Tourism - As enacted, requires the department of tourist development to promulgate rules designating tourism development zones in this state as economic protection zones; places certain limitations on a local government , the official text

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                        ~tate of \!Cennessee

                          PUBLIC CHAPTER NO. 1024

                                                  HOUSE BILL NO. 2366

                                          By Representatives Hawk, Davis

                                       Substituted for: Senate Bill No. 2157

                             By Senators Watson, Bowling, Gardenhire, Taylor

         AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 5; Title 6; Title 7 and Title 67,
relative to tourism development zones.

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

          SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 7, is amended by adding the following as
a new chapter:

          7-92-101. Chapter definitions.

                    As used in this chapter:

                              (1) "Local government" means an incorporated city or town, county, or
                    metropolitan form of government; and

                              (2) "Tourism development zone" has the same meaning as defined in§ 7-
                    88-103.

          7-92-102. Tourism development zone access.

                    (a) Except as otherwise authorized pursuant to subsection (b), a local
          government shall not block streets or other rights-of-way within a tourism development
          zone in a manner that disrupts the operation of businesses within the tourism
          development zone; prohibits the delivery of goods, services, merchandise, food, and
          beverages to businesses and patrons within the tourism development zone; or prohibits
          taxis, public transportation vehicles, or ride sharing companies from picking up or
          dropping off persons within the tourism development zone.

                    (b) A local government may temporarily prohibit ingress or egress or block
         streets or other rights-of-way into or within a tourism development zone:

                              (1) For purposes of providing exclusive access to first responders during
                    an emergency;

                              (2) For an event permitted by the local government to an event operator
                    or event promoter;

                              (3) For construction, maintenance, repair, or improvement of public or
                    private infrastructure, buildings, or utilities, including activities authorized through
                    a local government permitting process; and

                              (4) In accordance with applicable rules prescribed pursuant to§ 7-92-104.

          7-92-103. Jurisdiction of Tennessee highway patrol.

                    Notwithstanding another law, the Tennessee highway patrol established pursuant
          to title 4, chapter 7, part 1, has concurrent law enforcement authority with local law
          enforcement agencies, including the power to arrest, carry a firearm, and investigate
          crime within a tourism development zone in this state.

          7-92-104. Designation of economic protection zones.
HB2366

                    (a) The department of tourist development, in consultation with the department of
         economic and community development, department of environment and conservation,
          and department of safety and homeland security, shall promulgate rules designating
         tourism development zones in this state as economic protection zones for the purposes
          of protecting and stimulating economic activity within the tourism development zones.

                    (b) The rules must:
                              (1) Apply uniformly to tourism development zones in this state;
                              (2) Regulate ingress and egress into businesses and public property in a

                    manner that facilitates access to tourists and residents;
                              (3) Regulate unlawful loitering, sitting, camping, or sleeping on public

                    property in a manner that maintains ingress and egress into places of business
                    and maintains clear and unobstructed streets, alleys, sidewalks, parks, plazas,
                    parking lots, driveways, rights-of-way, public buildings, or other locations open to
                    or accessible by the public for the purpose of facilitating vehicular and pedestrian
                    traffic; and

                              (4) Be promulgated in accordance with the Uniform Administrative
                    Procedures Act, compiled in title 4, chapter 5.
                    (c) This chapter does not supersede or alter the regulatory authority of the
          department of transportation over state highway rights-of-way or limit the statutory
          authority of the department of transportation to regulate activities within the jurisdiction of
          the department of transportation.
          SECTION 2. The headings in this act are for reference purposes only and do not
constitute a part of the law enacted by this act. However, the Tennessee Code Commission is
requested to include the headings in any compilation or publication containing this act.
          SECTION 3. For purposes of promulgating rules, this act takes effect upon becoming a
law, the public welfare requiring it. For all other purposes, this act takes effect August 1, 2026,
the public welfare requiring it.

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                    HOUSE BILL NO. 2366

PASSED:  April 23, 2026

                         C'Jc
                          CAMERONSEXTON,SPEAKER
                         HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                         - f i + e ~ - ~~C...~Lll'
                                         RANDY M\NALLY
                            SPEAKER OF THE SENATE

0 APPROVED this 196( day of yYb,.        2026

         /2lu u,_
BILL LEE, GOVERNOR