Bill > HB2070

This bill, known as the "Tennessee Energy Freedom Act," establishes new provisions within Tennessee law to protect the rights of individuals and companies engaged in activities related to coal, oil, and natural gas. It defines key terms such as "covered activities" (exploration, production, sale, and use of fossil fuels in Tennessee) and "covered emissions" (carbon dioxide, methane, or nitrous oxide released from these activities). The act declares it the public policy of Tennessee to protect the right to engage in and invest in these energy sectors, stating that no legal liability or court-ordered injunction can be imposed for covered emissions unless they violate specific federal environmental laws like the Clean Air Act, or state laws necessary to comply with federal law, in which case only federal law will govern. Furthermore, it restricts governments and private parties from imposing liability for covered emissions unless it's solely based on "in-jurisdiction products," meaning fossil fuel products that were actually shipped into the relevant state's boundaries. The bill also outlines a process for determining the amount of covered emissions, allowing individuals or companies to seek a court declaration of their emissions, with a provision that if emissions are less than 10% of a calculated baseline, they can be presumed to be zero. This act aims to prevent discrimination against the fossil fuel industry and ensure that any legal actions are based on specific, federally recognized environmental violations and limited to products within the state's jurisdiction, taking effect on July 1, 2026.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Billinfo/default.aspx?BillNumber=HB2070&ga=114