Tennessee Senate Bill SB2553

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/2/26

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 44, Chapter 10, relative to livestock.

Summary

SB2553 amends Tennessee’s livestock law by deleting the words “hoofed and” from Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 44-10-202(1). In practical terms, the bill broadens the statutory definition of livestock by removing the limitation that the animals covered must be hoofed. The measure is brief and does not create a new regulatory program; instead, it makes a targeted definitional change within Title 44, Chapter 10. Because the bill changes a definition in the livestock chapter, it could affect how state law applies to animals and animal-related activities covered by that chapter, including any rights, duties, or enforcement provisions that depend on the statutory meaning of livestock. The bill takes effect immediately upon becoming law, reflecting a legislative intent for prompt implementation.

Impact

The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 44, Chapter 10, by removing the phrase “hoofed and” from the definition in Section 44-10-202(1). This expands the scope of the livestock definition under state law and may affect which animals are regulated, protected, or otherwise treated as livestock for purposes of the chapter. Any statutes, rules, or enforcement actions that rely on that definition could be interpreted more broadly after enactment.

Sentiment

There is no recorded committee transcript or vote history in the provided materials, so there is no direct evidence of debate, support, or opposition. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears technical and narrowly focused, suggesting a likely low-conflict definitional update rather than a controversial policy change.

Contention

No specific points of contention are documented in the available record. The only potentially notable issue is the legal effect of broadening the livestock definition by removing “hoofed and,” which could raise questions about which animals are newly included under the chapter. However, no legislators, stakeholders, or committee members are shown as taking a position in the provided materials.