Water Authorities - As enacted, expands the areas served by the West Tennessee River Basin Authority to include Perry, Stewart, Houston, and Humphreys counties. - Amends TCA Title 64, Chapter 1, Part 11. Companion bill h, the official text

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                               PUBLIC CHAPTER NO. 966

                                                     SENATE BILL NO. 520

                                                      By Roberts, Stevens

                                           Substituted for: House Bill No. 220

                                                      By Reedy, Haston

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 64, Chapter 1, Part 11, relative to the West
         Tennessee River Basin Authority.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:

          SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 64-1-1101 (b), is amended by deleting
"Hatchie, Loosahatchie, Obion and Forked Deer River basins" and substituting "river basins in the
authority service area".

          SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 64-1-1101 (b)(4), is amended by deleting
"and the creek and river basins that flow through the counties of Benton, Decatur and Hardin into the
Tennessee River" and substituting "through education, outreach, and science".

          SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 64-1-1101, is amended by deleting
subsection (c) and substituting:

                   (c)(1) These activities are accomplished in the authority service area that is
                    composed of Lauderdale, Lake, Dyer, Obion, Madison, Weakley, Henry, Gibson,
                    Carroll, Benton, Decatur, Hardin, Haywood, Crockett, Henderson, Chester, McNairy,
                   Tipton, Fayette, Hardeman, Perry, Stewart, Houston, and Humphreys counties.

                             (2) Notwithstanding subdivision (c)(1), when conducting activities in Perry,
                    Stewart, Houston, or Humphreys county, the authority shall only provide technical
                    assistance, engineering services, and project management support to such county.

          SECTION 4. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 64-1-1103, is amended by deleting
"Hatchie, Obion and Forked Deer River basins" in subdivisions (7) and (8) and substituting "authority
service area".

          SECTION 5. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 64-1-1103, is amended by deleting
subdivision (16) and substituting:

                    (16) Obtain funds from county governments for purposes of planning, acquisition of
          land and facilities, and construction, operation, management, and maintenance of all works,
          facilities, and programs particularly required by such county or counties. County
          governments are empowered, but are not required, to impose taxes to accomplish these
          programs. Such taxes, if imposed, must be upon all real property lying within the authority
          service area as situated in the respective counties, and such tax shall be imposed on that
          property determined by the county as benefiting from the works of improvement and
          programs of the authority;

          SECTION 6. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 64-1-1103(18), is amended by deleting
"the Obion-Forked Deer basin authority" and substituting "the authority".

          SECTION 7. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 64-1-1104(a)(3), is amended by deleting
"Hatchie, Obion and Forked Deer River basins" and substituting "authority service area".
SB520
          SECTION 8. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 64-1-1104(b), is amended by deleting "for

the Hatchie, Obion, and Forked Deer River basins".
          SECTION 9. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 64-1-1109(a), is amended by deleting the

subsection and substituting:
                    (a)(1) This part applies only to the counties of Lauderdale, Lake, Dyer, Obion,
                    Madison, Weakley, Henry, Gibson, Carroll, Benton, Decatur, Hardin, Haywood,
                    Crockett, Henderson, Chester, Tipton, Hardeman, Fayette, McNairy, Houston,
                    Humphreys, Stewart, and Perry, which may, upon approval by a majority vote of the
                    respective county legislative body, elect to participate in such programs as set out in
                    this part, except as provided in§ 64-1-1101(c)(2).
                              (2) If such an election is made, this part applies to all counties making such an
                    election, except as provided in§ 64-1-1101(c)(2).

          SECTION 10. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.

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         SENATE BILL NO. 520

PASSED:  April 20, 2026

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                         '                                RAN--~DY- M ____~______ _

                                    SPEAKER OF THE SENATE

                         CAMERON""'SEXTON,SPEAKER

                         HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

(Y'.\ua APPROVED this (~ti. day of                        2026

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                        BILL LEE, GOVERNOR