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HB0882 • 2026

Environment and Conservation, Department of

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 11; Title 13; Title 43; Title 44; Title 64; Title 66; Title 67; Title 68 and Title 69, relative to agriculture.

Agriculture Land Taxes
Active

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

Sponsor
Travis, Watson
Last action
2026-02-04
Official status
Taken off notice for cal in s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee of Finance, Ways, and Means Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide information on the environmental and agricultural impacts of the bill.

Agricultural Activities Protection Act

This bill stops the Department of Environment and Conservation from regulating certain farming activities involving topsoil, rock removal, or pond building on less than three acres of land with a greenbelt classification.

What This Bill Does

  • Prohibits the Department of Environment and Conservation from regulating farming activities involving topsoil, rock removal, or pond building if these activities occur in an area that is less than three acres in size and the property has a greenbelt classification.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Farmers who own less than three acres of land with a greenbelt classification.
  • The Department of Environment and Conservation in Tennessee.

Terms To Know

Greenbelt
Land that is protected from development to preserve its natural state or agricultural use.
Agricultural, Forest and Open Space Land Act of 1976
A Tennessee law that provides tax incentives for landowners who keep their property as open space, forest, or farmland.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill only affects specific farming activities on small greenbelt properties and does not cover other types of environmental regulations.
  • It is unclear how this change will impact the environment or agricultural practices in Tennessee.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Taken off notice for cal in s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee of Finance, Ways, and Means Committee

  2. 2026-01-28 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 2/4/2026

  3. 2026-01-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Meeting Canceled

  4. 2026-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 1/28/2026

  5. 2026-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Meeting Canceled

  6. 2026-01-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 1/21/2026

  7. 2025-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee to First Calendar of 2026

  8. 2025-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/9/2025

  9. 2025-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee

  10. 2025-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass; ref to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee

  11. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee for 4/1/2025

  12. 2025-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee to 4/1/2025

  13. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee for 3/25/2025

  14. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee

  15. 2025-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Re-refer to Senate Calendar Committee

  16. 2025-03-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Consent Calendar 2 for 3/17/2025

  17. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee for 3/19/2025

  18. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee

  19. 2025-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee

  20. 2025-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Ref. to Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee

  21. 2025-03-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee calendar for 3/12/2025

  22. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee

  23. 2025-02-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, caption bill, held on desk - pending amdt.

  24. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  25. 2025-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  26. 2025-01-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  27. 2025-01-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SENATE BILL 281
By Watson

HOUSE BILL 882
By Travis

HB0882
001450
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4;
Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 11; Title 13; Title 43;
Title 44; Title 64; Title 66; Title 67; Title 68 and
Title 69, relative to agriculture.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 3, Part 5, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:
Notwithstanding another law to the contrary, the department of environment and
conservation shall not regulate or otherwise oversee farming activities involving topsoil,
rock removal, or the building of a pond when such activities are conducted in an area
that is less than three (3) acres in size, and the property on which the activities occur
has a greenbelt classification pursuant to the Agricultural, Forest and Open Space Land
Act of 1976, compiled in title 67, chapter 5, part 10.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it.