Senate approves disaster-relief, unemployment, transport and property-relief measures in special session

The Tennessee Senate passed four additional bills on third and final consideration during the special session.

Leader Johnson explained Senate Bill 6003 as a package to help local governments and households recover more quickly from natural disasters. ‘‘The first fund will be an interest payment fund, which will give us the ability to assist local governments in managing recovery-related loan cost by covering loan interest, at up to 5% per year for 3 years,’’ Johnson said. The sponsor described two funds proposed by the governor: an interest-payment fund (discussed on the floor at $110,000,000) and a governor’s response-and-recovery fund ($100,000,000). The Senate passed SB6003 by a 31-1 vote.

Senate Bill 6004, carried by the leader and described as coming from the Department of Labor and Workforce Development and Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, codifies existing practice that allows the commissioner to waive certain unemployment-insurance work-search requirements when the governor declares an emergency and clarifies TEMA authority for mutual-aid recovery efforts on locally owned public property. The Senate approved SB6004 unanimously, 33-0.

Senate Bill 6006, carried by Senator Hale and described as coming from the Tennessee Comptroller, establishes the Tennessee Transportation Financing Authority to act as a conduit issuer for tax-exempt private-activity bonds under the Tennessee Modernization Act. The sponsor said the authority allows developers to access federal tax-exempt financing without state debt, and the authority would be administratively attached to the comptroller/treasurer’s office. SB6006 passed 31-2.

Senate Bill 6007 provides targeted payments to owners of real or personal property damaged by Hurricane Helene between Sept. 26 and Sept. 30, 2024, in counties included in the relevant FEMA declaration. As amended on the floor, the bill requires payments equal to 130% of the property tax paid by each property owner for the 2024 tax year, limits payment to one owner per property, and requires the Comptroller of the Treasury to disperse payments (if multiple owners seek payment, the comptroller pays the owner who first submits complete documentation). The Senate passed SB6007 unanimously, 33-0.

Each bill received a constitutional majority and the motions to reconsider were tabled without objection.

Key votes

- SB6003 (disaster funds): passed 31-1. Sponsor description: interest-payment fund (up to 5% interest coverage for loans; sponsor referenced $110,000,000) and governor’s rapid-response fund ($100,000,000). - SB6004 (unemployment waivers / TEMA clarifications): passed 33-0. Codifies governor/commissioner waivers of certain UI requirements during declared emergencies and clarifies mutual-aid authority for TEMA. - SB6006 (Transportation Financing Authority): passed 31-2. Establishes conduit issuer for private-activity bonds under the Transportation Modernization Act; administrative attachment to the comptroller/treasurer’s office; no state debt if developer defaults. - SB6007 (property relief for Hurricane Helene): passed 33-0. Payment equal to 130% of 2024 property tax paid; one payment per property owner; payments to be dispersed by the Comptroller for properties covered by FEMA declaration.

What to watch next

- SB6003 and SB6007 implement funding and payment authorities that will require comptroller and appropriations follow-up for actual disbursement timing and rules. - SB6006’s conduit issuer will require administrative set-up and applications from developers; sponsors said it is intended to keep project debt off the state’s books.

The calendar concluded after these votes; senators adjourned until 11 a.m. the following day to continue unfinished business.