Policy development process completed for 2025
In December, 238 delegates from across the state met at the 103rd Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation Annual Meeting to discuss and finalize the policies of the organization for 2025. Here are some highlights:
State and Local Taxes
Aside from commending the General Assembly for raising the Greenbelt acreage cap to 3,000 acres, delegates also considered language on property tax reappraisals and local government’s ability to cap property tax increases. It was determined reappraisals should occur every 4-6 years (which is current practice). Due to state mandated cost increases, TFBF opposes a local property tax cap.
Farm Policy
Drafts of the farm bill included language which would give discretion to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture to allow the Natural Resource Conservation Service to administer the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). This would take county Farm Service Agency committees out of the decision-making process for local projects. Because of this, language was added which supports the administration of CRP to happen only by USDA.
Food Safety
State level food bans of politically unpopular foods have taken center stage in states like Florida and Alabama, resulting in pending litigation in Florida. To not set a potentially harmful precedent, delegates voted to include a statement of opposition towards any efforts to ban food products on the state level by the General Assembly.
Veterinary Services
In response to several anti-livestock health legislative initiatives last session, delegates inserted a large paragraph into veterinary services detailing their support for the state veterinarian’s office and their ability to react to instances of emerging and/or foreign animal disease outbreaks.
Additionally, delegates determined the Veterinary Client Patient Relationship, which ensures a veterinarian has sufficient knowledge of an animal to initiate a diagnosis, should not be established nor maintained solely by electronic means.
Renewable Fuels
Over the summer, multiple state Farm Bureaus, including TFBF, spoke with the White House Office of Management and Budget over the negative impacts of policy put into place which provides a 45z tax credit providing incentives for biofuel production to all, including foreign feedstock producers. Supportive language for these tax credits was included in new TFBF policy, but with improvements which support U.S. producers.
Wetlands
Over the last year, Sackett v. EPA clarified and limited federal jurisdiction of waters of the United States (WOTUS), specifically on isolated wetlands, leaving the responsibility and determination to the states on how to proceed. To ensure the agriculture community stays exempt, and private property rights are protected, language has been added which urges the General Assembly to provide consistency and clarity to landowners to know when their land falls under state jurisdiction. Additional emphasis was also placed on water quality, not quantity – and discourages any discussion of regulating water quantity on this topic.
Litter and Waste
Alternative fertilizers and biosolids can provide a beneficial symbiotic relationship between farmers seeking cost effective soil additives and food manufacturers seeking to address water and waste offputs. TFBF policy now affirms regulation of these products should be at the state level, not the local level, and that wastewater management facilities and food manufacturers should provide testing and liability protection to farmers and landowners.
To learn more about Tennessee Farm Bureau’s policy development process, contact your county Farm Bureau or the TFBF public policy division.
2025 Priority Issues
Constitutional Amendment to Prohibit a Statewide Property Tax – SJR 1/HJR 2
A continued effort from the 113th General Assembly, this priority enshrines in the State Constitution that a statewide property tax is not to be collected. This is the second hurdle of a multi-year effort and must pass both chambers by a two-thirds vote to be considered on the 2026 gubernatorial ballot.
This legislation has already been filed by Senate sponsor, Speaker Pro-Temp Ferrell Haile (R – Gallatin) and House sponsor, Rep. Tandy Darby (R – Greenfield).
Farmland Preservation
Tennessee continues to lose farmland across the state at a rate of 9.8 acres an hour and ranks third nationwide for the rate at which farmland is converted out of production. Last General Assembly, Governor Lee made farmland preservation efforts a priority for his legislative agenda and recently announced his plans to again keep farmland preservation a priority for the 114th General Assembly.
It is anticipated legislation will provide a fund for programming to slow the rapid loss of farmland in Tennessee. Examples of programming include voluntary agricultural easements, transition planning, landowner education and market development for the agriculture industry.
Liability Protection for Crop Protection Items
In order to protect crop protection providers from frivolous and unjustified “failure to warn” lawsuits and allow farmers to continue to use vital crop protection technology, Farm Bureau seeks to pass liability protection to companies who manufacture and label chemicals according to Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) guidelines. Failure to provide such protections could result in a withdrawal from the market of crucial products for row crop producers such as glyphosate.
Budget Priorities
- 4-H and FFA Camp Funding – 4-H and FFA Foundations are seeking historic investments into six youth education camps across Tennessee to improve infrastructure and expand student opportunities.
- University of Tennessee Institute of Public Service, along with the Center for Profitable Agriculture, requests an investment towards expanding local government planning support and landowner education amidst the rapid growth and subsequent loss of farmland across the state.
- University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture seeks a $3 million-dollar annual expenditure towards the creation and retention of a precision agriculture expert within UTIA.
- Tennessee Ag Enhancement and Tennessee Ag Enterprise Funding – Tennessee Farm Bureau continues to support these programs and continually supports their recurring funding, as well as supports any additional investments made into either program.
Other items of legislation which are bound to be up for discussion in the 114th General Assembly include education, wetlands, food regulation and property taxes. Sign up for Farm Bureau legislative alerts and action requests to keep up with all the happenings in Nashville and Washington D.C. Text “policy” to 931-388-7872 for more information.
