on Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee calendar for 3/4/2026
- Jan 22Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources CommitteeMinor
- Jan 21Introduced, Passed on First ConsiderationMinor
- Jan 20Filed for introductionIntroduced
Environment & EnergyEconomy & Jobs