The Tennessee General Assembly is imposing limits on local governments’ ability to relocate homeless people.
The State House and State Senate passed Senate Bill (SB) 1788 last week, which prevents local governments from relocating homeless people unless they have written consent from the receiving jurisdiction and the relocation is carried out through a formal reunification program.
SB 1788, which is sponsored by State Senator Shane Reeves (R-Rutherford County), states the reunification program must be created by the local government. In addition, homeless people relocating through the program must demonstrate “substantial ties” to the place to which they want to be relocated, the bill proposal says.
Local law enforcement is exempt from the bill proposal’s relocation restrictions.
In a previous version of the bill, local governments that violated SB 1788 could be fined up to $10,000 per violation, but the bill proposal was amended to remove the provision. Furthermore, lawmakers removed the state attorney general’s ability to investigate potential violations, initiate legal action, and issue fines.
SB 1788 does not impose any consequences on local governments that do not comply with it.
If Governor Bill Lee signs the bill proposal into law, then it will take effect immediately.
State Representative Tim Rudd (R-Murfreesboro), who introduced SB 1788’s companion bill in the State House, said, “This legislation implements common-sense safeguards to protect charitable organizations while ensuring vulnerable Tennesseans get the support they deserve.”
“These changes strengthen our commitment to caring for those in need by creating a more unified system and preventing people from falling through the cracks,” he said.
According to an estimate in June 2025, Nashville had an estimated 2,180 homeless people, which was up from 2,094 individuals the previous year. Of the homeless people in Nashville, 67 percent of the adult population were men. Furthermore, 74 percent of the homeless people had a disability and nearly 50 percent of them also experienced chronic homelessness.
In the Chattanooga region, an estimated 939 people are homeless. The data shows nearly 30 percent of the homeless in this part of the state are chronically homeless.
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Zachery Schmidt is the digital editor of The Star News Network. Email tips to Zachery at [email protected].
More do-nothing legislation for the homeless crowd management. These people are costing we taxpayers a wad. Coddling them is not working.