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HB0983 • 2026

Agriculture, Dept. of

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 1-3-105; Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 9; Title 13; Title 43; Title 44; Title 48; Title 49; Title 50; Title 61; Title 64; Title 66; Title 67; Title 68 and Title 69, relative to increasing opportunities for prosperity in rural areas.

Agriculture
Active

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

Sponsor
Behn, Oliver
Last action
2025-03-26
Official status
Taken off notice for cal in s/c Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee of Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on which duties are moved or funding amounts for the Office of Rural Prosperity.

Tennessee Office of Rural Prosperity Act

This bill allows the commissioner of agriculture to designate an existing organizational unit within the Tennessee Department of Agriculture as the Office of Rural Prosperity and consolidate duties related to improving rural communities.

What This Bill Does

  • Allows the commissioner of agriculture to designate an existing organizational unit within the department as the Office of Rural Prosperity.
  • Consolidates some or all of the department's duties related to improving rural communities into this new office.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Tennessee Department of Agriculture
  • Rural communities in Tennessee

Terms To Know

Commissioner of Agriculture
The person who leads and manages the Tennessee Department of Agriculture.
Organizational unit
A part or division within an organization, like a department or office.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not specify which duties will be moved to the new Office of Rural Prosperity.
  • Does not say how much money will be given to this new office.

Bill History

  1. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Taken off notice for cal in s/c Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee of Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee

  2. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee for 3/26/2025

  3. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee to 3/26/2025

  4. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  5. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee

  6. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Ref. to Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee - Government Operations for Review

  7. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  8. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  9. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  10. 2025-02-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  11. 2025-02-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  12. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SENATE BILL 1222
By Oliver

HOUSE BILL 983
By Behn

HB0983
003077
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 1-
3-105; Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 9; Title
13; Title 43; Title 44; Title 48; Title 49; Title 50;
Title 61; Title 64; Title 66; Title 67; Title 68 and
Title 69, relative to increasing opportunities for
prosperity in rural areas.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. This act is known and may be cited as the "Tennessee Office of Rural
Prosperity Act."
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 4-3-203, is amended by designating
the existing language as subsection (a) and adding the following as a new subsection:
(b) Notwithstanding a law to the contrary, the commissioner of agriculture may
designate an existing organizational unit of the department of agriculture as the office of
rural prosperity and consolidate within that office some or all of the department's duties
related to improving the well-being of rural communities in this state.
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.