Tennessee House Bill HB2614

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/3/26
• Refer: 3/23/26
• Refer: 4/13/26
• Refer: 4/15/26
• Engrossed: 4/20/26
• Enrolled: 4/27/26
• Passed: 5/21/26
• Chaptered: 5/27/26

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 3; Title 4; Title 8 and Title 9, relative to state government.

Summary

HB2614 designates the Rhododendron Festival and the Fall-O-Dendron Festival in Roan Mountain as the official Rhododendron and Fall-O-Dendron festivals of Tennessee. The bill is largely ceremonial and commemorative: it recognizes the festivals’ role in preserving local heritage, history, scenic landscapes, and Appalachian culture, and it highlights their longstanding place in the community. The bill also recites the festivals’ economic and civic importance to Roan Mountain and Carter County, noting that they draw visitors from across the region and beyond and help support scholarships, local schools, volunteer fire departments, and community beautification. The act takes effect immediately upon becoming law.

Impact

The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated by adding a new section to Title 4, Chapter 1, Part 3, creating an official state designation for the Roan Mountain Rhododendron and Fall-O-Dendron festivals. It does not impose regulatory requirements or create new enforcement mechanisms; instead, it adds the festivals to the list of officially recognized state symbols or designations, with the practical effect of elevating their status in state law and public recognition.

Sentiment

The available voting history shows strong, unanimous support at every stage, with no recorded opposition in committee or on the floor. The bill appears to have been received positively as a celebration of a well-known local tradition and as a way to honor the cultural and economic contributions of the festivals to the region and the state.

Contention

There is little to no apparent contention in the record. The measure is noncontroversial and symbolic, and the committee and floor votes were unanimous. Any discussion reflected in the bill text itself centers on the value of the festivals to heritage, tourism, and community support rather than on policy disputes or competing interests.