Week in Review - Apr 12, 2024

As introduced, authorizes the use of certain third-party examiners, inspectors, engineers, and professionals in lieu of a local or state examiner, inspector, engineer, or professional for certain permitted processes and requirements; establishes procedures and requirements for the use of a third-party examiner, inspector, engineer, or professional. 

As introduced, authorizes a local government to amend adopted building codes to include three-family dwellings and four-family dwellings within the scope of the residential code.

As introduced, authorizes the chief legislative body of a municipality to create a voluntary attainable housing incentive program by ordinance for the purpose of authorizing certain incentives to be provided to property owners who seek to build attainable housing.

As amended, prohibits local governments from being liable in a class action resulting from a cyber security event.  As introduced, declares a private entity to be not civilly liable in a class action resulting from a cybersecurity event unless the cybersecurity event was caused by willful, wanton, or gross negligence on the part of the private entity.

As introduced, removes requirement for receipt of certain grants and loans for water and wastewater treatment infrastructure projects that a municipality includes depreciation in its calculation of fees or rates.

As introduced, creates a civil action against any person or government entity that infringes upon a person's right to bear arms under the Tennessee or United States Constitutions; requires the person or entity to be liable for actual or statutory damages, punitive damages, attorney's fees, and court costs.

As introduced, establishes that the district attorney general shall only prosecute cases in municipal court where the municipality provides sufficient additional prosecutorial personnel for the district attorney general; empowers the district attorney general with sole and exclusive discretion in determining the necessity and sufficiency of the additional prosecutorial personnel; specifies the particular resources the district attorney general has absolute discretion to use in the performance of their duties and responsibilities. 

As introduced, authorizes counties and municipalities, by resolution or ordinance of their governing bodies, to levy a tax on the retail sale of food and food ingredients for human consumption within the county or municipality at a rate less than the local option sales tax rate.

As amended, Authorizes certain industrial development corporations (IDCs) to: (1) construct and install public infrastructure for
qualified residential developments, or to contract for such services; (2) accept loans and grants from the state and federal government or an instrumentality thereof; and (3) make loans and grants to private entities constructing and installing public infrastructure for qualified residential
developments. Requires loans and grants made to IDCs by the state or an instrumentality thereof to be approved by the Comptroller of the Treasury (COT) and the Commissioner of Finance and Administration (F&A).  As introduced, As introduced, specifies that the required notice of a public meeting by an industrial development corporation related to the approval of a payment in lieu of taxes for a lessee of the corporation must be published on the website of the corporation.

As introduced, creates a recall process for elected municipal officials and school boards.

As introduced, removes the offense of possessing a weapon in a building that prohibits or restricts weapons; allows a person with an enhanced handgun carry permit to carry a handgun into a business that prohibits or restricts weapons; removes penalties for violations of certain firearms provisions

Proposes an amendment to Article II, Section 28 of the Constitution of Tennessee to authorize the General Assembly to exempt historical properties from taxes on real property.

As introduced, authorizes a local government to amend adopted building codes to include three-family dwellings and four-family dwellings within the scope of the residential code.