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PUBLIC CHAPTER NO. 310
SENATE BILL NO. 217
By Taylor, Jackson, Rose
Substituted for: House Bill No. 197
By Leatherwood
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 13; Title 39; Title 54; Title 55 and Title
71, relative to the collection, storage, claiming, and disposal of personal property used for
camping.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 54, Chapter 5, Part 1, is amended by adding
the following as a new section:
(a) The department of transportation shall develop and implement a policy regarding
the removal of personal property used for camping, as defined in§ 55-8-212, from:
(1) The shoulder, berm, or right-of-way of highways under its jurisdiction; or
(2) Under a bridge or overpass, or within an underpass of highways under its
jurisdiction.
(b) The department shall develop and implement the policy pursuant to this section
through partnerships with municipal and county governments, local law enforcement
agencies, the department of safety, local homeless coalitions, local and state housing
authorities, other local and state agencies, and nonprofit organizations and other entities that
provide transitional housing and related services to persons experiencing homelessness.
(c) Notwithstanding another law, the policy developed by the department pursuant to
this section must require:
(1) If requested by the department, that a municipal or county government
whose geographic boundaries include a camping removal site, enter into a
memorandum of understanding with the department to outline roles and
responsibilities when addressing a camping removal site; and
(2) That a memorandum of understanding entered into between the
department and the municipal or county government pursuant to subdivision (c)(1)
outline, at a minimum, the following responsibilities:
(A) For the department:
(i) Whenever feasible, performing a site assessment in
advance of camping removal operations;
(ii) Posting of a notice to vacate at the camping removal site at
least ten (10) calendar days prior to initiating camping removal
operations that includes notification that any personal property
remaining at the site past the noticed date of removal will be
determined to be trash, garbage, or other debris, and will be disposed
of accordingly;
SB 217
(iii) Completion of initial clean-up operations initiated as a result
of a citizen complaint or the identification of a site as a safety hazard
by the department within thirty (30) calendar days of:
(a) A citizen complaint or such identification by the
department, if a current memorandum of understanding
required by subdivision (c)(1) has been previously agreed to
with the municipal or county government whose geographic
boundaries the camping removal site is located within; or
(b) A memorandum of understanding, if required by
subdivision (c)(1 ), with the municipal or county government
whose geographic boundaries the camping removal site is
located within being agreed upon, if a current memorandum of
understanding has not been previously agreed to with the
municipal or county government;
(iv) If necessary, completion of vegetation removal within thirty
(30) calendar days after the completion of initial camping clean-up
operations;
(v) If necessary, completion of any fencing or other measures
to secure the site within ninety (90) calendar days after the completion
of initial camping clean-up operations;
(vi) If necessary, contracting for the removal of certain items
and materials, including human waste and other biohazards; and
(vii) If necessary, securing the assistance of the department of
safety; and
(B) For the municipal or county government:
(i) Providing outreach services for persons experiencing
homelessness at the camping removal site;
(ii) Connecting persons experiencing homelessness at the
camping removal site with temporary or long-term housing resources;
(iii) If necessary, contracting with local homeless coalitions,
local and state housing authorities, other local and state agencies, and
nonprofit organizations and other entities that provide transitional
housing and related services to persons experiencing homelessness;
(iv) Ensuring that the camping removal site is not occupied by
any persons by the noticed date of removal; and
(v) Securing the assistance of local law enforcement to assist in
removal and clean-up operations, including, but not limited to, the
disposal of illicit drugs, drug paraphernalia, and firearms.
(d) Notwithstanding another law, the department shall not commence initial clean-up
activities, vegetation removal, or site se~uring activities until the municipal or county
government whose geographic boundaries include the camping removal site has ensured
that no persons are occupying the camping -removal site.
(e) If a municipal or county government fails to agree to a memorandum of
understanding required by subdivision (c)(1) within sixty (60) calendar days upon receiving
the department's request, or if a municipal or county government fails to comply with the
terms of a memorandum of understanding, then the department shall provide written notice
of such inaction to the chair of the committee of the house of representatives having
jurisdiction over transportation matters, the chair of the transportation and safety committee
of the senate, and the state representatives and state senators who represent the county
where the camping removal site is located.
(f) The department may establish agency policies or promulgate rules in accordance
with the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act, compiled in title 4, chapter 5, to implement
this section.
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SECTION 2. If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is
held invalid, then the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of the act that can be
given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to that end, the provisions of this act are
severable.
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.
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SENATE BILL NO. 217
PASSED: April 15, 2025
R Lt..~~.,,._
\ RANDY'McNALLY
SPEAKER OF THE SENATE
•
CAMERCffi SEXTON, SPEAKER
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
~ APPROVED this~ day of _____...______.__.~:r-n 2025
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BILL LEE, GOVERNOREvery fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.