[{"_1":2,"_86":-5,"_87":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":-5,"_68":69,"_70":-5,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6699775,"mediaKeyId","2765009-1e5ab9a3b216bc51ac6294a1ae4b2356","parentId",2765009,"title","Transportation committee approves bill requiring TDOT to develop policy for removing encampments from dangerous highway locations","audioSeconds",1004,"startMs",596000,"endMs",1600000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2765009-1e5ab9a3b216bc51ac6294a1ae4b2356&start=596&end=1600","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2765009-1e5ab9a3b216bc51ac6294a1ae4b2356/thumbnail_596000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6699775/Transportation-committee-approves-bill-requiring-TDOT-to-develop-policy-for-removing-encampments-from-dangerous-highway-locations","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6699775-0ecf3aecb224ab49f70797ad35fcc712/orig.mp4?Expires=1770967021&Signature=HMJUFtwUvvVdvBG0pqSL4OXfyvyB~OBuCcNhV-3U6TKUsJI1oBGSUT3uBD6yz4ajI3T09Vm0tsDhU06szBm~MWr7pTFRf~JeA8v0FEdu2SQdKsEx1nTeI3JWlLmBnT-Lno~tOuYv5cF7CfmGvjj7xlm5MZP1LvK8Zmu~v-zPIJL7Y37d44T6RPBI00GSlTl~CsVL7rmE9lL2mUjCMdAk9MdE7A4Ph1DXXqkiEOQTxNLoTb4x~Q1ZHVCm8~H1RAp9dq3fBiHdO3GJF1K76GFIb6y9xleNVXishyx5eFELDOw5KaYbA7E4lflj23Z4PmhD1b7B-jiUsIOpKEMcORG1-A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","TN State Legislature","date","2025-03-25T00:00:00Z","article","The House Transportation Committee on March 25 passed House Bill 197, requiring the Tennessee Department of Transportation to develop and implement a policy for removing people and personal property used for camping at dangerous locations on state and interstate highways.

Sponsor Representative Leatherwood told the committee the measure directs the department to create a policy covering removal from locations “under a bridge or overpass or within an underpass of highways,” and to do so “through partnerships with municipal and county government, local law enforcement agencies, the Department of Safety, local homeless coalitions, local and state housing authorities, other local and state agencies, nonprofit organizations, and other entities that provide transitional housing and related services to persons experiencing homelessness.”

The bill, as amended, requires the department to enter into memoranda of understanding with local governments and service providers and sets out a process for coordination; the sponsor said the department may not clear a site until people have been moved off it. The sponsor also said an amendment adopted in subcommittee removed an earlier fiscal note and that the bill now carries a non‑significant fiscal impact.

Committee debate focused on how removals would be carried out and where people would be rehoused. Representative Towns questioned what alternatives would be available to people displaced by enforcement and urged attention to housing and services. Another member raised concerns that removing and disposing of personal property could be “cruel” if alternative shelter is unavailable and urged investment in shelters rather than site removals.

Representative Hawk argued for passage, saying the bill is about collaboration and safety: “I fear that some folks may be reading something into this legislation that's just not there. We're talking about collaboration. We're talking about safety.” He said the measure aims to match individuals with services they might not currently be accessing.

The committee voted 15 ayes and 4 nays to advance the bill; the chair announced it will move to the Government Operations committee (GovOps). The bill summary and amendment on the record include amendment code 4391.

The measure does not itself specify individual relocation destinations or require the Department of Transportation to finance shelter construction; it requires coordination with local providers and agencies to connect people with housing and services. The transcript records concerns from several members about shelter capacity, costs of site clearance, and protection of personal property during removals.

