ACTION ALERT: Tell Your Lawmakers to Preserve Tennessee's Farmland!

Urge your lawmakers to preserve Tennessee's farmland by supporting SB2099 Johnson/HB1890 Lamberth. SB2099/HB1890 establishes the "Tennessee Farmland Preservation Fund", a voluntary, incentive-based program which allows farmers to apply for enrollment and receive protection from developmental pressures in their rapidly growing communities. By supporting this legislation, farmland in the Volunteer State remains protected and farmers' ability to remain profitable is preserved.

Click Here to Take Action

Looking Back

It's been yet another busy week in Nashville. Here are the highlights:

HJR81 - Constitutional Amendment Prohibiting Statewide Property Tax Advances in Senate Judiciary Committee, heads to Finance
On Tuesday, Senator Niceley (R - Strawberry Plains) passed HJR81 in the Senate Judiciary Committee, and the proposed constitutional amendment awaits consideration in the Finance, Ways, and Means Committee. This legislation, another Farm Bureau Priority Issue, is a continuation of the discussion from the House last year on the effort to ban the state of Tennessee from collecting a statewide property tax. A part of a multi-year effort, this Constitutional Amendment must pass the Senate with a simple majority this year to move forward.

SB2486/HB2496 - Solar TACIR Study Implementation Passes Senate Floor
SB2496 by Walley (R - Savannah) which implements the recommendations set forth by the Tennessee Advisory Committee on Intergovernmental Relations in their September 2023 (linked here) study, unanimously passed Thursday morning on the Senate Floor Consent Calendar. This legislation is another Farm Bureau Priority Issue, and hopes to provide guidance and accountability for landowners, local governments, and solar development companies. The companion legislation, HB2496 by Hurt (R - Halls) will be considered in the House Subcommittee next week.

HB1894/SB1903 - Human Vaccines Delivered in Food Advances in House Health Committee
Representative Cepicky (R - Culleoka) presented and passed HB1894 in the House Health Committee on Wednesday. This legislation provides clarity and guidance on food products which may be brought to market in the future with the purpose of transmitting a vaccine to humans. Although this technology is still early in the research and development phase and is not yet on the market, this legislation would treat these products as a "drug" and not a "food" in terms of regulatory oversight.

HB2079/SB1957 - Veterinary Practice Clarification Head to House and Senate Floor
HB2079 by Representative Terry (R - Murfreesboro) and SB1957 by Haile (R - Gallatin) could both be up for consideration as soon as next week on the House and Senate Floors. As proposed, the legislation seeks to provide additional protection and assurance to practicing veterinarians in instances where abuse may be determined by the professional. Farm Bureau has a neutral position on this legislation.

Budget Hearings Continue

The Senate Energy, Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee heard from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture on Wednesday as they presented a deeper look into their 2024-2025 proposed budget. Budget Hearings will continue as session progresses. Stay tuned for more information. 

TN Department of Agriculture Budget Overview

Looking Ahead

As we near the end of February, a few Farm Bureau Priority Issues are moving in the House:

SB2486/HB2496 - Solar TACIR Study Implementation in House Agriculture Subcommittee
As mentioned above, HB2496 by Hurt (R - Halls) will be considered in the House Subcommittee next week. The legislation implements the recommendations set forth by the Tennessee Advisory Committee on Intergovernmental Relations in their September 2023 (linked here) study. This legislation is another Farm Bureau Priority Issue, and hopes to provide guidance and accountability for landowners, local governments, and solar development companies.

SB2099/HB1890 - Farmland Preservation Fund in House Agriculture Subcommittee
Another priority issue, and administrative priority from Governor Lee, is on the calendar Tuesday, February 27, in the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee. The legislation, which has a proposed $25 million investment from Governor Lee, would allow for a voluntary program to be established by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture in order to keep agricultural land in production in Tennessee. An amendment with more information is pending at this time, but hopes to provide clarity to the questions raised in the subcommittee meeting on February 13th (watch here).

House and Senate Committees Announce Start of Final Calendars

As legislation starts to move quicker in both chambers, committees in both the House and the Senate have announced their plans for a final calendar. The final calendar in the Senate Energy, Agriculture, and Natural Resources Committee will be heard on Wednesday, March 6th. Similarly, the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee will begin their final calendar the week following, starting Tuesday, March 12th. 

As more details are released, we'll update last calendars here!

Farm Bureau 2024 Priority Issues

Farm Bureau on the Hill - February 22, 2024 

Celebrate National FFA Week by catching the latest updates from the hill with Amy Beckham and Shelby Vannoy.

