Tennessee Bill Could Absolve Stores of Abandoned Cart Responsibility

Proposed legislation aims to prevent municipalities from fining retailers for shopping carts left on public property.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 10:48pm

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A solitary shopping cart, partially obscured by shadows, sits alone on a dimly lit city street. The warm, golden glow of a nearby streetlight casts a soft, cinematic light on the scene, creating a nostalgic, melancholic mood.A lone shopping cart, abandoned on a quiet city street, symbolizes the ongoing debate over who should be responsible for cleaning up these ubiquitous symbols of modern consumerism.Today in Nashville

A new Tennessee bill, House Bill 1514, seeks to prohibit municipalities from penalizing retail stores if their shopping carts are taken and abandoned off the store's property. The bill has passed the state Senate and is now up for a vote in a House subcommittee.

Why it matters

The issue of abandoned shopping carts has long been a point of contention, with some cities attempting to hold stores accountable by imposing fines. This proposed legislation would remove that enforcement tool, potentially leaving communities to deal with the unsightly and sometimes hazardous problem of stray carts on their own.

The details

House Bill 1514 aims to stop municipalities from creating penalties for retailers whose shopping carts are taken from their property and left elsewhere. In 2025, the city of Hendersonville considered an ordinance that would have impounded abandoned carts and fined stores if they didn't retrieve them within 30 days. That proposal never moved forward, but the new state bill looks to prevent such local regulations altogether.

  • House Bill 1514 passed in the Tennessee Senate this week.
  • The bill is up for a vote in a House subcommittee next Tuesday, April 14.

The players

Jake McCalmon

State Representative (R-Franklin) who introduced House Bill 1514.

Christian Bratchie

Resident of Hermitage, Tennessee who says abandoned shopping carts can make an area look neglected.

David Miller

Resident of Hermitage, Tennessee who picks up and returns stray shopping carts during his daily walks.

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What they’re saying

“'Simply put, a municipality should not be able to fine a retail store when a shopping cart is taken off its property.'”

— Jake McCalmon, State Representative (R-Franklin)

“'I do think it brings down the community. It can make areas look neglected, with trash often building up around the carts.'”

— Christian Bratchie

“'I just don't like seeing trash on the street or anywhere, and if it's not too far, I will take it back to the store as I go.'”

— David Miller

What’s next

House Bill 1514 is up for a vote in a Tennessee House subcommittee on April 14. If passed, it would move on to a full House vote.

The takeaway

This proposed legislation highlights the ongoing debate over who should be responsible for abandoned shopping carts. While some communities have tried to hold retailers accountable, this bill aims to prevent such local enforcement efforts, potentially leaving the problem unresolved in many areas.