Tennessee House Bill HB0882

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/4/25
• Refer: 3/11/25
• Refer: 3/19/25
• Refer: 4/1/25

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 11; Title 13; Title 43; Title 44; Title 64; Title 66; Title 67; Title 68 and Title 69, relative to agriculture.

Summary

HB0882 creates a narrow exemption from state environmental oversight for certain farming-related land activities on greenbelt property. Specifically, it provides that the Department of Environment and Conservation may not regulate or otherwise oversee farming activities involving topsoil, rock removal, or the building of a pond when those activities occur on a parcel smaller than three acres and the property is classified under Tennessee’s Greenbelt law. The bill is framed as an agriculture measure and appears intended to reduce regulatory burdens on small-scale agricultural land improvements on qualifying greenbelt property. It would amend Tennessee law by limiting the department’s authority in this specific setting, while leaving broader environmental and land-use regulation intact for other properties and activities. The effective date is July 1, 2025.

Impact

HB0882 would add a new limitation to Title 4, Chapter 3, Part 5, restricting the Department of Environment and Conservation from overseeing certain small-scale farming activities on greenbelt-classified land under three acres. The practical effect is to exempt qualifying landowners from state environmental review or regulation for topsoil work, rock removal, and pond construction in that narrow context, potentially affecting farmers, rural landowners, and local property improvements tied to agricultural use.

Sentiment

The available voting history suggests generally favorable support for the bill. It advanced unanimously out of the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee and then passed the full House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee with only one dissenting vote. No committee transcripts are available, but the committee action indicates the bill was viewed positively by most members as an agriculture-friendly measure.

Contention

The main point of contention appears to be the scope of the exemption and whether it unduly limits environmental oversight. Supporters likely view the bill as a targeted relief measure for farmers and greenbelt property owners, while the lone opposing vote suggests at least one member had concerns about removing Department of Environment and Conservation authority over activities such as pond building, rock removal, and topsoil disturbance, even on small parcels.