You can listen to any of this year's episodes anytime on tnfarmbureau.org or subscribe on Apple/Google Podcasts or Spotify.

View Next Week's Calendars

Keep up with what's happening in Nashville - view next week's calendars for Senate and House Committees and Subcommittees by clicking the links below:

Senate Committee Calendars

House Full Committee Calendars

House Subcommittee Calendars

Visiting Session: What You Need to Know

The House has adopted an amended set of rules for the second session of the 113th General Assembly. Of the changes, some include limited bill presentation time in committee, tighter processes on posing parliamentary inquiries, and instances when a member may be out of order. 

Of note to our membership, there is a new process for observing the House sessions in person. The public are always welcome to the Capitol for House and Senate sessions, and one side of the House gallery remains open to all on a first come, first serve basis. However, the other side of the gallery is now limited to those who have received a ticket from a House member. If you are planning a trip to Nashville to watch a Monday or Thursday floor session and need assistance connecting with your lawmaker to secure a ticket, please contact Kevin Hensley or Shelby Vannoy.

2024 Farm Bureau Legislative Visits

Save the date and make plans to attend the 2024 Farm Bureau Legislative Visits held in Nashville, Tennessee on March 12 and 13, 2024. Join fellow volunteer leaders as they meet with their state elected officials and discuss key priority issues. Attendees will be briefed by staff prior to your visits.

Contact your County Farm Bureau for more information and to register.

National Ag Day is March 19, 2024

Join us in celebrating National Ag Day on March 19, 2024. We're excited to be a part of Tennessee Ag Day on the Hill hosted on the steps of the State Capitol in Nashville, Tennessee. To check out Ag Day resources and tools, check out the link below.

National Ag Day Resources

Bill Tracking

Agriculture

SB154 Niceley | HB393 Reedy
Defines "itinerant livestock slaughter", "itinerant slaughterer", and "sanitary conditions" as used in the bill. Allows an itinerant slaughterer to slaughter livestock owned by a person on a farm where the livestock was raised if the meat from the slaughter is distributed only to the owner or owners of the animal, is conducted under sanitary conditions, and is slaughtered in a humane method.
House Status: Placed Behind the Budget
Senate Status: Passed
Farm Bureau Position: Monitoring

SB1149 Niceley | HB1132 Gant
Makes certain changes concerning establishment of a veterinarian-client-patient relationship; authorizes continuation of such relationship for up to 24 months, rather than 12 months, in case of livestock.
House Status: Referred to Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee
Senate Status: Referred to Energy, Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee
Farm Bureau Position: Monitoring

SB1914 Niceley | HB2480 Cochran
Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act.
House Status: Introduced
Senate Status: Referred to Energy, Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee
Farm Bureau Position: Support

SB2035 Kyle | HB2029 Jones
Requires agricultural equipment manufacturers to make available to an independent repair provider or owner of the manufacturer’s equipment any documentation, parts, software, firmware, tools, or data intended for use with the equipment or parts and to reset an electronic lock or function disabled in the course of providing services with the exception of information regarding trade secrets and equipment no longer available to the manufacturer.
House Status: Referred to Banking and Consumer Affairs Subcommittee
Senate Status: Referred to Commerce and Labor Committee
Farm Bureau Position: Monitoring

SB2099 Johnson | HB1890 Lamberth
Establishes a program to allow the department of agriculture to acquire and administer real estate interests in the state, including the administration of grants to preserve farm and forestry land. Creates the Farmland Preservation Fund to be used for the program. Specifies provisions that must be included in an agricultural easement acquired through the program.
House Status: Set for Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee 2/27/24
Senate Status: Referred to Energy, Agriculture, and Natural Resources Committee
Farm Bureau Position: Support

Animal Health and Technology

SB1760 Niceley | HB1945 Carr
Requires the department of agriculture to publish on its website a list of all vaccines that are approved for use in livestock or poultry in this state, to be divided into separate lists for genetically engineered vaccines and vaccines that are not genetically engineered. Broadly captioned.
House Status: Referred to Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee
Senate Status: Referred to Energy, Agriculture, and Natural Resources Committee
Farm Bureau Position: Monitoring

SB1903 Hensley | HB1894 Cepicky
Defines food that contains a vaccine or vaccine material as a drug for purposes of the Tennessee Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. Broadly captioned.
House Status: Referred to Calendar and Rules Committee
Senate Status: Referred to Health and Welfare Committee
Farm Bureau Position: Support

