Tennessee legislation · 114th General Assembly
Tennessee SB1590: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 11, Chapter 13, relative to scenic rivers.
Status: Chaptered, May 18, 2026
Fiscal Summary NOT SIGNIFICANT Bill Summary Present law established three classes of scenic rivers. This bill adds to the list of rivers and river segments that are included in a Class II pastoral river area. Present law authorizes the commissioner of TDEC to establish the boundary for a scenic river. For a Class II area, the boundary must not exceed 450 feet from the river bank on each side. Under present law, if the commissioner of TDEC determines to establish boundaries on a certain segment of the Duck River, the commissioner is required to conduct a community outreach program. If a proposed boundary area along the Duck River includes private property, the state must obtain notarized consent from the landowners prior to the establishment of boundaries. This bill applies the requirements for community outreach and notarized consent of private property owners to all new proposed scenic river area boundaries. Present law limits land uses allowed within the boundary of a Class II area to: (1) The continuation of present agricultural practices; (2) The construction of farm-use buildings that are compatible with the maintenance of scenic vistas from the stream and its banks; (3) The construction and operation of sewer treatment facilities, water treatment facilities, and water harvesting projects by municipalities and public utilities within the watershed, either individually or collectively, and regional water resource projects identified by the Tennessee Duck River development agency and the TVA in their regional water supply plans and studies; and (4) Public access through new road construction, as well as landings and other structures related to recreational use of the scenic river area; provided, that there is no other such access within seven river miles in either direction. Present law
What the bill says
From the amended text:
Amendment No. 1 to HB1510 Marsh Signature of Sponsor AMEND S e n ate Bill No. 1590* House Bill No. 1510 by adding the following section immediately preceding the effective date section and renumbering the subsequent section accordingly: SECTION __. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 11-13-111(b), is amended by adding the following as a new subdivision (3): (3) Subdivision (b)(1) does not prohibit construction, operation, or expansion of a landfill that has a valid landfill permit on the effective date of this act, and that is located within two (2) miles of the center of: (A) The portion of the Buffalo River that lies within Wayne, Perry, Humphreys, and Lewis counties; (B) The segment of Beaverdam Creek beginning with the confluence of Brush Fork and Piney Fork in Hickman County and ending with its confluence with the Duck River in Hickman County; (C) The segment of Lick Creek beginning with the confluence of North Fork Lick Creek and South Fork Lick Creek in Williamson County and ending with its confluence with the Duck River in Hickman County; (D) The segment of the Piney River beginning with the confluence of the West Piney River and the East Piney River in Dickson County and ending with its confluence with the Duck River in Hickman County; (E) The segment of Swan Creek beginning with …