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HB2152 • 2026

Agriculture, Dept. of

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 44, relative to indemnification for destroyed animals.

Agriculture
Active

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

Sponsor
Davis, Lowe
Last action
2026-04-08
Official status
Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/14/2026
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and text do not provide specific details on how partial reimbursement is calculated or under what conditions indemnification may be denied or reduced.

Indemnification for Destroyed Animals

This bill changes how Tennessee pays money to farmers when their animals are destroyed by state order to prevent disease spread.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires the commissioner of agriculture to establish procedures for paying indemnities (compensation) to farmers whose animals are destroyed under the authority of the state veterinarian, based on fair market value and available funds.
  • Specifies that if federal authorities or agencies are involved in ordering animal destruction, the commissioner must coordinate with them to set up payment procedures consistent with applicable federal law.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Farmers who lose animals due to disease control measures ordered by state officials.
  • The Tennessee Department of Agriculture and its commissioner.
  • Federal agencies that may be involved in animal destruction orders.

Terms To Know

Indemnity
Money paid by the government to compensate for losses due to disease control measures.
Fair Market Value
The price at which an asset would trade in a competitive open market under normal conditions.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The exact amount of state spending will depend on future disease outbreaks and the value of animals at the time they are destroyed.
  • This bill does not provide specific funding for indemnity payments; it requires that funds be appropriated separately by the general appropriations act.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

Amendment 1-0 to HB2152

Plain English: The amendment changes how the state of Tennessee will pay for animals destroyed under state authority without federal involvement, setting rules based on fair market value and available funds.

  • Establishes new procedures for paying indemnities when animals are destroyed by state order alone, not involving federal authorities.
  • Indemnity payments are based on the fair market value of the animal at the time of destruction and depend on the availability of state funds.
  • The commissioner can authorize partial reimbursement if full payment is not possible.
  • The amendment does not specify how much funding will be available for these indemnities, which could limit the amount that can actually be paid out.
Amendment 1-0 to SB2026

Plain English: The amendment changes how the Tennessee Department of Agriculture pays indemnities for animals destroyed under state authority and sets rules for coordination with federal authorities when needed.

  • Establishes new procedures for paying indemnities when animals are destroyed by state order, based on fair market value and available state funds.
  • Specifies that if there's not enough money to pay full fair market value, the commissioner can authorize partial reimbursement.
  • Outlines coordination with federal authorities for cases where destruction is ordered or carried out jointly with them.
  • The amendment does not specify how much funding will be available for these indemnities.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.

  2. 2026-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

  3. 2026-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  4. 2026-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 30, Nays 0

  5. 2026-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0840)

  6. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/14/2026

  7. 2026-04-07 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/9/2026

  8. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed behind the budget

  9. 2026-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 11, Nays 0 PNV 0

  10. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 3/25/2026

  11. 2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 3/24/2026

  12. 2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee to 3/24/2026

  13. 2026-03-16 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  14. 2026-03-16 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  15. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Government Operations Committee for 3/16/2026

  16. 2026-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Government Operations Committee

  17. 2026-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 3/17/2026

  18. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee for 3/10/2026

  19. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  20. 2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee for 3/4/2026

  21. 2026-02-20 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  22. 2026-02-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee

  23. 2026-02-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee calendar for 2/18/2026

  24. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee

  25. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee - Government Operations for Review

  26. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  27. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  28. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  29. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  30. 2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

ON APRIL 9, 2026, THE
SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 2026, AS AMENDED.

AMENDMENT #1 r
ewrites this bill and present law to require the

commissioner
of agriculture to
establish procedures governing the payment of indemnities for animals destroyed under the authority of
the state veterinarian as follows:

(1) When the destruction of one or more animals is ordered solely under the authority of the state and not in conjunction with or at the direction of the federal government, indemnity must be paid in accordance with procedures established by the commiss
ioner. Indemnity under this (1) is based on the fair market value of the animal at the time of destruction and the availability of state funds appropriated for that purpose. If sufficient funds are not available to pay the full fair market value, then t
he
commissioner may authorize partial reimbursement. Indemnification may be denied or reduced if the owner is found to be in violation of
present law concerning prevention and treatment of animal diseases; and

(2)
W
hen the destruction of one or more animals is ordered by federal authorities or undertaken in conjunction with the federal government, the commissioner shall establish procedures for the payment of indemnities in coordination with the appropriate federal
agency. Indemnity in such cases must be administered in a manner consistent with applicable federal law, regulations, cooperative agreements, or funding limitations. The amount and conditions of payment may reflect applicable federal standards and
available federal funds
.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
SENATE BILL 2026
By Lowe

HOUSE BILL 2152
By Davis
HB2152
011943
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 44,
relative to indemnification for destroyed animals.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 44-2-105, is amended by deleting the
section and substituting the following:
The commissioner through rules and regulations shall establish procedures for
the payment of indemnities for animals destroyed under authority of this chapter.
Indemnity under this section shall be based on, but not limited to, the fair market value of
the animal and the availability of funds for that purpose. Partial reimbursement may be
allotted in lieu of fair market value if sufficient funds are not available. Indemnification
may be disallowed in cases where the owner is in violation of this chapter.
SECTION 2. This act is not an appropriation of funds, and funds must not be obligated
or expended pursuant to this act unless the funds are specifically appropriated by the general
appropriations act.
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.