Bill To Keep Recovery Houses Farther Away From Tennessee Children To Be Heard In House Committee Next Week

Image Credit: TN General Assembly

The Tennessee Conservative [By Paula Gomes] –

A bill aimed at keeping recovery houses farther away from Tennessee children passed out of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee on Wednesday in an 8 to 0 vote and has been referred to the Senate Calendar Committee. 

Senate Bill 1381 (SB1381), sponsored by Senator Bo Watson (R-Hixson-District11), would allow local governments to adopt ordinances that require a sober living home to be located at least 1,000 feet away from any K-12 school, preschool or daycare facility.

The bill would also require that operators of homes for individuals recovering from alcohol, drug, or other substance abuse seek a clinical referral from a licensed healthcare provider before a placement in a recovery house is made. The referral would have to state that the placement in such a home is medically indicated for the individual.

In addition, any ordinance or resolution that a local governing body may make must also comply with the Fair Housing Act and Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

The Tennessee Conservative reported at the end of 2024 that a communal house for recovering alcoholics and drug addicts — run by offenders — was found located near an elementary school in Hamilton County.

The corresponding House Bill 0783 (HB0783), sponsored by Representative Greg Martin (R-Hamilton County-District 26), is scheduled to be heard in the House State and Local Government Committee on Wednesday, April 2nd, 2025.

Contact information for members of the committee is listed below. 

HB0783/SB1381 Summary: As introduced, authorizes local governments to regulate sober living homes for recovery from alcohol, drug, and substance abuse to the extent such regulation complies with the Fair Housing Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act, including prescribing a distance requirement for such homes from primary schools, preschools, and daycares, regulating the location and operation of such homes, and requiring that prospective residents receive a clinical referral for placement in a sober living home.

Rep.john.crawford@capitol.tn.gov, rep.dave.wright@capitol.tn.gov, rep.rush.bricken@capitol.tn.gov, rep.jeff.burkhart@capitol.tn.gov, rep.ed.butler@capitol.tn.gov, rep.michele.carringer@capitol.tn.gov, rep.jesse.chism@capitol.tn.gov, rep.vincent.dixie@capitol.tn.gov, rep.rick.eldridge@capitol.tn.gov, rep.dan.howell@capitol.tn.gov, rep.tom.leatherwood@capitol.tn.gov, rep.mary.littleton@capitol.tn.gov, rep.greg.martin@capitol.tn.gov, rep.jake.mccalmon@capitol.tn.gov, rep.larry.miller@capitol.tn.gov, rep.bo.mitchell@capitol.tn.gov, rep.jerome.moon@capitol.tn.gov, rep.jason.powell@capitol.tn.gov, rep.dennis.powers@capitol.tn.gov, rep.tim.rudd@capitol.tn.gov, rep.iris.rudder@capitol.tn.gov, rep.gabby.salinas@capitol.tn.gov, rep.todd.warner@capitol.tn.gov

About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.