Back to Tennessee

SB0281 • 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 Taxes
Active

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

Sponsor
Watson, Travis
Last action
2025-03-17
Official status
Re-refer to Senate Calendar Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide specific details on how the bill will affect other regulations or permits.

Agricultural Activities Exemption Act

This bill prevents the Department of Environment and Conservation from regulating certain farming activities on small greenbelt properties.

What This Bill Does

  • Removes the ability of the Department of Environment and Conservation to regulate specific farming practices involving topsoil management, rock removal, or pond construction if they are happening on less than three acres of land with a greenbelt classification.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Farmers who own less than three acres of land classified as greenbelt under the Agricultural, Forest and Open Space Land Act of 1976.
  • The Department of Environment and Conservation in Tennessee.

Terms To Know

Greenbelt classification
A designation for agricultural or open space land that provides tax benefits to property owners who agree to keep the land undeveloped.
Department of Environment and Conservation
The state agency responsible for managing natural resources, protecting wildlife, and enforcing environmental laws in Tennessee.

Limits and Unknowns

  • It is unclear how this bill will affect other regulations or permits required by the Department of Environment and Conservation.
  • The bill does not specify what happens if a property loses its greenbelt classification after farming activities have begun.

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

    Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee

  18. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  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
HOUSE BILL 882
By Travis

SENATE BILL 281
By Watson

SB0281
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.