SB1957 Haile | HB2079 Terry
Establishes a process for a licensed veterinarian to report suspected animal cruelty in violation of certain criminal laws and testify in a judicial or administrative proceeding concerning the care of the animal without being subject to criminal or civil liability. Broadly captioned.
House Status: Set for Floor Consent Calendar 2/26/24
Senate Status: Referred to Calendar Committee
Farm Bureau Position: Monitoring

SB1974 Pody | HB2708 Garrett
Prohibits the manufacture, sale, or delivery, holding, or offering for sale of any livestock carcass, part of any livestock carcass, or meat food product that was derived or prepared from livestock that received an mRNA vaccine or vaccine material unless the product labeling contains a conspicuous notification, in a type size of not less than 10 point font, that the product was derived or prepared from livestock that received an mRNA vaccine or vaccine material. Broadly captioned.
House Status: Referred to Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee
Senate Status: Referred to Energy, Agriculture, and Natural Resources Committee
Farm Bureau Position: Oppose

Commerce

SB2133 Lowe | HB2479 Cochran
Specifies that an intrastate commercial good that is produced in this state and that remains within the borders of this state is not subject to federal law or federal regulation under the authority of congress to regulate interstate commerce. Defines an "intrastate commercial good" as goods that are grown, harvested, manufactured, or otherwise produced within this state, using raw materials sourced within this state, remains within the borders of this state, and is offered for sale and sold to another within this state.
House Status: Referred to Business and Utilities Subcommittee
Senate Status: Set for Commerce and Labor Committee 2/27/24
Farm Bureau Position: Monitoring

SB2357 Niceley | HB2877 Todd
Increases from $25 to $40, the deposit amount that an agency cannot accept less than from a new owner adopting a cat or dog that has not been spayed or neutered, and to ensure that the spaying or neutering occurs, the agency permits the owner to receive a refund of the deposit upon confirming the spaying or neutering. Broadly captioned.
House Status: Introduced
Senate Status: Referred to Energy, Agriculture, and Natural Resources Committee
Farm Bureau Position: Monitoring

SB2603 Niceley | HB2754 Carr
Clarifies that a cell-cultured protein offered for sale, sold, or distributed in this state and labeled or advertised as meat, a meat food product, poultry, or a poultry food product is misbranded under the Tennessee Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. Specifies that under the Tennessee Meat and Poultry Inspection Act the definitions of "meat," "meat food product," "poultry," or "poultry food product" do not include a cell-cultured protein. Broadly captioned.
House Status: Set for Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee 2/27/24
Senate Status: Referred to Commerce and Labor Committee
Farm Bureau Position: Oppose

SB2870 Niceley | HB2860 Lynn
Prohibits the importation, sale, and distribution of cell-cultured food products in this state. Specifies that a violation is subject to a fine $1,000,000. Authorized the commissioner to revoke the person's permit for a food establishment if the person, or an employee of the person's food establishment, is found to have violated this section.
House Status: Referred to Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee
Senate Status: Referred to Commerce and Labor Committee
Farm Bureau Position: Monitoring

Criminal Law

HJR38 Reedy
Proposes an amendment to Article I, Section 26 of the Constitution of Tennessee to remove the provision that authorizes the legislature to regulate the wearing of arms with a view to prevent crime and to clarify that citizens have a right to keep and bear arms for their defense, and not just for common defense.
House Status: Deferred to Constitutional Amendment Calendar
Farm Bureau Position: Monitoring

SB2040 Rose | HB2265 Boyd
Adds using, altering, encrypting, ransoming, destroying, or otherwise rendering unavailable without authorization, electronic data, electronic devices, or network providers of critical infrastructure or of a farm to the offense of committing criminal infrastructure vandalism. Broadly captioned.
House Status: Set for Floor Consent Calendar 2/26/24
Senate Status: Set for Judiciary Committee 2/27/24
Farm Bureau Position: Support

Education

SB461 Watson | HB902 Hurt
Establishes the future of work commission to govern the activities of the Tennessee Education and Workforce Data Center established in the department of finance and administration's office of evidence and impact to collect, conduct research using, respond to public records requests for, and publish reports regarding certain education and workforce data to create a web-based platform to provide an overview of progress from education into the workforce.
House Status: Taken off Notice in Education Administration Committee
Senate Status: Referred to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee
Farm Bureau Position: Monitoring

