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SB 1322

Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) - As introduced, requires TEMA to annually submit by February 1 of each year, a report to the governor, speaker of the senate, and speaker of the house of representatives detailing recovery efforts engaged in by the agency during the prior calendar year and recommendations on how to improve the efficiency of future recovery efforts. - Amends TCA Title 9, Chapter 4, Part 2; Title 50, Chapter 7, Part 3; Title 58, Chapter 8; Title 58, Chapter 2 and Title 67, Chapter 5.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026)

Requires TEMA to submit annual recovery reports to state leaders by February 1, documenting prior-year disaster response and efficiency recommendations.

Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate State and Local Government Committee
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Bill Summary · SB 1322

Legislative bill overview

SB 1322 requires the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) to submit an annual report by February 1 each year to state leadership documenting recovery efforts from the previous calendar year and offering recommendations for improving future recovery efficiency. The bill amends multiple sections of Tennessee code related to emergency management and disaster recovery procedures.

Why is this important

After major disasters or emergencies, systematic reporting and evaluation of recovery efforts helps identify what worked and what failed, potentially saving lives and resources in future incidents. Public accountability for emergency management spending and outcomes is a key oversight mechanism for taxpayers and elected officials. This requirement creates a formal mechanism to institutionalize lessons learned rather than allowing them to be lost between emergency response cycles.

Potential points of contention

  • Administrative burden: TEMA may argue the annual reporting requirement diverts resources from actual recovery operations, particularly if multiple major disasters occur in a single year
  • Report scope and utility: Unclear what specific metrics or data points must be included; vague "recommendations" language may result in boilerplate reports with limited actionable value
  • Multiple code amendments: The bill modifies five different title sections, suggesting either significant restructuring of emergency management law or potentially unrelated provisions bundled together that deserve individual scrutiny

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

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