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SB1216 • 2026

State Symbols

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, relative to state symbols.

Active

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

Sponsor
Oliver, Hemmer
Last action
2025-04-29
Official status
Effective date(s) 04/24/2025
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide details on how the designated foods will be used or promoted, nor does it mention any financial implications.

Designating State Foods

This bill designates Nashville hot chicken, hot slaw, and Memphis barbecue as official state foods in Tennessee.

What This Bill Does

  • Designates Nashville hot chicken, hot slaw, and Memphis barbecue as official state foods.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who are interested in Tennessee's cultural symbols.
  • The Tennessee Code Commission, which will include these changes in their publications.

Terms To Know

Official State Foods
Foods that the state of Tennessee has chosen to represent its culture and traditions officially.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how these foods will be used or promoted by the state.
  • It is unclear if there are any financial implications for adding new official state symbols.

Bill History

  1. 2025-04-29 Tennessee General Assembly

    Effective date(s) 04/24/2025

  2. 2025-04-29 Tennessee General Assembly

    Pub. Ch. 273

  3. 2025-04-29 Tennessee General Assembly

    Comp. became Pub. Ch. 273

  4. 2025-04-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Governor.

  5. 2025-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Transmitted to Governor for action.

  6. 2025-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by H. Speaker

  7. 2025-04-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Senate Speaker

  8. 2025-04-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Enrolled and ready for signatures

  9. 2025-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed H., Ayes 94, Nays 0, PNV 1

  10. 2025-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Subst. for comp. HB.

  11. 2025-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Comp. SB subst.

  12. 2025-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  13. 2025-04-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. Placed on Consent Calendar for 4/14/2025

  14. 2025-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/10/2025

  15. 2025-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee

  16. 2025-04-03 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  17. 2025-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 4/9/2025

  18. 2025-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in State & Local Government Committee to 4/9/2025

  19. 2025-03-31 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  20. 2025-03-31 Tennessee General Assembly

    Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

  21. 2025-03-31 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed Senate, Ayes 30, Nays 0

  22. 2025-03-28 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Consent Calendar 2 for 3/31/2025

  23. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 4/2/2025

  24. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in State & Local Government Committee to 4/2/2025

  25. 2025-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  26. 2025-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee

  27. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/25/2025

  28. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 3/26/2025

  29. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in State & Local Government Committee to 3/26/2025

  30. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 3/19/2025

  31. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in State & Local Government Committee to 3/19/2025

  32. 2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 3/12/2025

  33. 2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in State & Local Government Committee to 3/12/2025

  34. 2025-02-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 3/5/2025

  35. 2025-02-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass; ref to State & Local Government Committee

  36. 2025-02-20 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  37. 2025-02-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Naming & Designating Committee for 2/24/2025

  38. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate State and Local Government Committee

  39. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  40. 2025-02-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  41. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Naming & Designating Committee - State & Local Government Committee

  42. 2025-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  43. 2025-01-29 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HOUSE BILL 567
By Hemmer

SENATE BILL 1216
By Oliver

SB1216
000626
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4,
relative to state symbols.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 4-1-345, is amended by deleting the
section and substituting the following:
4-1-345. Official state foods.
The official state foods of this state are as follows:
(1) Hot slaw;
(2) Memphis barbecue; and
(3) Nashville hot chicken.
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 4-1-349, is amended by deleting the
section in its entirety.
SECTION 3. The headings in this act are for reference purposes only and do not
constitute a part of the law enacted by this act. However, the Tennessee Code Commission is
requested to include the headings in any compilation or publication containing this act.
SECTION 4. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.