Environment and Nature

SB91 Hensley | HB18 Cepicky
Prohibits the department of environment and conservation from applying certain criteria that would result in the classification of real property as a wetland where the property is classified as prior converted cropland exempt from classification of a wetland by federal law. 
House Status: Referred to Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee
Senate Status: Taken off notice in Energy, Agriculture, and Natural Resources
Farm Bureau Position: Monitoring

SB631 Taylor | HB1054 Vaughan
Prohibits the department of environment and conservation from applying criteria that will result in the classification of real property as a wetland, or otherwise regulating real property as a wetland, unless the property is classified as a wetland under federal law. 
House Status: Referred to Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee
Senate Status: Taken off notice in Energy, Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee 
Farm Bureau Position: Monitoring

SB1751 Rose | HB2142 Hemmer
Increases the penalty from a Class C misdemeanor to a Class B misdemeanor for removing a wild animal, wild fowl, or fish while trespassing on land. Increases various fines under $500 to not more than $500. Broadly captioned.
House Status: Referred to Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee
Senate Status: Taken off Notice in Energy, Agriculture, and Natural Resources Committee 
Farm Bureau Position: Support

SB1845 Stevens | HB1666 Reedy
Expands the areas served by the West Tennessee River Basin Authority to include Perry, Stewart, Houston, and Humphreys counties. Allows the county governments to be empowered, but are not required, to impose taxes to accomplish the programs set forward by these counties.
House Status: Set for Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee 2/28/24
Senate Status: Referred to Energy, Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee
Farm Bureau Position: Support

SB1958 Walley | HB2436 Moody
Reduces, from 30 to 25, the number of days within which the commissioner is required to declare a county to be a "Johnson grass extermination area" following receipt of notice from the county's legislative body that it has elected such designation. Broadly captioned.
House Status: Introduced
Senate Status: Referred to Energy, Agriculture, and Natural Resources
Farm Bureau Position: Monitoring

SB2089 Johnson | HB1689 Lamberth
Expands the permitted uses for money received by a county for each tire sold in the county to include removal of illegally disposed waste tires from public or private property. Authorizes the department of environment and conservation to provide funds to a local government for the investigation and clean-up of privately owned, unpermitted waste tire disposal sites. Makes other changes regarding waste tire haulers. Part of Administration Package.
House Status: Set for Finance, Ways, and Means Committee 2/27/24
Senate Status: Set for Energy, Agriculture, and Natural Resources Committee 2/28/24
Farm Bureau Position: Monitoring

SB2579 Taylor | HB2149 Vaughan
Clarifies that an ephemeral wet weather conveyance is not a stream under the Water Quality Control Act. Defines "isolated wetlands" and clarifies that isolated wetlands are not waters under the act. Prohibits requiring a permit or other authorization under the act for impacts to isolated wetlands. Makes other related changes including not being subject to a requirement related to riparian buffers, cumulative impact analysis, anti-degradation, mitigation, or another regulatory purpose or requirement. Details that a wetland shall not be designated as Exceptional Tennessee Water based solely on the presence of aquatic plants, semi-aquatic plants, or other vegetation.
House Status: Referred to Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee
Senate Status: Referred to Energy, Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee
Farm Bureau Position: Monitoring

Local Government

SB2851 Roberts | HB2896 Kumar
Authorizes a cooperative that services Stewart, Cheatham, Robertson, Sumner, and Montgomery counties to provide broadband service within the jurisdictional limits of Springfield. Broadly captioned.
House Status: Referred to Business and Utilities Subcommittee
Senate Status: Referred to Commerce and Labor Committee
Farm Bureau Position: Monitoring

Professions and Licensure

SB1105 Bowling | HB592 Reedy
Repeals the Soil Scientist Licensure Act of 2009.
House Status: Passed
Senate Status: Taken Off Notice in Energy, Agriculture, and Natural Resources Committee
Farm Bureau Position: Monitoring

SB2584 Taylor | HB2235 Hicks
Requires that each year of progressive practical experience required of an applicant to qualify as a registered land surveyor be spent under the direct supervision of a practicing professional land surveyor rather than just part of the time an applicant receives such experience. Adds requirement that certain applicants be certified as a professional land surveyor in training (PLSIT) as part of the application to qualify as a registered land surveyor.
House Status: Referred to Business and Utilities Subcommittee
Senate Status: Set for Commerce and Labor Committee 2/27/24
Farm Bureau Position: Monitoring

