SB 1793

ON MARCH 16, 2026, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 1793, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 rewrites this bill to establish the office of cooperative marketing for recyclables and the recycling market development and diversion advisory council. Office of Cooperative Marketing for Recyclables This amendment establishes the office of cooperative marketing for recyclables in TDEC, to be funded with funds available from the solid waste management fund. The full text of this amendment specifies nine duties that the office will exercise with rega rd to enhancing markets for recyclable materials. This amendment specifies that the establishment of the office does not expand or modify the department's regulatory, tax, or fee authority. This amendment also classifies as confidential all proprietary, c onfidential, or competitively sensitive information submitted by a private entity to the office in furtherance of enhancing markets for recyclable materials. Recycling Market Development and Diversion Advisory Council This amendment establishes the 17-member recycling market development and diversion advisory council, which will be attached to TDEC for administrative purposes only. The full text of this amendment specifies nine duties for the council concerning the m arket for recyclables. The council will consist of the following voting members: (1) Five representatives of private industry, appointed by the governor, who shall represent industries that may include plastics, glass, paper, aluminum, scrap metal, advanced recycling, other recyclable materials sectors, producers of consumer goods, or retailers of consumer goods; (2) Two representatives of recycling-focused trade associations, appointed by the governor; (3) One representative of a private recycling operator, appointed by the governor; (4) One representative of the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce & Industry, appointed by the governor; (5) One representative from a conservation organization, appointed by the governor; (6) One municipal solid waste director, appointed by the governor; (7) One county solid waste director, appointed by the governor; (8) One member of the advisory task force on solid waste, jointly appointed by the chair of the energy, agriculture and natural resources committee of the senate and the chair of the committee of the house of representatives with jurisdiction over subje ct matters pertaining to solid waste disposal; (9) The commissioner of TDEC, or the commissioner's designee; (10) The commissioner of ECD, or the commissioner's designee; (11) One member of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; and (12) One member of the senate, appointed by the speaker of the senate. The full text of this amendment specifies various organizational and procedural requirements for the council. This amendment requires the council to submit annual reports to the governor, the chair of the senate energy, agriculture and natural resources committee, and the chair of the committee of the house of representatives having subject jurisdiction over solid waste disposal. The general assembly may request additional reports from the council on specific matters related to recycling market developm en t. This amendment specifies that the council will not regulate solid waste disposal, and establishment of the council will not expand TDEC's regulatory authority, or authorize TDEC to impose new reporting requirements, recycling mandates, procurement man dates, disposal restrictions, fees or other regulatory obligations absent separate legislative authorization. The council is terminated on June 30, 2030, unless continued by an act of the general assembly. ON APRIL 21, 2026, THE HOUSE SUBSTITUTED SENATE BILL 1793 FOR HOUSE BILL 2518, ADOPTED AMENDMENTS # 2 AND 3, AND PASSED SENATE BILL 1793, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #2 incorporates the provisions of Senate Amendment #1 with the following changes: (1) Removes the prohibition against the recycling market development and diversion advisory council exercising regulatory and rulemaking authority; (2) Adds to the council's duties assisting TDEC's division of stakeholder engagement, office of sustainable practices, small business environmental assistance program, and materials management program in enhancing and expanding markets for recyclable ma terials in Tennessee; (3) Adds the commissioner of agriculture, or the commissioner's designee, as a member of the council; and (4) Authorizes the chair of the senate energy, agriculture and natural resources committee, and the chair of the committee of the house of representatives having subject jurisdiction over solid waste disposal (instead of the general assembly, in general ) to request additional reports from the council on specific matters related to recycling market development. AMENDMENT #3 incorporates the provisions of Senate Amendment #1 and House Amendment #2 with the following substantive changes: (1) Specifies that the office of cooperative marketing for recyclables will collect voluntary information; (2) Specifies that the recycling market development and diversion advisory council is advisory in nature and shall not exercise regulatory, fee or, taxing, or rulemaking authority; (3) Specifies that four, rather than three, initial appointees to the council must serve terms of four years; and (4) Reverses the change described in (4) of the summary for House Amendment #2 so that the general assembly may request the additional reports. ON APRIL 22, 2026, THE SENATE CONCURRED IN HOUSE AMENDMENTS #2 AND #3.