HB 2560

ON APRIL 14, 2026, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #3 AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 2560, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #3 rewrites the bill to, instead, create the department of Tennessee emergency management assistance ("TEMA""), to authorize the creation of local organizations for emergency management in the political subdivisions of the state, and to authorize cooperation with the federal government and the governments of other states . This amendment would also transfer all current rules, orders, decisions, and policies issued or promulgated by the Tennessee emergency management agency effect to the department for administration and enforcement. THE COMMISSIONER This amendment charges TEMA and its general supervision to the commissioner of TEMA. The commissioner, subject to the direction and control of the governor, is the executive head of the department. The commissioner must coordinate the activities of all organizations for the department within this state and must maintain liaison with and cooperate with emergency management agencies and organizations of other states and of the federal government. Further, the commissioner must make recommendations to the governor for the use of the national guard and other state resources as disaster conditions mandate, including the assistance of local and private agencies. The commissioner must coordinate with the governor's office on the activation or the potential ac tivation of any mutual aid agreement or compact. This amendment authorizes the commissioner to employ such area directors and professional, technical, clerical, and other personnel, and the commissioner must fix their compensation and may make expenditures from available funds appropriated for the depar tment or from funds made available to the commissioner for purposes of emergency management. DEPARTMENT OF TEMA POWERS AND DUTIES This amendment vests the department and its commissioner with the powers required to perform the duties set forth within present law pertaining to disaster and emergencies, and are charged with the administration of such laws . This amendment authorizes the department to modify or rescind orders, rules, decisions, or policies so issued and to adopt, issue, or promulgate new orders, rules, decisions, or policies as may be necessary for the administration of the programs or functions transferred by this bill. The department may also promulgate emergency rules to implement this bill. In doing so, the department of TEMA must consult with the department of health and must consult with and consider the recommendations of any other en tity established to coordinate the implementation of the emergency management assistance compacts and must also consult with and consider rules promulgated by similarly empowered agencies in other states to promote uniformity and make the emergency respon se systems in the various states reasonably compatible. This amendment also authorizes the governor to delegate to the commissioner the authority to declare a state of emergency in order that certain commercial vehicles engaged in the distribution of electric power, the supply of fuel, or telecommunications services to residences and businesses may be considered to be participating in an emergency relief effort for the purpose of the federal hours-of-service regulations promulgated by the federal motor carrier safety administration. Pursuant to the delegation of authority granted, the commissioner may declare a state of emergency prospectively in anticipation of an emergency. CONTINUING EFFECT OF CONTRACTS AND LEASES In order to avoid the impairment of contracts, t his amendment continues contracts and leases entered into prior to the effective date of this act, with respect to any program or function transferred to the department of TEMA."