S

More than 100 renters, unhoused people and pro-housing advocates gathered earlier this month to lobby the Tennessee General Assembly on housing issues.

Under the banner of the newly launched Housing for All Tennessee initiative, the group came from across the state and met with 50 state lawmakers in support of three bills and in opposition to two others. Advocates urged support of three Democratic bills: HB788/SB1136, which would help people get free state IDs; HB955/SB961, which would allow local governments to enact rent control policies and offer support to first-time homebuyers and developers; and HB1381/SB1008, which would allow local governments to create a rental property registry. The group urged lawmakers to oppose HB729/SB672, which would make obstructing a street, sidewalk or hallway a felony, and HB197/SB217, which would require the Department of Transportation to clear homeless encampments on state property within 30 days of receiving a complaint.

Two members of the advocacy group, Jasmine Bryant of Knoxville and Johnnie Walden of Tullahoma, told the Banner it was their first time visiting the Capitol and that they were nervous about meeting with lawmakers.

Bryant, who has worked in local advocacy in Knoxville and lives in public housing, said she hoped the conversations would be two-sided.

“If I was a legislator and there were some things that were really bad going on in my area, and that’s who I represent, I would want the person to tell me what’s going on, but also offer solutions so we can work together,” Bryant said.

Walden, who was once homeless herself after leaving an abusive household and now also lives in public housing, said she wants lawmakers to address homelessness and housing affordability. She has never really paid close attention to politics before, she said.

“I used not to, but I’m going to now, because I want to stick with this,” Walden said.

The three bills the group was supporting are still alive in the legislature, but so far have attracted only Democratic support, leaving the ultimate passage of the measures at risk in the Republican-dominated Tennessee General Assembly.

After a busy year of housing and zoning-related legislation in 2024, here’s a look at some new bills to watch. With one major caveat: Many of the more substantial laws arrive on the agenda initially as caption bills, meaning they are amended later in the process, so their full scope cannot yet be judged. 

A brief description of the bills

HB1279/SB340: Metro’s recent discussions around moving the Metro Historic Zoning Commission and the Metro Historical Commission were in part inspired by a fear that state lawmakers could strip the independent bodies of power to restrict development or renovations, particularly as it relates to historic properties now home to hospitality venues downtown. State Republicans have several legislative options to pursue that, including this bill.

HB649/SB1080: This bill would require that half of realty transfer taxes be distributed back to the counties where the sales took place, to be used on capital projects. This legislation is supported by some of the most powerful Republican members in the legislature. Another bill has a similar aim.

HB652/SB785: This legislation opens up the code relative to planning regulations in several areas.

HB396/SB244: This bill has already passed unanimously in the Senate, where it has a Republican sponsor, but failed in a House subcommittee, where it has a Democratic sponsor. It would have required multi-family housing development built under attainable housing incentive programs to remain attainably priced for 30 years, rather than in perpetuity. 

HB1306/SB1271: This legislation comes from Republican leadership in both chambers and could change economic incentive parameters for affordable housing development.

HB183/SB137: Introduced and then quickly withdrawn, this legislation would have eliminated the need for public hearings in some local zoning matters.

HB753/SB539: This legislation establishes a process for local property tax assessments for low-income housing properties.

SJR27: Authorizes $10 million annual allocations for the Tennessee Rural and Workforce Housing Act.

The story was provided courtesy of the Nashville Banner. Sign up for the Nashville Banner’s newsletters here.