Tennessee legislation · 114th General Assembly
Tennessee SB2157: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 5; Title 6; Title 7 and Title 67, relative to tourism development zones.
Status: Chaptered, May 26, 2026
Fiscal Summary NOT SIGNIFICANT Bill Summary ON APRIL 6, 2026, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENTS #1 AND 2, AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 2366, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 makes the following changes: Changes the definition for the term "tourism development zone" to have the same meaning as the one in present law. Removes the prohibition for a local government to ingress or egress into a tourism development zone by private or commercial vehicles or pedestrian traffic. Authorizes a local government to temporarily prohibit ingress or egress or block streets or other rights-of-way into or within a tourism development zone, in accordance with applicable rules described below. Provides that notwithstanding another law, the Tennessee highway patrol has concurrent law enforcement authority with local law enforcement agencies, including the power to arrest, carry a firearm, and investigate crime within a tourism development zone in this state. Requires the department of tourist development, in consultation with the department of economic and community development, department of environment and conservation, and department of safety and homeland security, to promulgate rules designating tourism development zones in this state as economic protection zones for the purposes of protecting and stimulating economic activity within the tourism development zones. Requires the rules to: (i) apply uniformly to tourism development zones in this state, (ii) regulate ingress and egress into businesses and public property in a manner that facilitates access to tourists and residents, and (iii) regulate unlawful loitering, sitting, camping, or sleeping on public property in a manner that maintains ingress and egress into places of business and maintains clear and unobstructed streets, alleys, sidewalks, parks, plazas, parking lots, driv
What the bill says
From the amended text:
Senate State and Local Government 1 Amendment No. 1 to SB2157 Briggs Signature of Sponsor AMEND S e n ate Bill No. 2157* House Bill No. 2366 by deleting all language after the enacting clause and substituting: SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 7, is amended by adding the following as a new chapter: 7-92-101. Chapter definitions. As used in this chapter: (1) "Local government" means an incorporated city or town, county, or metropolitan form of government; and (2) "Tourism development zone" means a geographical area within the jurisdiction of a local government that has been designated as a tourism development zone under chapter 88 of this title, or by ordinance or resolution of a local government. 7-92-102. Tourism development zone access. (a) Except as otherwise authorized pursuant to subsection (b), a local government shall not block streets or other rights-of-way within a tourism development zone in a manner that disrupts the operation of businesses within the tourism development zone; prohibits the delivery of goods, services, merchandise, food, and beverages to businesses and patrons within the tourism development zone; or prohibits taxis, public transportation vehicles, or ride sharing companies from picking up or dropping off persons within the tourism development zone. (b) A local government may temporarily prohibit ingress or egress or block streets or other rights-of-way into or within …