TFBF announces priority issues
The start of a new year in Nashville indicates new legislation and the continuation of the 113th General Assembly. While this is the second year of this General Assembly, over 1,800 new bills have been filed. Tennessee Farm Bureau is proud to announce our priority issues for 2024 and hopes our members will stay informed as these bills and budget priorities work their way through the committee process. All these issues will be discussed throughout the legislative process, so be sure to check out the Legislative Alert and the Farm Bureau on the Hill podcast for a weekly overview of what’s happening in Nashville.
FARMLAND PRESERVATION – SB2099 Johnson | HB1890 Lamberth
Tennessee continues to lose crucial farmland to growth and sprawl, ranking third in the nation for the speed of farmland being converted out of production. Tennessee Farm Bureau has worked with both the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture and the Tennessee Department of Agriculture to find potential solutions to slow the loss of farmland, as well as provide resources for smart growth and expansion. As introduced, this bill allows TDA to promulgate rules to develop a farmland preservation fund as well as subsequent programming. This legislation is a part of Governor Lee’s administrative pack- age, and his proposed budget includes $25 million for the program in the 2024-2025 fiscal year.
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO PROHIBIT STATE PROPERTY TAX – HJR 81 Niceley
Continued from the 2023 legislation session, HJR81’s companion now heads to the Senate for consideration. As proposed, this constitutional amendment would prohibit the state of Tennessee from ever collecting a statewide property tax. This tax, which has not been collected since the 1940s, is separate from local government property taxes. 2024 would complete the first of three hurdles, as it must pass the Senate with a simple majority this year before being brought back for consideration in the 114th General Assembly, where it must pass each chamber with a 2/3 vote. From there, it would head to the 2026 gubernatorial ballot where half of those voting for governor must support the amendment for it to be codified in the state’s Constitution.
TACIR STUDY IMPLEMENTATION – SB2486 Walley | HB2496 Hurt
As suggested in the September 2023 TACIR study, the proposal equips and directs the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation’s Office of Energy Programs to maintain resources for landowners, local governments and solar development companies. Suggested language also includes solar development in the new brownfield redevelopment law, requires grid disconnection when the project reaches its end of life, lowers the megawatt threshold for a required decommissioning plan, as well as suggests the decommissioning plan be submitted to TDEC’s OEP with notification sent to relative local governments about the plans’ filing.
INCREASING TENNESSEE’S GREENBELT ACREAGE CAP – SB1659 Walley | HB2054 Eldridge
Tennessee’s Greenbelt program is one of great familiarity to those who own property across our state. This legislation seeks to increase the acre- age cap from its current 1,500 acres to 5,000 acres. Since the acreage cap’s addition to law in the 1980’s, farms across Tennessee have grown in size to meet economy of scale. By increasing the acreage cap, this would allow those who farm over 1,500 acres with an option to include any excess acres into this program.
OTHER LEGISLATIVE ITEMS
There are several other items of interest Tennessee Farm Bureau is following this session. Some of those include:
• Education – Governor Lee has proposed statewide expansion of education savings accounts through his “Education Freedom Scholarships” proposal. The legislation is structured to prioritize the most at-risk students for the 2024-2025 school year before ramping up to universal eligibility in the 2025-2026 school year.
• Local Property Taxes – As Tennessee continues to navigate growth, there are several proposals regarding local property taxes. Some include the reappraisal cycle, as well as a proposal which would cap the rate at which local governments could raise property taxes in a single year.
• Agriculture Technology – Farm Bureau plans to monitor legislation which would impact agriculture technology. Furthermore, Farm Bureau will oppose any legislation which would limit Tennessee farmers’ ability to uti- lize ag tech advancements.
• Cybersecurity – This proposal would add electronic data, devices
or networks to the list of critical infra- structure, which already includes farms. Altering or destroying any of these would result in felony charges.
• Wetlands – Farm Bureau joined a working group to solidify the state’s position on wetlands, isolated wetlands and to clarify the state’s per- mitting requirements for wetlands.
• Biodiesel – Tennessee code currently does not define biofuels or biodiesel. Farm Bureau has been working with the alternative fuels industry on defining such terms to set Tennessee in a position to offer grants for the installation of biofuel pumps, etc. in the future.
• Veterinarian Practice – Legislation has been introduced to provide clarity on allowing a veterinarian to report animal cruelty if reasonable cause is determined without risking a breach of patient-veterinarian confidentiality. Farm Bureau plans to monitor this legislation to avoid unintended consequences.