Next steps: the bill was reported favorably by the Transportation Committee and was assigned to GovOps for further consideration.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Transportation Committee\tMar 25, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The House Transportation Committee on March 25 passed House Bill 197, requiring the Tennessee Department of Transportation to develop and implement a policy for removing people and personal property used for camping at dangerous locations on state and interstate highways.","taxTitle","taxId",0,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":-5,"_68":69,"_70":-5,"_71":72,"_73":72},6699770,"Transportation committee advances seven bills, removes one from special calendar; votes recorded",1724,350000,2074000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2765009-1e5ab9a3b216bc51ac6294a1ae4b2356&start=350&end=2074","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2765009-1e5ab9a3b216bc51ac6294a1ae4b2356/thumbnail_350000.jpg","/articles/6699770/Transportation-committee-advances-seven-bills-removes-one-from-special-calendar-votes-recorded","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6699770-50a21159062b567f6e22a1df75f8d4ee/orig.mp4?Expires=1770967021&Signature=DN5dBzYGCnAJMFabqfol~AJUzfGn3s3WO3NyqIgQrhGtc23LXNrPWHBGRQvM57GklcGiMYCrWxak484aXl0qYR1ys4lnxTPkFGVyqLXAdhDZEbCJwS2leSMPO-k5HPJfLE88HQxWs7dZ2zw7FhuZgUxC~6RyXIa-Os70NbQRrDeUKcATVANgHz4o0nHfBpd3Cb~nPrlqvUTFotpEO1fB2axyoFKP8LeTDE0YY4JYmlVHqtB~S~R6q-zITwWzAPasH9CGbB1ehKsR63EX9jGJ2aRYOYFv11MIvD9jHwMED-QvJ2ApQQtb8KEfrRCWrw6Ma4rdiPyrBQWn7ZA0T1mz~A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Transportation Committee on March 25 considered eight agenda items, advancing seven bills to subsequent committees or the calendar and returning one item to the clerk after it was counted off notice three times.

Key outcomes

- House Bill 69 (Leader Lambreth): Creates a portal in the Secretary of State's office to check an applicant's criminal history and immigration status before voter registration; carries amendments 586 and 4931. Committee recorded 18 ayes, 1 nay; bill goes to Finance.

- House Bill 816 (Representative Travis): Amends the points assessed for operating a vehicle while driving privileges are canceled, suspended, or revoked, lowering the points from 8 to no more than 4; does not change fines or other penalties. Amendment 5205 was added. Committee vote: 20 ayes, 0 nays; bill goes to Finance.

- House Bill 749 (Representative Reeves): Prohibits recognition of out-of-state driver licenses issued specifically to individuals unlawfully present in the United States and requires the Department of Safety to list such licenses; driving with such a license would be a Class B misdemeanor. Committee vote: 16 ayes, 3 nays; bill goes to Calendar and Rules.

- House Bill 537 (Representative Harris, presented in absence of Leader Camper): Allows vehicle owners to present electronic copies of registration to avoid keeping paper registrations in vehicles; amendment 003706 adopted. Committee vote: 19 ayes, 0 nays; bill goes to Calendar and Rules. Sponsor said the Senate passed the bill 32-1.

- House Bill 212 (license plate omnibus): Annual omnibus bill for license plates with multiple enrolled amendments; committee recorded 19 ayes, 0 nays; bill goes to Finance. Sponsor said the omnibus combined roughly 44 amendments into a single amendment.

- House Bill 213 (transportation omnibus for naming highways, roads, bridges): Sponsor added three amendments (6089, 6095, 6211) and asked they be rolled into one amendment. Committee vote: 18 ayes, 0 nays; bill goes to Finance.

- Item removed from notice: House Bill 655 (special calendar item) was taken off notice after being counted three times and returned to the clerk's desk without objection.

Procedural notes

Several bills carried amendments adopted on the floor; where amendment codes were announced on the record they are listed above. The committee generally moved through the calendar efficiently; numerous sponsors asked for and received passage to the next committee or calendar with unanimous or near-unanimous tallies.

Votes at a glance (committee tallies)

HB 69 — 18 ayes, 1 nay — to Finance
HB 816 — 20 ayes, 0 nays — to Finance
HB 197 — 15 ayes, 4 nays — (see separate article)
HB 749 — 16 ayes, 3 nays — to Calendar and Rules
HB 537 — 19 ayes, 0 nays — to Calendar and Rules
HB 212 — 19 ayes, 0 nays — to Finance
HB 213 — 18 ayes, 0 nays — to Finance
HB 655 — taken off notice, returned to clerk

The committee adjourned after the scheduled calendar. Committee leaders praised members' work for the session and noted ongoing state transportation funding discussions.","The House Transportation Committee on March 25 advanced seven bills — ranging from license-plate changes to an electronic vehicle registration option — and returned one item to the clerk after three counts. Most measures passed with unanimous or near‑unanimous votes.","actionData","errors"]

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Transportation committee approves bill requiring TDOT to develop policy for removing encampments from dangerous highway locations

Transportation committee advances seven bills, removes one from special calendar; votes recorded