Property

SB1659 Walley | HB2054 Eldridge
Increases from 1,500 to 5,000 the number of acres of land that may be placed within one property tax jurisdiction for purposes of classification and assessment as agricultural, forest, or open space land. Increases from 1,500 to 5,000 the maximum acreage available to a real property owner that may be classified as forest or open space land.
House Status: Referred to Property and Planning Subcommittee
Senate Status: Set for Finance, Ways, and Means Committee 2/27/24
Farm Bureau Position: Support

SB1777 Swann | HB1734 Moon
Revises the minimum size requirements for one of two noncontiguous tracts of property to qualify as agricultural land under the greenbelt law, from a size of at least 10 acres to less than 15 acres.
House Status: Set for Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee 2/28/24
Senate Status: Referred to State and Local Government Committee
Farm Bureau Position: Monitoring

SB1778 Swann | HB1646 Moon
Reduces, from 15 acres to 12 acres, the minimum size requirements for property to qualify as agricultural land under the greenbelt law.
House Status: Referred to Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee
Senate Status: Referred to State and Local Government Committee
Farm Bureau Position: Monitoring

SB1946 Walley | HB2057 Carr
Replaces the six-year reappraisal cycle with the requirement for counties to choose between a reappraisal program that requires reappraisal to occur once per year, once every two years, once every three years, or once every four years. Also details requirements for the reappraisal programs including the updates to reappraisal requirements and procedures, maximum costs to assess property within a city, and assessments of cemeteries.
House Status: Set for Finance, Ways, and Means Committee 2/27/24
Senate Status: Set for State and Local Government Committee 2/27/24
Farm Bureau Position: Monitoring

SB1984 Niceley | HB2120 Eldridge
Excludes recreational facilities, recreational purposes, and parks from the definition of "public use" as it applies to eminent domain.
House Status: Set for Civil Justice Subcommittee 2/27/24
Senate Status: Referred to Judiciary Committee
Farm Bureau Position: Monitoring

SB2895 Bailey | HB2071 Williams
Specifies circumstances in which a referendum will not be required to effectuate annexation of territory. Removes repealer provision for exceptions to the referendum requirement.
House Status: Set for Local Government Committee 3/5/24
Senate Status: Filed for Introduction
Farm Bureau Position: Monitoring

Public Employees

SB2896 Bailey | HB2767 Grills
Classifies as state employees for purposes of defense and other related provisions, soil and water conservation district board of supervisors, employees, officers, and agents, and persons designated by a soil and water conservation district as participants in volunteer programs authorized by such districts.
House Status: Referred to Public Service Subcommittee
Senate Status: Referred to Energy, Agriculture, and Natural Resources Committee
Farm Bureau Position: Monitoring

Taxation

HJR81 Darby | Niceley
Proposes additional language in Article II, Section 28 to prohibit the general assembly from levying, authorizing, or otherwise permitting a state tax on property.
House Status: Passed
Senate Status: Referred to Finance, Ways, and Means 
Farm Bureau Position: Support

SB2103 Johnson | HB1893 Lamberth
Deletes the provision requiring that the measure of the franchise tax must not be less than the actual value of the real or tangible property owned or used by a taxpayer in this state. Authorizes the commissioner of revenue to issue refunds under certain conditions to taxpayers who properly file a claim for refund for taxes paid under that provision.
House Status: Referred to Finance, Ways and Means Committee
Senate Status: Set for Finance, Ways and Means Committee 2/27/24
Farm Bureau Position: Monitoring

SB2218 Powers | HB1902 Burkhart
Requires the payment of greenbelt rollback taxes in full at closing when greenbelt property is sold.
House Status: Set for Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee 2/28/24
Senate Status: Referred to State and Local Government Committee
Farm Bureau Position: Monitoring

Transportation

SB1717 Hensley | HB1730 Capley
Requires all written driver license examinations to be administered in English only. Prohibits use of a translation dictionary, electronic device, or interpreter to assist with the examination.
House Status: Referred to Transportation Subcommittee
Senate Status: Set for Transportation and Safety Committee 2/28/24
Farm Bureau Position: Monitoring

SB2067 Niceley | HB2128 Wright
Authorizes issuance of an antique motor vehicle license plate to farm trucks older than 25 years old that are used for certain agricultural or horticultural purposes and not for general transportation.
House Status: Set for Transportation Subcommittee 2/28/24
Senate Status: Referred to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee
Farm Bureau Position: Support

Public Policy Staff
Kevin Hensley, Director
Kristen Walker, Associate Director | Commodity and Industry Relations
Shelby Vannoy, Assistant Director
Roxann Sanders, Public Policy Associate

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