Tennessee Senate Bill SB0281

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/24/25

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

SB0281 creates a narrow exemption from Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation oversight for certain farming-related land activities on greenbelt property. Specifically, when the property is classified under the Agricultural, Forest and Open Space Land Act of 1976 and the activity area is less than three acres, the department would be prohibited from regulating or otherwise overseeing farming activities involving topsoil, rock removal, or the construction of a pond. The bill is framed as an agriculture measure and would take effect July 1, 2025. In practical terms, it limits state environmental regulatory involvement for small-scale agricultural land improvements on qualifying greenbelt parcels, leaving those activities outside TDEC oversight under the conditions stated in the bill.

Impact

The bill amends Tennessee law by adding a new section to Title 4 that restricts the Department of Environment and Conservation’s authority over specified farming activities on greenbelt-classified land. It affects state regulatory oversight of land-disturbing agricultural work, including topsoil handling, rock removal, and pond construction, but only when the affected area is under three acres and the land has greenbelt status under Title 67, Chapter 5, Part 10. The measure would reduce permitting or enforcement involvement by TDEC for qualifying property owners and farmers.

Sentiment

The available voting history suggests strong support for the bill, as the Senate Energy, Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee recommended it for passage by a 9-0 vote. No committee transcript is available, but the unanimous committee vote indicates little visible opposition at that stage and a generally favorable view of the bill’s agricultural focus.

Contention

The main point of potential contention is the balance between agricultural flexibility and environmental oversight. Supporters are likely to favor the bill as a way to reduce regulatory burdens on farmers and greenbelt landowners making small-scale improvements, while critics could view it as limiting TDEC’s ability to review activities that may affect land, water, or environmental conditions. The bill’s narrow scope—limited to greenbelt property and projects under three acres—appears designed to address those concerns, but the exemption itself is the central policy issue.