AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 43; Title 44 and Title 53, relative to livestock raised in this state.
Summary
SB2652 creates a voluntary Tennessee program to promote meat and meat byproducts from livestock that are born, raised, and harvested in Tennessee. The bill defines covered livestock to include cattle, sheep, swine, goats, and poultry, and directs the Tennessee Department of Agriculture to adopt rules to administer the program. Those rules may allow products to be labeled with statements identifying them as Tennessee meat or Tennessee byproducts, and the department may create different labels for different livestock categories.
The bill also requires that any labels developed under the program comply with U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service requirements. The department is instructed to implement the program using existing staff and resources, and the act takes effect immediately upon becoming law because the public welfare requires it.
Impact
The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Title 53 and related provisions to authorize a state-run, voluntary marketing and labeling program for Tennessee-raised livestock products. It affects the Tennessee Department of Agriculture by giving it rulemaking authority to design and administer the program, while also limiting implementation to existing staff and resources. The practical effect is to create an official pathway for producers to market meat and byproducts as Tennessee-origin products, subject to federal labeling standards.
Sentiment
The overall sentiment appears strongly favorable. The bill advanced unanimously in the Senate agriculture committee and then passed the Senate floor with only one dissenting vote before receiving unanimous final passage in the House. The broad support suggests the measure was viewed as a low-conflict agricultural promotion bill with economic benefits for Tennessee producers.
Contention
There is little evidence of major controversy in the available record. The only notable point of contention is the single no vote on the Senate floor, but no transcript or debate is provided to explain the objection. Potential concerns implied by the text are limited to administrative implementation, labeling compliance with federal USDA rules, and whether the state should devote resources to a branding program, though the bill addresses the resource issue by requiring use of existing staff and resources.
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39, Chapter 14; Title 40, Chapter 39; Title 43; Title 44 and Title 53, relative to the treatment of animals.
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39, Chapter 14; Title 40, Chapter 39; Title 43; Title 44 and Title 53, relative to the treatment of animals.