Bill > SB2560

This bill, known as the "Tennessee Energy Freedom Act," establishes new provisions within Tennessee law to protect the right to engage in activities related to coal, oil, and natural gas. It defines key terms such as "covered activities" (exploration, production, transportation, sale, manufacturing, refining, combustion, or other use of coal, oil, and natural gas in Tennessee, as well as related statements about emissions) and "covered emissions" (carbon dioxide, methane, or nitrous oxide released from these activities). A central provision states that no liability or injunctive relief can be sought for covered emissions unless the activities are proven to violate federal environmental laws like the Clean Air Act, or a state law necessary to comply with federal law, in which case only federal law applies. The bill also limits legal actions by governments or private parties regarding covered emissions, requiring that any liability be calculated solely based on "in-jurisdiction products," meaning fossil fuel products that were actually shipped into the relevant state's territory. Furthermore, it creates a process for individuals and companies to seek a court declaration to establish a definitive record of their covered emissions, with a provision allowing for a presumption of zero emissions under certain conditions, and mandates that courts expedite these cases. The act is intended to apply retroactively and extraterritorially, and its provisions are severable.