House approves policy directing DOT to develop policy for removal of personal property from dangerous highway locations amid heated debate

The Tennessee House passed Senate Bill 217, a bill requiring the Tennessee Department of Transportation to develop and implement a policy for removing abandoned personal property used for camping in dangerous locations on state and interstate highways, including underpasses and bridge shoulders.

Sponsor Representative Leatherwood said the bill directs the department to coordinate with local governments and service providers, create memoranda of understanding with local agencies, and work with local homeless coalitions and nonprofits to find transitional housing and services for people living in roadside encampments. “Instead of ignoring the people residing in these dangerous locations, this requires the Department of Transportation come up with a memorandum of understanding with local governments and local agencies to see the problem, not ignore it,” Leatherwood said.

Opponents and amendments Representative Pearson and Representative McCallman and other members offered a series of floor amendments that sought to add procedural protections for unhoused people: notice periods before removal, requirements that local homeless-service providers be notified and that the removal not proceed until housing or shelter options were available, and other safeguards intended to prevent disposal of personal identifying documents, benefit cards, medical supplies and paperwork. Floor motions to consider and adopt several of those amendments were put to recorded votes; each motion to consider the amendment failed to secure the two-thirds vote required under the House rule for consideration of late-filed amendments.

Representative Pearson described the bill as “weaponiz[ing] our Tennessee Department of Transportation” against people who are unhoused and argued for safeguards to ensure dignity and continuity of benefits and medical care for those affected. Sponsor Leatherwood replied that the bill requires local coordination with homeless coalitions and service providers and that the measure was designed to move people out of dangerous locations while connecting them with housing and services.

Vote and outcome The House ultimately passed Senate Bill 217 on third and final consideration. The clerk recorded the roll and leadership declared the bill had received the constitutional majority and passed. Multiple late-filed amendments proposed on the floor were not adopted after consideration votes failed to meet the two-thirds threshold to allow debate.

Key implementation points - The Department of Transportation is required to develop a policy and implement an MOUs process with local governments, homeless coalitions, nonprofits and service providers to remove personal property used for camping in dangerous highway locations. - The bill instructs coordination with local providers and a goal of connecting people with transitional housing and services; it does not itself appropriate funds for housing.

Context and next steps Sponsor and supporters framed the bill as responding to a public-safety hazard and as a directive to DOT to coordinate local responses. Opponents called for stronger procedural safeguards and resource commitments. The bill moves forward to the next stage of the legislative process; local officials and service providers will be the primary implementers and partners for DOT.