Tennessee Senate Bill SB1650

Tennessee 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/8/24

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 29, Part 2; Section 12-2-112; Title 54 and Title 55, relative to the development of user fee facility projects.

Impact

The passage of SB1650 will provide an enhanced framework for local governments in terms of participating in decisions regarding transportation infrastructure projects that could impose user fees. This amended process is expected to lead to more collaboration between state and local authorities, potentially resulting in projects that better reflect local community needs. By necessitating local approval before state action, the bill seeks to promote greater alignment between state transportation objectives and local priorities.

Summary

SB1650 is a legislative act aimed at amending various sections of the Tennessee Code Annotated to facilitate the development of user fee facility projects. The bill modifies existing laws by defining local governments and altering the approval process for transportation improvement plans that include user fee facilities. Specifically, the changes require that proposed user fee facility projects receive prior approval from the local governing bodies before further steps can be taken by the state department responsible for transportation. This aims to ensure that local governments have a say in projects that may affect their municipalities directly.

Contention

Despite its collaborative intent, some points of contention surround SB1650. Critics may argue that adding a layer of local approval could lengthen the timeline for necessary infrastructure projects and complicate the approval process. Additionally, the requirement for local bodies to approve user fee facilities could meet resistance if local governments perceive such fees as burdensome or inequitable. This tension indicates that while the bill aims to enhance local input, it may not align with the objectives of speeding up necessary transportation improvements.