TennesseeTennessee law places emergency management under a state department
Starting July 1, 2026, a state commissioner will lead Tennessee’s emergency-management department and coordinate state, local, and federal response work under the governor.
What it does
Tennessee law provides for a state emergency-management department led by a commissioner who coordinates the state’s emergency work.
When hazardous materials escape their container during transport, the carrier must report the incident as soon as practicable; anyone else who knows about it must report it too.
People in emergency camps or shelters organized or maintained by federal, state, or local emergency officials may possess a mobile telephone.
Argument forA state commissioner could help local groups and other governments coordinate disaster response and the use of state resources.
Argument againstCarriers and people who know about a hazardous-material release could face added reporting work, even when they are not responsible for the spill.
More detail
Tennessee law provides for a Department of the Tennessee Emergency Management Authority led by a commissioner. The commissioner leads the department under the governor’s direction and control and coordinates emergency-management groups in Tennessee. The act takes effect July 1, 2026.
A person transporting placarded hazardous materials must report a release from the container to the Department of TEMA as soon as practicable. This applies when hazardous materials are released from their container during transport. Anyone else who knows about the accident or incident must also report it. The act takes effect July 1, 2026.
A person housed in a covered camp or shelter may possess a mobile telephone. This applies to people staying in a qualifying emergency camp or shelter. The camp or shelter must be organized or maintained by federal, state, or local emergency-management authorities, or provided through an action they take. The act takes effect July 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 27Pub. Ch. 1045Latest
- May 27Effective date(s) 07/01/2026
- May 22Signed by Governor Bill Lee.Became Law
- May 11Transmitted to Governor for his action.To Governor
- May 5Signed by Senate SpeakerMajor
- Apr 30Signed by H. SpeakerMajor
- Apr 28Enrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker.Minor
- Apr 22H. concurred in S. am. no. 4 Ayes 84, Nays 1 PNV 5
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: MESSAGE CALENDAR CONCUR IN SENATE AMENDMENT # 4 4/22/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 21Senate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.Major
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: as Amended Third Consideration 4/21/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 21Amendment withdrawn. (Amendment 2 - SA0849)
- Apr 21Amendment withdrawn. (Amendment 3 - SA0987)
- Apr 21Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 4 - SA1034)
- Apr 21Amendment withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - SA0740)
- Apr 21Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 32, Nays 0Passed Senate
- Apr 15Received from House, Passed on First ConsiderationMinor
- Apr 14Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - HA0738)Minor
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/14/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 14Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 2 - HA0746)Minor
- Apr 14H. adopted am. (Amendment 3 - HA1064)Major
- Apr 14Passed H., as am., Ayes 85, Nays 9, PNV 1Passed House
- Apr 14Sponsor(s) Added.Minor
- Apr 14Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.Minor
- Apr 13
- Vote recorded HOUSE CALENDAR & RULES COMMITTEE: H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/13/2026 4/9/2026. Result: fail.Lower
- Apr 9H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/13/2026
- Apr 8Sponsor(s) Added.Minor
- Apr 8Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/9/2026
- Apr 7Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules CommitteeMinor
- Vote recorded HOUSE FINANCE, WAYS, AND MEANS COMMITTEE: Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee 4/7/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 1Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means CommitteeMinor
- Vote recorded HOUSE FINANCE, WAYS, AND MEANS SUBCOMMITTEE: Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee 4/1/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 1Placed on cal. Finance, Ways, and Means Committee for 4/7/2026
- Mar 25Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/1/2026
- Mar 23Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means CommitteeMinor
- Vote recorded HOUSE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS COMMITTEE: Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee 3/23/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 23Assigned to s/c Finance, Ways, and Means SubcommitteeMinor
- Mar 18Rec. 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 3/18/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 18Placed on cal. Government Operations Committee for 3/23/2026
- Mar 18Sponsor(s) Added.Minor
- Mar 11Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 3/18/2026
- Mar 10Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to State & Local Government CommitteeMinor
- Vote recorded HOUSE DEPARTMENTS & AGENCIES SUBCOMMITTEE: Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to State & Local Government Committee 3/10/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 4Placed on s/c cal Departments & Agencies Subcommittee for 3/10/2026
- Feb 24Ref. to State & Local Government Committee - Government Operations for ReviewMinor
- Feb 24Assigned to s/c Departments & Agencies SubcommitteeMinor
- Feb 5P2C, caption bill, held on desk - pending amdt.
- Feb 4Intro., P1C.Minor
- Feb 3Filed for introductionIntroduced
Public SafetyEmergency Management