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SB 2052

Planning, Public - As introduced, authorizes the City of Clarksville and Montgomery County to participate in the Tennessee local land bank program. - Amends TCA Title 13, Chapter 30.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026)

SB 2052 lets Clarksville and Montgomery County establish land banks to acquire and redevelop abandoned properties, addressing blight while raising questions about funding, property rights, and management effectiveness.

Filed for introduction
#planning #public
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Bill Summary · SB 2052

Legislative bill overview

SB 2052 authorizes the City of Clarksville and Montgomery County to participate in Tennessee's local land bank program, which allows municipalities to acquire, hold, and manage abandoned or tax-delinquent properties. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Title 13, Chapter 30 to grant these two jurisdictions authority to establish and operate a land bank entity.

Why is this important

Land banks are tools used to combat blight and vacant property problems by consolidating ownership of distressed real estate, facilitating redevelopment, and returning properties to productive use. For Clarksville and Montgomery County, this authorization could unlock economic development opportunities, increase tax revenues from rehabilitated properties, and improve community conditions in areas with concentrations of abandoned buildings.

Potential points of contention

  • Property acquisition costs and funding sources – The bill authorizes participation but doesn't specify how the land bank will be funded; taxpayers may question whether public money should purchase private property even if tax-delinquent
  • Eminent domain concerns – Land bank programs sometimes involve acquiring properties through legal mechanisms that may affect property owners' rights, raising due process questions
  • Management and accountability – Questions about oversight, staffing costs, and whether the land bank will successfully redevelop properties or simply transfer public burden to maintain vacant sites

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

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