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SB2602 • 2026

Food and Food Products

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 44, Chapter 15 and Title 53, relative to honey.

Active

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

Sponsor
Southerland, Jones R
Last action
2026-04-14
Official status
Signed by Governor.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide specific details on how the change will affect small-scale or hobbyist beekeepers, leaving this as an open question.

Increasing Honey Production Threshold

This bill changes the amount of honey that requires food manufacturing and inspection from 150 gallons to 835 gallons.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the law so that honey producers who make more than 835 gallons a year need to follow certain rules about making and inspecting food.
  • Updates two parts of Tennessee's laws (Title 44, Chapter 15 and Title 53) that talk about honey production.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Honey producers who make more than 835 gallons of honey a year in Tennessee.

Terms To Know

Threshold
The point at which something starts to happen or be required, like when honey makers need to follow certain rules.
Food manufacturing and inspection requirements
Rules that food producers must follow to make sure their products are safe and meet quality standards.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens if honey makers produce less than the new threshold of 835 gallons.
  • It is unclear how this change will affect small-scale or hobbyist beekeepers who make a smaller amount of honey.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Governor.

  2. 2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Transmitted to Governor for action.

  3. 2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by H. Speaker

  4. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Senate Speaker

  5. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Enrolled and ready for signatures

  6. 2026-03-30 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed H., Ayes 82, Nays 1, PNV 10

  7. 2026-03-30 Tennessee General Assembly

    Subst. for comp. HB.

  8. 2026-03-30 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  9. 2026-03-30 Tennessee General Assembly

    Comp. SB subst.

  10. 2026-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. Placed on Consent Calendar for 3/30/2026

  11. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 3/26/2026

  12. 2026-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee

  13. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee for 3/24/2026

  14. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  15. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee for 3/18/2026

  16. 2026-02-26 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  17. 2026-02-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  18. 2026-02-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

  19. 2026-02-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed Senate, Ayes 32, Nays 0

  20. 2026-02-20 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Consent Calendar 2 for 2/23/2026

  21. 2026-02-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee

  22. 2026-02-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Health and Welfare Committee calendar for 2/18/2026

  23. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Health and Welfare Committee

  24. 2026-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor change.

  25. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  26. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor change.

  27. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  28. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee

  29. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee

  30. 2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  31. 2026-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
HOUSE BILL 1825
By Jones R

SENATE BILL 2602
By Southerland
SB2602
009734
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 44,
Chapter 15 and Title 53, relative to honey.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 53-1-102(38), is amended by
deleting "one hundred fifty gallons (150 gals.)" and substituting "eight hundred thirty-five gallons
(835 gals.)".
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 53-8-103(14)(B)(v), is amended by
deleting "one hundred fifty gallons (150 gals.)" and substituting "eight hundred thirty-five gallons
(835 gals.)".
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.