Bill > HB0589

This bill expands and renames the Tennessee Agricultural Hall of Fame to the Tennessee Agriculture and Forestry Hall of Fame, significantly restructuring its governing board and operations. The bill creates a new nine-member board effective July 1, 2025, with representatives from key agricultural organizations like the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, Tennessee State University, Farm Bureau Federation, and FFA, as well as members appointed from different geographic divisions of the state. Board members must demonstrate significant ties to agriculture or forestry and will serve staggered terms of two to six years without compensation. The bill maintains the existing requirement that inductees must be deceased for at least five years before being eligible for the hall of fame, and it outlines procedures for nomination, board operations, and potential funding through gifts and contributions. The board will be administratively attached to the Department of Agriculture and will have exclusive rights to use the hall of fame's name. Existing rules, assets, and practices from the previous agricultural hall of fame will be transferred to the new board, ensuring continuity while expanding the scope to include forestry alongside agriculture.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Government Affairs

https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Billinfo/default.aspx?BillNumber=HB0589&ga=114