TennesseeRiver basin authority provides limited support in four Tennessee counties
With local approval, Perry, Stewart, Houston, and Humphreys counties can receive technical help, engineering services, and project management support from the West Tennessee River Basin Authority.
What it does
Counties can join West Tennessee River Basin Authority programs with local approval. Services in Perry, Stewart, Houston, and Humphreys counties are limited to technical help, engineering, and project management.
Counties can fund authority projects and programs. They may tax land and buildings within their part of the service area that they determine benefit from those efforts.
Argument forWith county approval, engineering help and project support could help Perry, Stewart, Houston, and Humphreys counties plan and manage river projects.
Argument againstCounties choosing property taxes to fund authority projects could raise tax bills for owners whose land or buildings benefit.
More detail
The West Tennessee River Basin Authority serves the counties listed in the law. The service area covers 24 Tennessee counties, including Perry, Stewart, Houston, and Humphreys. Counties may choose to participate in authority programs through a majority vote of their governing body. In Perry, Stewart, Houston, and Humphreys counties, the authority may provide only technical help, engineering services, and project management support. The law took effect on May 13, 2026, when the governor signed it.
The authority can obtain county money for projects and programs, and counties may impose property taxes to fund them. County money can pay for planning, buying land and facilities, and building and running projects particularly needed by those counties. Counties are allowed, but are not required, to impose these taxes. These taxes apply within the county’s portion of the service area to land and buildings the county determines benefit from the authority’s improvements and programs.
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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 18Pub. Ch. 966Latest
- May 18Effective date(s) 05/13/2026
- May 13Signed by Governor Bill Lee.Became Law
- May 5Transmitted to Governor for action.To Governor
- May 1Signed by H. SpeakerMajor
- Apr 23Signed by Senate SpeakerMajor
- Apr 23Enrolled and ready for signaturesMinor
- Apr 20Passed Senate, Ayes 32, Nays 0Passed House
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: Motion to Adopt 4/20/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 20Engrossed; ready for transmission to HouseMinor
- Apr 20Subst. for comp. HB.Major
- Apr 20Passed H., Ayes 96, Nays 0, PNV 0Passed Senate
- Apr 17Placed on Senate Consent Calendar 2 for 4/20/2026
- Apr 15Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee
- Vote recorded SENATE FINANCE, WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE: Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee 4/15/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 14Sponsor(s) Added.Minor
- Apr 14Action deferred in Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee to 4/15/2026
- Apr 14Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/15/2026
- Apr 9Rule #83(8) Suspended, to be heard in Senate Finance, Ways & Means Committee on 4/14/2026
- Apr 9Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/14/2026
- 2025
- Apr 17Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/21/2025
- Apr 14Rule #83(8) Suspended, to be heard in Senate Finance, Ways & Means Committee on 4/15/2025
- Apr 14Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/15/2025
- Mar 26Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee
- Vote recorded SENATE ENERGY, AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE: Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee 3/26/2025 Passed. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 19Action deferred in Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee to 3/26/2025
- Mar 19Placed on Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee calendar for 3/26/2025
- Mar 13Placed on Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee calendar for 3/19/2025
- Feb 12Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources CommitteeMinor
- Feb 10Introduced, Passed on First ConsiderationMinor
- Jan 30Filed for introductionIntroduced
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