The following definitions apply to these rules, unless the context requires otherwise:

1. (1) Act. The Resilient Tennessee Revolving Loan Fund Act of 2024, T.C.A §§ 58-02-901 to - 905.
2. (2) Administration Costs. Costs incurred by the Agency to manage the Fund.
3. (3) Agency. The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA).
4. (4) Applicant. Local Government that submits an application for a Loan from the Fund.
5. (5) Authorized Borrower Representative. Any person with the authority to act on behalf of the Borrower.
6. (6) Borrower. Local Government or other entity or person which has entered into a Loan Agreement with the Agency.
7. (7) Cost Share. The “non-federal share” or “match” portion of a federally assisted Project that is not paid by the federal government.
8. (8) Default. A Borrower’s failure to abide by the terms of the Loan Agreement.
9. (9) Director. The Director of the Agency.
10. (10) Disbursement. The transfer of Loan Monies paid from the Fund to the Borrower in accordance with a Loan Agreement.
11. (11) Division. Division of State Government Finance of the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury.
12. (12) FEMA. The Federal Emergency Management Agency.
13. (13) Fund. The Resilient Tennessee Revolving Loan Fund (RTRLF).
14. (14) Hazard Mitigation. Any sustained action taken to reduce or eliminate the long-term risk to life and property from hazard events. It is an ongoing process that occurs before, during and after disasters and serves to break the cycle of damage and repair in hazardous areas.
15. (15) Hazards and Risks. A hazard is a natural or human-caused event or condition that has the potential to cause harm. Examples include flooding, severe storms (including hurricanes, tornadoes, windstorms, and winter storms), seismic events, drought, wildfires, and extreme temperatures. A risk is the combination of the likelihood of hazard occurring and the magnitude of its consequences.
16. (16) Intended Use Plan. Document that outlines the Agency’s goals, processes, and criteria for managing the Fund.
17. (17) Inter-Agency Agreement. The agreement between the Division and the Agency outlining the responsibilities for the management of the Fund.
18. (18) Loan. Funds extended to a Borrower under the Act that are to be repaid.
19. (19) Loan Agreement. The written agreement that specifies the details of the Loan, including the amount of money loaned, the repayment terms, and what happens if the Borrower Defaults on the Loan.
20. (20) Loan Monies. Money disbursed from the Fund to the Borrowers.
21. (21) Loan Repayments. The payments on account of principal and interest on the Loan.
22. (22) Local Government. A Tennessee county, incorporated town, city, or metropolitan government.
23. (23) Local Hazard Mitigation Plan. A document that outlines a Borrower strategy for reducing the impact of natural disasters on life and property.
24. (24) Low-Income Geographic Areas. A region where the per capita income is at 80% or less of the national average, or where the unemployment rate over the most recent twenty-four (24) month period, is at least 1 percentage point higher than the national average.
25. (25) Maturity Date. The date on which the principal amount of the Loan along with any accrued interest becomes due.
26. (26) Project. The activity or task the Agency identifies in the Loan Agreement for which the Borrower may expend, obligate, or commit funds.
27. (27) Requisition. The request for Disbursement of Loan Monies.
28. (28) Request for Applications. Document issued by the Agency that outlines the scope of the Loan application process, eligible Projects, and a timeline for Project completion.
29. (29) Review Panel. The group of individuals who will determine which Loans are approved and denied.
30. (30) Scoring Rubric. The set of relevant criteria that will be used to determine which applications are approved by the Review Panel.
31. (31) State Hazard Mitigation Plan. A document that outlines a state’s strategy for reducing the impact of natural disasters on life and property.
32. (32) State-Shared Taxes. Meaning as established by T.C.A. § 4-31-102, as amended.

33. (33) STORM Act. The Federal Safeguarding Tomorrow through Ongoing Risk Mitigation Act (Pub.

    1. L. No. 116-284).

       1. (34) STORM Act Team. Employees assigned by the Agency to carry out the RTRLF Program.
       2. (35) Technical Assistance. A process of providing targeted support to a Local Government to help with a need or resource gap.
       3. (36) Unobligated State-Shared Taxes. State-Shared Taxes which have not been pledged or applied to any other prior indebtedness.

Authority: T.C.A. §§ 4-5-201, et seq.; 58-2-103, et seq.; and 58-2-905. Administrative History: New rules filed October 30, 2025; effective January 28, 2026.