Highways, Roads and Bridges - As enacted, authorizes a county or municipality to request the department of transportation to conduct a highway traffic noise study for residential properties located along the sound propag, the official text

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                        $tate of {!I:ennessee

                          PUBLIC CHAPTER NO. 1000

                                                  HOUSE BILL NO. 2009

                                     By Representatives Lafferty, Clemmons

                                       Substituted for: Senate Bill No. 2027

                                             By Senators Lowe, Campbell

          AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 3 and Title 54, relative
to highway traffic noise.

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

          SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 541 Chapter 1, Part 1, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:

                    (a) A county or municipality, by resolution of its legislative body, may request the
          department of transportation conduct a highway traffic noise study for residential
          properties located along the sound propagation path of a state highway, including a state
          highway that is part of the interstate and national defense highway system, if:

                              (1) A tree zone has been removed, cut, or cleared behind the residential
                    properties for purposes unrelated to construction of a state highway or physical
                    alteration of an existing state highway; and

                              (2) There is no existing shielding or noise barrier.

                    (b) If the department approves the request to conduct a highway traffic noise
          study pursuant to subsection (a), then the department shall submit to the requesting
          county or municipality an invoice of the actual cost to conduct the study. The study must
          not be conducted until the cost is paid to the department by the requesting county or
          municipality.

                    (c) As used in this section:

                              (1) "Noise barrier" means a physical obstruction that is constructed
                    between a state highway and residential properties that lowers the highway traffic
                    noise level, including stand-alone noise walls, noise berms, whether earth or
                    other material, or a combination of such berm and wall systems;

                              (2) "Shielding'' means a man-made or natural structure or barrier that
                    provides an auditory barrier between residential properties and a state highway,
                    including the top of a cut or an intervening hill; and

                              (3) "Tree zone" means a region of woods and undergrowth or several
                    rows of trees that are sufficiently dense to completely or substantially block the
                    view along the sound propagation path of a state highway.

          SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.
         HOUSE BILL NO. 2009

PASSED:  April 15, 2026

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                            CAMERON SEXTON, SPEAKER
                            HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

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                            sE \
                              RANDY MCN~LY

                            SPEAKER OF THE                      TE

' 4 qtL APPROVED this \       2026
         day of of\

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BILL LEE, GOVERNOR