Committee advances "Tennessee Energy Freedom Act" after debate, 11-3

The House Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee voted to send HB 2,070, called the "Tennessee Energy Freedom Act," to the committee on rules after an 11-3 roll-call vote. The sponsor described the measure as protecting Tennesseans and Tennessee businesses from lawsuits over "covered emissions" tied to coal, oil and natural-gas activities while preserving enforcement for explicit permit violations.

"This bill creates a Tennessee Energy Freedom Act," the sponsor said when introducing the measure and summarized its key provisions: declaring a right to engage in energy production, limiting injunctive relief and liability for covered emissions unless federal or state law is violated, and requiring the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation to be named and to publish notice when declaratory relief is sought. Covered emissions were defined in the presentation to include carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide.

Members questioned the reach of the bill. Representative Fritz asked whether HB 2,070 would bar citizens from seeking damages for direct harms such as the ash incidents she described; the sponsor replied the bill was not intended to remove established remedies for direct permit violations or direct injuries. Representative Jones said she was concerned the bill moves the state in the "wrong direction" given local experience with extreme weather and asked whether it could prevent landowners from suing to protect farmland; the sponsor said it does not alter permitting, eminent domain or property-purchase contracts but aims to limit lawsuits that rely on speculative or out-of-state claims about emissions.

Representative Travis moved the previous question and the committee proceeded to a vote. The clerk reported the tally as 11 ayes and 3 nays; the bill was reported to the committee on rules.

Next steps: HB 2,070 was carried forward to committee on rules and may receive further floor or committee consideration there.