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SB 1352

Environment and Conservation, Department of - As introduced, requires the department to create and maintain an informational tool on the department's website that provides data related to the presence of facilities that are required to submit toxic release inventory data to the environmental protection agency. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 59; Title 60; Title 68 and Title 69.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Raumesh Akbari

Tennessee must create public online tool displaying toxic facility data already reported to EPA, improving community access to environmental risk information.

Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/20/2026
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Bill Summary · SB 1352

Legislative bill overview

SB 1352 requires Tennessee's Department of Environment and Conservation to create and maintain a public-facing online tool displaying data about facilities required to report toxic chemical releases to the federal Environmental Protection Agency. The bill amends multiple sections of Tennessee code to establish this transparency mechanism and related regulatory frameworks.

Why is this important

Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) data already exists at the federal level but may not be readily accessible to Tennessee residents in a centralized, user-friendly format. This bill would lower barriers for communities, activists, journalists, and policymakers to identify industrial facilities in their areas that handle hazardous materials, enabling informed decision-making about environmental health and land use.

Potential points of contention

  • Business compliance costs: Creating and maintaining a detailed public database requires state resources; some argue this burden falls on the Department when facilities already report to EPA
  • Data accuracy and liability: States maintaining databases face questions about who's responsible if information is outdated, incomplete, or misinterpreted by the public
  • Facility competitiveness concerns: Some industries worry that easily accessible toxicity data could trigger community opposition to operations or affect property values, potentially disadvantaging in-state manufacturers

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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