SB 720

ON MARCH 31, 2025, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND REFERRED SENATE BILL 720, AS AMENDED, TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE. AMENDMENT #1 rewrites this bill to vacate and reconstitute the board of ground water management effective July 1, 2025. Under present law, the board consists of the commiss ioner of environment and conservation, the director of water resources, and three gubernatorial appointees (one from each grand division) who are actively engaged in the drilling of wells. Under this amendment, the ex officio board members remain the sam e while the three appointed members must be licensed as both water well drillers and pump installers in Tennessee, to be appointed as follows: (1) The speaker of the house of representatives appoints the member representing the western grand division wh o serves an initial term of one year; (2) The governor appoints the member representing the middle grand division who serves an initial term of two years; and (3) The speaker of the senate appoints the member representing the eastern grand division who serves an initial term of three years. All subsequent appointees to the board serve three-year terms, which is the term length under present law. In addition to the appointment of board members pursuant to (1)-(3), this amendment requires the appointm ent of three alternate board members who have the same qualifications as members appointed pursuant to (1)-(3) and who serve as replacements should a vacancy occur on the board for any reason, and who may participate in a board meeting as a replacement fo r the appointed member from the same grand division in which the alternate member resides if the appointed member is unable to attend the meeting. This amendment reduces from three to two the number of board members whose presence is required for a quor um. Prior to the issuance of a well driller's license or installer's license, present law requires the board to review the license application and make a recommendation to the commissioner either for or against issuance of such license. This amendment a dds a requirement that the board administer the approved licensure test, including an interview of the applicant without other applicants present. This amendment adds requirements that the board do the following: (1) Review all complaints and violatio ns of adopted rules and make recommendations to the commissioner for remedies to the complaints and violations. This amendment requires the department of environment and conservation to convey a complete list of complaints and violations to board members and alternate members at least quarterly. Recommended remedies must be made at the next appropriate board meeting; and (2) Review all continuing education classes and programs and make recommendations to the commissioner for the issuance of the same, and approve continuing education points. ON APRIL 21, 2025, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #2 AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 894, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #2 incorporates the changes made by Senate Amendment #1, makes two technical clarifications, and adds that the n ewly reconstituted board is subject to governmental entity review in 2027.