Tennessee House Bill HB1571

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/13/26
• Refer: 1/21/26
• Refer: 3/9/26
• Chaptered: 4/6/26
• Passed: 4/6/26

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 29; Title 4, Chapter 3, Part 1 and Title 4, Chapter 3, Part 2, relative to the department of agriculture.

Summary

HB1571 is a narrow housekeeping bill concerning the Tennessee Department of Agriculture. It amends Tennessee Code Annotated Title 4, Chapter 29, which governs the state’s list of agencies and programs subject to periodic review and sunset provisions, by removing one existing reference and adding the Department of Agriculture to another statutory listing tied to the department’s creation in Title 4, Chapter 3. In practical terms, the bill updates cross-references in state law so the Department of Agriculture is properly identified within the state’s organizational statutes. The measure does not appear to create new regulatory powers, taxes, fees, or programs. Instead, it makes technical changes to align the code with the department’s statutory structure and ensure the department is correctly included in the relevant administrative provisions. The bill took effect upon becoming law, indicating the legislature treated it as an immediate technical correction rather than a substantive policy change.

Impact

The bill amends Tennessee’s statutory framework for state agencies by revising Title 4, Chapter 29 and Title 4, Chapter 3 to reflect the Department of Agriculture’s place in state government. Its effect is limited to updating statutory references and agency listings, which can matter for oversight, administrative organization, and any sunset or review-related provisions that apply to state entities. It affects the Department of Agriculture and the state code sections governing agency creation and review, but it does not directly alter agricultural regulation or industry requirements.

Sentiment

The bill appears to have been received very favorably and without controversy. It passed the House Government Operations Committee unanimously, was placed on the consent calendar, and then passed the House floor with 93 yeas and no nays. That voting pattern suggests broad bipartisan agreement that the bill was a routine technical update rather than a contested policy measure.

Contention

There is little visible contention in the available record. No committee transcripts are provided, and the votes show no opposition at either committee or floor consideration. The only likely point of discussion would have been the technical nature of the statutory cleanup—specifically, whether the Department of Agriculture should be added to the relevant agency listing and whether the existing cross-reference should be removed—but the unanimous votes indicate no meaningful disagreement.