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HB0730 • 2026

Livestock

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 44 and Title 58, relative to animals.

Agriculture
Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Hulsey
Last action
2025-02-05
Official status
Withdrawn.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide specific details about indemnity amounts or removal of liability for disposing of dead animals.

Livestock Health Regulations

This bill changes how livestock health tests and vaccinations are approved in Tennessee and updates rules for paying owners when their animals are destroyed due to disease.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires the commissioner of agriculture and state veterinarian to get approval from a special committee before ordering animal tests or vaccines, except during a declared state of emergency.
  • Clarifies how much money owners will receive if their animals are destroyed because of disease.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Farmers and livestock owners in Tennessee
  • The commissioner of agriculture and state veterinarian

Terms To Know

Indemnity
Money paid to someone whose property is damaged or destroyed.
State of emergency
A situation declared by the governor when there's a serious threat to public safety, health, or welfare.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how much money will be available for indemnities.
  • It is unclear if this bill will pass since it was withdrawn on February 5, 2025.

Bill History

  1. Date Tennessee General Assembly

  2. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Withdrawn.

  3. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  4. 2025-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
<BillNo> <Sponsor>

HOUSE BILL 730
By Hulsey

HB0730
002642
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 44
and Title 58, relative to animals.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 44-2-102, is amended by deleting
subdivision (4) and substituting:
(4)
(A) Recommend tests or vaccinations of animals within this state or
imported into this state for the purpose of protecting the health of animals in this
state; and
(B) Order tests or vaccinations of animals within this state or imported
into this state for the purpose of protecting the health of animals in this state, if
each specific vaccination and test ordered has received prior approval from the
joint government operations committee of the house of representatives and the
senate. In the event of a disease outbreak during a state of emergency declared
by the governor, the governor may temporarily approve tests and vaccinations for
animals that the commissioner and state veterinarian may order without prior
approval from the joint government operations committee;
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 44-2-102, is amended by deleting
subdivision (6).
SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 44-2-105, is amended by deleting the
section and substituting instead:
The commissioner, through rules, shall establish procedures for the payment of
indemnities for animals destroyed under the authority of this chapter. Indemnity under

- 2 - 002642

this section is based on, but not limited to, the value of the animal and the availability of
funds for that purpose.
SECTION 4. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.