Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

Tennessee Senate Bill SB0880 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1
2	2	HOUSE BILL 896
3	3	By Todd
4	4
5	5	SENATE BILL 880
6	6	By Reeves
7	7
8	8
9	9	SB0880
10	10	002240
11	11	- 1 -
12	12
13	13	AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4,
14	14	Chapter 5, relative to regulatory actions.
15	15
16	16	BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
17	17	SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 5, is amended by adding the
18	18	following new section:
19	19	§ 4-5-232. Sound science in regulations act.
20	20	(a) An agency shall not disseminate, propose, or finalize any regulatory action
21	21	by promulgating rules or a similar action for a substance, mixture, or chemical related to
22	22	drinking water, water pollution control, hazardous substances, contaminated site
23	23	remediation, air quality, or solid or hazardous waste handling unless:
24	24	(1) All scientific and technical information relied on to support the
25	25	regulatory action is based upon the best available science; and
26	26	(2) With respect to human health, the best available science indicates
27	27	that exposure to the substance, mixture, or chemical that exceeds the level
28	28	proposed in the regulatory action is causally linked to manifest bodily harm in
29	29	humans.
30	30	(b) For purposes of this section, the term:
31	31	(1) "Best available science" means science that:
32	32	(A) Is reliable, unbiased, and reasonably applied to the agency's
33	33	regulatory action;
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35	35
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37	37
38	38	(B) Maximizes the quality, objectivity, and integrity of information,
39	39	including statistical information; human, animal, and other relevant
40	40	scientific studies; and human health risk-based assessments; and
41	41	(C) Involves the use of supporting studies that are:
42	42	(i) Conducted in accordance with sound and objective
43	43	scientific practices utilizing data collected by generally accepted
44	44	methods or best available methods;
45	45	(ii) Subject to independent verification; and
46	46	(iii) Published in a refereed journal;
47	47	(2) "Refereed journal" means a publication that:
48	48	(A) Uses an editorial board or critical review panel of subject
49	49	matter experts in the relevant scientific or technical disciplines who
50	50	critically and objectively assess the methodology and analysis of
51	51	submitted scientific studies in a nonpartisan fashion and provide editorial
52	52	services prior to publication;
53	53	(B) Takes meaningful steps to avoid biases in its scientific review
54	54	process; and
55	55	(C) Does not charge publication or submission fees to authors;
56	56	and
57	57	(3) "Regulatory action" means a risk, exposure, or health advisory;
58	58	hazard assessment, health-based guidance level, enforceable drinking water
59	59	standard, or hazardous substance or chemical of concern remediation standard;
60	60	a hazardous substance, solid waste, or hazardous waste designation or
61	61	determination; criteria document; standard; limitation; public notice; regulation or
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65	65
66	66	legislative rule; regulatory impact analysis; guidance document; or other similar
67	67	administrative action or scientific or technical assessment or conclusion.
68	68	(c) This section only applies to agency regulatory actions that are adopted on or
69	69	after July 1, 2025, and that are more stringent than any applicable federal regulatory
70	70	action or adopted in the absence of a federal regulatory action.
71	71	(d) This section must not be construed to impact:
72	72	(1) Any regulatory action by an agency in existence before July 1, 2025;
73	73	(2) Any regulatory action by an agency in furtherance of federal agency
74	74	primacy requirements; or
75	75	(3) Any regulatory action by an agency that is the substantive equivalent
76	76	to a federal regulation.
77	77	SECTION 2. This act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it.