CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The city’s 2026 legislative agenda focuses on road projects, fire department upgrades and stricter code enforcement. If approved at Thursday’s City Council meeting, the wish list will be sent to the 114th Tennessee General Assembly.
“We wanted to keep this very much focused on things that we need for the community, and I would absolutely ask for your support in taking this unanimously forward to our legislators,” said Chairman Stacey Streetman at the Sept. 25 Legislative Liaison Committee meeting.
City Council member Ambar Marquis voiced concerns about vague language in the proposals. “I just want to make sure what we send up is exactly what we want, that they know we need this done on this road,” Marquis said.
Streetman responded, “We will also, while meeting the legislators, talk about these (plans) in detail.” She later assured Marquis, “I’ll be sure and look it over and work with the clerks so we can have it written exactly how it needs to be.”
Road plans in Clarksville wish list
The plan includes several major road projects. On Interstate 24, the city proposes widening the interstate from the Kentucky state line to I-65 in Nashville. On Ashland City Road, widening is requested from Madison Street and MLK Jr. Parkway to South Riverside Drive and Cumberland Drive. The agenda also calls for upgrades to State Highway 374 from Dunbar Cave Road to Madison Street and continued work on the Highway 374 extension. It further supports the next steps on Rossview Road, with the Metropolitan Planning Organization preparing a technical report before an environment review begins.
Council member Jimmy Brown added in reference to the Highway 374 extension, “With that road being completed, that would alleviate a lot of traffic on Providence Boulevard. That would help the traffic inside the city tremendously.”
The plan is to extend 374 from its current terminus at Dover Road south and east to connect with Highway 149, creating the southwest loop around Clarksville. It will require building a bridge over the Cumberland River near Smith Branch Road.
Code violations, fire station safety
The city is also asking lawmakers to amend state law to explicitly define repeat code violations and set higher fines for each repeat offense.
City leaders want to establish a grant program to improve existing fire stations and build new ones. Officials cite mold problems, unmet cancer-prevention standards and the need for separate changing facilities as the number of female firefighters grows.
The agenda also seeks laws requiring hospitals and covered entities to disclose how they use 340B drug savings. The 340B drug savings program allows participating hospitals to buy outpatient drugs at discounts ranging from 25% to 50%, allowing providers to pass along savings to patients. This measure would mandate reporting on the percentage applied, ensuring patient costs were reduced and both uninsured and underinsured people received discounted pricing.
In addition, the city is asking for approval to create a land bank that would acquire and repurpose abandoned or tax-delinquent properties. The program supports affordable housing and promotes neighborhood revitalization under the Restore Clarksville Initiative.
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