State Bill Tracking
The following bills are currently under review in the state legislative session. On March 4, members of AGC East Tennessee joined construction executives from across the state for Day on the Hill, where we had the opportunity to advocate for key industry priorities directly with state legislators.
In addition to discussing these legislative priorities, AGC East Tennessee members championed a critical funding request to support the ongoing operations of the Construction Career Center, ensuring continued workforce development for the next generation of construction professionals.
We extend our sincere gratitude to Representative Esther Helton and Senator Bo Watson for their leadership in introducing our funding request to the Appropriations and Oversight Committee. Their support is instrumental in advancing the future of Tennessee’s construction workforce.
Protection of economic development incentives by prohibiting other community benefit agreements with other entities.
SB1074/HB1096, Sponsored by Sen. Jack Johnson, Rep. Cameron Sexton
Status: Likely to pass
Position: SUPPORT
Prohibits an employer seeking to receive an economic development incentive from the state from entering into a community benefits agreement or similar legal contract if the agreement or contract imposes obligations or conditions on the employer regarding employment practices, benefits, or operations that are not directly related to the performance of the employer’s duties under the economic development incentive.
Increase in TOSHA penalities to match federal OSHA fines.
SB1289/HB1313, Sponsored by Sen. Jack Johnson; Rep. Lamberth
Status: Taken off notice
Position: OPPOSE
Changes the maximum penalty amount from $7,000 for each violation by an employer of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1972, and from $70,000 for each willful and repeated violation of the act, to the maximum penalty allowed by the federal occupational safety and health administration.
Pre-blasting survey fees for contractors.
SB0566/HB1138, Sponsored by Sen. Mark Pody; Rep. Clark Boyd
Status: Moving forward
Position: OPPOSE
Requires a blasting firm that conducts a pre-blast survey for an owner or occupant of certain buildingswithin 300 feet of the blast hole to provide the survey upon request by the owner or occupant at no cost.
Construction project delivery methods for local government with population of 100K or more.
SB307/HB1054, Sponsored by Sen. Richard Briggs; Rep Sam McKenzie
Status: No movement since Feb 12
Position: WATCHING
Authorizes a local government having a population of 100,000 or more that has a centralized purchasing with a full-time purchasing agent to use any construction project delivery method that the local government determines most effectively meets the needs of the local government. Delivery methods can include: Construction manager at-risk, Design-bid-build, Design-build, and Design-build-finance-operate.
Standard for entry-resistant window treatment for school buildings.
SB899/HB964, Sen. Becky Massey, Becky; Rep. David Hawk
Status: Moving forward
Position: SUPPORT
Requires public school buildings, including a public charter school building, constructed or remodeled after July 1, 2025, to have installed a clear window film or security glazing that meets a nationally recognized test standard for forced entry resistance, such as the ASTM F3561 test standard, for glazing systems of each exterior entry or door plus adjoining glazing and the secure interior vestibules serving as primary entrances to prevent individuals from entering the building without authorization.
Building or development of infrastructure that is nonessential to the development.
SB1045/HB608, Sen. Janice Bowling; Rep. Tim Rudd
Status: Moving forward
Position: SUPPORT
Prohibits the state or a local or municipal government from requiring a builder or developer of real property to pay for the building or development of infrastructure that is nonessential to the development, maintenance, or growth of the builder’s development property
Utility to review plans of development for compliance with infrastructure codes within 30 days.
SB1139/HB0542, Sen. Brent Taylor; Rep. Kevin Vaughn
Status: Moving forward
Position: SUPPORT
Requires a utility to review plans of development for compliance with water, electric, and natural gas infrastructure codes within 30 days of the plan’s submission; authorizes developers to hire a third-party plans examiner in lieu of the utility’s review if not timely completed.
Changes on a contractor or developer's application for development site plans or inspections.
SB731/HB795, Sen. Mark Pody; Rep. Kevin Vaughn
Status: Moving forward
Position: WATCHING
Requires a local government to send back any requested changes on a contractor’s or developer’s application for development site plans or inspections in a single deliverable document or set of documents, or to remit related fees back to the developer for subsequent change requests; prohibits a local government from requiring a developer or contractor to fund, develop, or contribute to the development of nonessential infrastructure, unless otherwise agreed upon by the parties.
What you need to know about federal tariffs
With tariffs imposed on Mexico, China and Canada, and tariffs starting March 12 on all steel and aluminum imports into the States, AGC of America has launched a Tariff Resource Center to help members navigate and stay current of these changes. Members can also tune into webinars with our governmental affairs team in Washington, DC to get the latest updates and to ask questions.
VIEW THE TARIFF RESOURCE CENTER
Hamilton County’s new zoning
The Hamilton County Regional Planning Office has prepared a new zoning plan for the county with a main focus of increasing residential density throughout the county. The plan highlights the need for $120 million in road and infrastructure improvements but does not include a plan for a much-needed sewer solution. AGC East Tennessee will be meeting with county officials to push for a sewer plan that will allow for continued growth across the county.
VIEW THE NEW ZONING PROPOSAL
Immigration reform
As workforce shortages remain the industry’s top challenge, AGC of America is pushing for improvements to the work visa system to hire legal foreign workers. To learn more about proposals to improve work visa system, visit AGC of America’s Workforce Done Right center that includes a toolkit for members.
VIEW THE WORKFORCE DONE RIGHT WEBSITE
Tennessee Works Scholarship to boost TCAT enrollment
Governor Bill Lee has proposed the Tennessee Works Scholarship, aiming to eliminate financial barriers for students pursuing skilled trades at Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology (TCATs). This scholarship will cover all tuition and fees for TCAT students and assist with additional costs such as textbooks, tools, and equipment, particularly benefiting those most in need. This would support enrollment at the Construction Career Center and other construction TCAT programs.
As of March 11, 2025, this proposal is included in Governor Lee’s Fiscal Year 2025-26 budget, which has been presented to the General Assembly but has not yet been approved. The budget must receive legislative approval before the scholarship can be implemented.