Senate Bill 2651 amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 68-211-816, to clarify the conditions under which a county or municipal solid waste region is deemed noncompliant. The bill replaces the existing subsection (a) with a new definition that outlines four specific criteria for noncompliance: failure to submit an adequate plan on time, failure to obtain approval for a submitted plan, failure to implement an approved plan, and failure to comply with the relevant regulations.

Additionally, the bill establishes a series of sanctions for noncompliant regions, starting with a warning letter from the commissioner that details the reasons for noncompliance and offers technical assistance. If noncompliance persists for 30 days, the region becomes ineligible for funding from the solid waste management fund, unless an extension is granted. Further penalties include a civil penalty of up to $5,000 per day if noncompliance continues for 60 days, and the imposition of the state solid waste management plan as the operational plan for the noncompliant region until the issues are resolved. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 68-211-816