Senate Bill 559, also known as House Bill 170, amends Tennessee Code Annotated by introducing a new chapter that emphasizes the rights of property owners regarding permit applications. The bill asserts that property owners should have their permit applications evaluated based on the laws in effect at the time of their application, thereby prioritizing their interests in using their property without interference from potential local regulations. It explicitly rejects the pending ordinance doctrine, which was previously upheld by the Tennessee Supreme Court in the case of Harding Academy v. Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, stating that this doctrine is contrary to the public policy interests of property owners in Tennessee.

The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2023, highlighting the urgency of protecting property owners' rights in the face of local government regulations. By eliminating the pending ordinance doctrine, the legislation aims to provide greater certainty and security for property owners in their dealings with local zoning changes and permit applications.