This January marked lawmakers’ return to complete the second half of the 114th General Assembly. With an election drawing near, lawmakers will work hastily to complete their business and head back to the district for the campaign season.

Every year, the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation (TFBF) state board of directors establishes priorities for the upcoming legislative session. This year, TFBF is advocating for three key pieces of legislation on behalf of farmers. At the time of print, the Tennessee General Assembly is still actively debating these issues. Visit www.capitol.tn.gov for the latest information. This year, Farm Bureau has broken up our priority issues into three “buckets” – Bills, Budget, and Ballot. Here’s an overview of what we’re involved with: Bills Animal health and livestock disease management are vital to the success of the agriculture industry, and Tennessee is no different. Over the last several sessions, there have been attempts to remove the authority of the state veterinarian to mandate vaccinations and testing. The agriculture industry has opposed these efforts and gathered this summer to find a balance between private property rights and managing animal health in Tennessee. Thus, SB2558, sponsored by State Sen. Shane Reeves, R-Murfreesboro, and HB2517 sponsored by Rep. Chris Todd, R-Madison County, were filed. As introduced, the legislation restricts the authority of the state vet to mandate vaccinations or testing for routine or management decisions but allows such authority to extend to those diseases which are recognized as “reportable” or “monitored” by the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. At the time of this submission, this legislation has been unanimously passed by the State Senate and awaits consideration by the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee.

The agriculture industry faces numerous regulations at both the state and federal levels. Tennessee lawmakers are working to provide more transparency and oversight to the state's regulatory process by introducing the “Regulatory Freedom Act.” Inspired by the Congressionally considered “REINS – Regulations of the Executive in Need of Scrutiny,” the legislation adds additional steps to the rule-making process to give the legislature more oversight of rules and regulations that come from State Departments and Agencies. Additionally, stakeholders of regulated industries, such as agriculture, will now have earlier opportunities to engage in the rule proposal process that allows for a more accurate cost-benefit analysis to industry. TFBF is excited to be working with several business and industry groups to push this legislation.

Rolled to the second calendar of 2026, the House Judiciary Committee was set to consider HB809 by Rep. Rusty Grills, R-Newbern, in January. The legislation seeks to provide labeling clarity for vital crop protection products such as glyphosate by emphasizing preemption of federal standards laid out in the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). Unfortunately, while the facts are on the side of agriculture, the politics surrounding the discussion are not currently. As a result, the legislation was taken off notice by the sponsor, stalling conversation related to the bill. Budget TFBF is also incredibly involved in the state’s budget process. This year, Governor Bill Lee’s proposed budget totals $57.9 billion, which is down 10% from last year, a reflection of state revenues returning to normalcy from skyrocketing over the last six years.

Farm Bureau continues to support the funding of both the TN Ag Enhancement and TN Ag Enterprise Funds. These programs provide vital resources to both producers and rural communities. Other key budget items include securing recurring funding for the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture for the creation of the Center for Agriculture Innovation, increasing funding assistance for the West Tennessee River Basin Authority to allow technical experts to lead on watershed impoundment maintenance, and securing a declared source of recurring funding for the Tennessee Farmland Preservation Fund, established in 2025. Finally, TFBF advocates reinstating funding for the Tennessee Short Line Railroad Program, which expired in the summer of 2025 and was a critical source of funding for short-line rail revitalization and a direct allocation for the purpose of infrastructure redevelopment of Bunge Road in Dyer County, a vital resource for getting grain to market. Ballot A coalition that includes the TFBF, Tennessee Realtors, and Tennessee Chamber of Commerce officially announced the week of March 16, the launch of Yes on 2, the single measure committee to pass a constitutional amendment banning a state property tax. Governor Lee will serve as the statewide chair for the effort. A recent poll commissioned by Yes on 2 showed that 64% of Tennessee voters support banning a state property tax.

Tennessee does not currently have a state property tax; only local governments currently impose property taxes. However, state law permits the collection of a state property tax, and the state did so until 1949. The 114th General Assembly completed the second of three hurdles to institute a Constitutional Amendment to prohibit a statewide property tax. This November, it will be up to Tennessee voters to do their part! Passage of Amendment 2 would prohibit the legislature from enacting a state property tax.

For more information about Yes on 2, please visit https://www.tnyeson2.com.

As the election season draws near, I Farm. I Vote. is a great way to stay connected and get resources to spread the word about voter participation. An agriculture industry-wide initiative, I Farm I Vote seeks to promote the rural vote by providing election information, branding materials, and tools to use in your local community. Meanwhile, in Washington Not to be outdone, there’s no shortage of headlines coming out of Washington, D.C., since the start of the new year. Between Farm Bill discussions, requesting additional economic assistance for farmers, and the effects of the unrest in the Middle East, there are lots of opportunities to engage.

In the early hours of March 5th, the House Ag Committee passed the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 in a bipartisan vote after 22 hours of markup and discussion. Of note, two critical provisions were included in the language awaiting a House Floor vote. The first includes a legislative fix to nullify California's Proposition 12. Proposition 12 establishes animal husbandry and welfare standards for any pork sold in California, regardless of where the product originated. It ensures producers must only comply with production standards imposed by their own state or local government. Secondly, the committee retained language reaffirming EPA as the sole authority to make safety findings related to crop protection products while retaining the states' ability to further regulate the use of these products. Now that the House Ag Committee has passed the legislation, it is up to House leadership to schedule time for a floor vote. In the Senate, the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry has yet to release their version of the bill and conduct their own markup before a floor vote.

Increasing conflict in the Middle East has begun to put pressure on global fertilizer and energy markets at a critical time for agriculture. The Strait of Hormuz is a key shipping route for both oil and fertilizer, and disruptions could affect supplies and transportation costs. With spring planting underway in the United States, maintaining secure shipping routes and adequate insurance coverage for fertilizer shipments moving through the Strait will be important to avoid supply disruptions. This risk is particularly significant for nitrogen fertilizers, as countries in the Persian Gulf region account for roughly half of global urea exports and about one-third of global ammonia exports. On March 9th, American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall sent a letter to President Trump addressing the market volatility around fertilizer and oil. Farm Bureau is closely monitoring this situation and continues to advocate for open markets for ag inputs, especially as the 2026 planting season begins.

Overall, profitability remains front of mind for most agricultural producers. While the administration approved a $12 billion farmer bridge assistance in late 2025, the marketplace, current commodity prices, and escalated input costs indicate the existing payments are merely the tip of the iceberg for what is needed. Currently, TFBF has an Action Request for members of the farm community to ask Congress to consider additional economic assistance payments. You can find the Action Alert by visiting https://tnfarmbureau.org/action-center.

Farm Bureau encourages all stakeholders and supporters to follow along with the happenings at the State Capitol. You can follow along with what’s happening on “the Hill” as well as in our nation’s capital by subscribing to Farm Bureau Legislative Alerts. You can also sign up to receive Action Alerts directly on your phone by texting “policy” to 931-388-7872.