Tennessee SB1883 Reduces ALR Order Period for Environmental Boards
Tennessee Legislative Events
Summary
Tennessee SB1883 passed both chambers and was enacted into law, amending TCA Titles 60, 68, and 69. The act reduces from 180 to 90 days the period within which an administrative law judge must issue an initial order in contested case hearings involving certain boards administratively attached to the Department of Environment and Conservation. The bill also precludes those boards from voting to review initial orders, while preserving parties' rights to appeal directly to the board.
What changed
The legislation reduces the deadline for administrative law judges to issue initial orders in contested cases from 180 days to 90 days following completion of the record, and bars certain environmental and conservation boards from voting to review those initial orders. Parties retain the right to appeal directly to the board.
Affected parties including environmental firms, regulated entities, and administrative law practitioners should anticipate significantly faster timelines in contested case proceedings before boards attached to the Department of Environment and Conservation. Parties preparing appeals or responses should adjust litigation strategies to account for the compressed 90-day window.
What to do next
- Review internal procedures for contested case hearings to ensure compliance with the new 90-day order deadline
- Update case management systems and hearing schedules to reflect the accelerated timeline
- Ensure legal counsel is prepared for tighter deadlines in administrative proceedings before affected boards
Source document (simplified)
ChangeBridge / Tennessee / SB1883 Passed SB1883 Senate Bill Passed 2026-03-19
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 60; Title 68 and Title 69, relative to contested cases.
As introduced, precludes certain boards administratively attached to the department of environment and conservation from voting to review the initial order of an administrative law judge in an administrative proceeding, but preserves the right of a party to appeal an initial order directly to the board; reduces from 180 to 90 days the period of time from the completion of the record of a contested case hearing within which an administrative law judge must issue an initial order in a hearing involving such boards. - Amends TCA Title 60; Title 68 and Title 69.
Bill Details
State Tennessee
Session 114th General Assembly
Chamber Senate
Official Source wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Billinfo/Default?...
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Sponsors
Jack Johnson (Sen - R) Tom Hatcher (Sen - R)
Action History
2026-04-07 H Passed H., Ayes 75, Nays 20, PNV 0 2026-04-07 H Subst. for comp. HB. 2026-03-23 H Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk. 2026-03-19 S Engrossed; ready for transmission to House 2026-03-19 S Passed Senate, Ayes 27, Nays 6 2026-03-17 S Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 3/19/2026 2026-03-11 S Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee 2026-03-05 S Placed on Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee calendar for 3/11/2026 2026-03-04 S Action deferred in Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee to 3/11/2026 2026-02-25 S Placed on Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee calendar for 3/4/2026 2026-02-18 S Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee 2026-02-11 S Placed on Senate Government Operations Committee calendar for 2/18/2026 2026-02-11 S Sponsor(s) Added. 2026-02-02 S Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Government Operations Committee 2026-01-22 S Introduced, Passed on First Consideration 2026-01-21 S Filed for introduction
Votes
2026-02-18 SENATE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS COMMITTEE: Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee Yea: 7 Nay: 2 2026-03-11 SENATE ENERGY, AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE: Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Yea: 7 Nay: 2 2026-03-19 FLOOR VOTE: Third Consideration Yea: 27 Nay: 6 2026-04-07 FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION Yea: 75 Nay: 20
Committee Referrals
2026-02-02 S Government Operations 2026-02-18 S Energy, Agriculture and Natural Resources 2026-03-11 S Calendar
Bill Text Versions
2026-01-21 Draft 2026-02-03 Draft
Subjects
Administrative Procedure (UAPA) Legislative data powered by LegiScan (CC BY 4.0)
Named provisions
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