Subcommittee advances 'Tennessee Energy Freedom Act,' shielding covered fossil‑fuel activities from certain suits

Chairman Todd told the House Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee that House Bill 2070, the "Tennessee Energy Freedom Act," would recognize a right to engage in and invest in activities tied to coal, oil and natural gas and bar certain liability claims related to covered emissions. The sponsor said the bill prevents extraneous suits that could tie up producers while preserving remedies that are already required by federal or state law.

"We wanna prevent a covered government or private party from bringing an action to impose any liability in connection with covered emissions," Chairman Todd said, describing covered activities as exploration, production, transportation, sale, manufacturing, refining, combustion or other use of fossil fuels in the state. Representative Fritz asked whether the bill's stated applicability—described in the bill summary as "retroactively and extraterritorially"—would prevent out‑of‑state plaintiffs from suing Tennessee producers; Chairman Todd said that was the intent and clarified scope.

Representative Fritz also asked whether residents affected by a coal ash spill would be precluded from seeking injunctive relief. Chairman Todd answered that cleanup activities and related claims would not be covered under HB 2070 and that existing injunctive relief would remain available. After that exchange the committee took a roll‑call vote: the clerk reported 7 ayes and 1 nay and the bill was reported to the full committee.

Next steps: HB 2070 was reported to the full committee following the subcommittee roll‑call vote (7–1).