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SB2026 • 2026

Agriculture, Dept. of

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

Agriculture Budget
Active

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

Sponsor
Lowe, Davis
Last action
2026-04-13
Official status
Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Act for Indemnification of Destroyed Animals

This bill changes how Tennessee pays money to farmers when their animals are destroyed due to disease orders from the state veterinarian.

What This Bill Does

  • Creates rules for the state's agriculture commissioner to follow when paying indemnities to people who lose animals because of a state order from the state veterinarian.
  • Requires full fair market value payment if there is enough state money available, but allows partial payments if funds are limited and the owner follows animal health laws.
  • Sets up coordination with federal agencies for cases where the U.S. government orders animal destruction, following federal rules and funding limits.
  • Denies or reduces indemnity payments to owners who violate existing animal disease prevention and treatment laws.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Farmers and livestock owners in Tennessee whose animals are destroyed due to a state order.
  • The agriculture commissioner of Tennessee, responsible for setting up payment procedures.
  • Federal agencies involved when the federal government orders animal destruction.

Terms To Know

Indemnity
Money paid by the government to compensate people who lose property due to a state or federal order.
Fair Market Value
The price at which an asset would trade in a competitive open market under normal conditions.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This bill does not create new funding but relies on existing or future appropriations by the general assembly.
  • Due to unknown factors like the severity of future disease outbreaks and changes in animal market values, the exact increase in state spending cannot be predicted.

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 Tennessee Department of Agriculture pays for animals destroyed under state authority and sets rules for coordination with federal agencies when destruction is ordered by them.

  • Establishes procedures for paying indemnities (compensation) to owners whose animals are destroyed by state order, based on fair market value and available state funds.
  • Specifies that if there's not enough money in the state budget, partial reimbursement can be given instead of full compensation.
  • Outlines rules for working with federal agencies when animal destruction is ordered by them or jointly with the state, ensuring compliance with federal laws and funding limits.
  • The amendment does not specify how much money will be set aside in the budget for these indemnities, which could affect how many claims can actually be paid.
  • It's unclear what happens if there are disputes over whether an animal destruction was ordered solely by the state or jointly with federal authorities.
Amendment 1-0 to SB2026

Plain English: The amendment changes how the Department of Agriculture in Tennessee pays for animals destroyed under state authority and sets rules for coordination with federal agencies when destruction is ordered by them.

  • Establishes new procedures for paying indemnities (compensation) to owners whose animals are destroyed by state order, based on fair market value and available state funds.
  • Specifies that if the state does not have enough money to fully compensate an owner, partial reimbursement may be allowed.
  • Outlines how the commissioner must work with federal agencies when animal destruction is ordered or coordinated by them, ensuring compliance with federal laws and funding limitations.
  • The amendment text does not specify exact amounts for indemnities or detailed procedures, leaving these to be determined by the commissioner's rules.
  • It is unclear how this will affect existing state and federal programs related to animal destruction compensation.

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

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

  17. 2026-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  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

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

  25. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee

  26. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  27. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  28. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  29. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  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
HOUSE BILL 2152
By Davis

SENATE BILL 2026
By Lowe
SB2026
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.