Tennessee farmland preservation legislation passes Senate
The Tennessee Senate passed legislation on Thursday to protect Tennessee farmland from development. Senate Bill 207 would establish a $25 million Farmland Preservation Fund to provide grants for property owners who voluntarily place their farm or forestry land into an agricultural easement with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture. The program aims to make farmland preservation financially feasible for family farms, ensuring they remain in agricultural use for future generations.
While property owners can already place their land in a conservation easement through various entities, rising land prices provide little incentive to do so. The Farmland Preservation Fund aims to provide this incentive, making it more financially viable for Tennessee farmers to preserve their land.
Participation in the program is entirely voluntary, allowing property owners to receive compensation for the difference between their land’s agricultural value and its highest market value. Farmers who take part in the program would still maintain the freedom to develop their land for agricultural purposes and maintain full farming operations without restrictions on output. Tennessee is losing farmland to development at an astounding rate.
Over a 20 year period, from 1997 to 2017, Tennessee lost 1.1 million acres of farmland to development. Since 2017, another 432,941 acres of farmland has been lost. This is equivalent to Tennessee losing 9.8 acres of farmland per hour, up from 6.3 acres per hour in the previous two decades.
Expanding the Barry Brady Act
The Senate Commerce and Labor Committee unanimously passed Senate Bill 288, expanding the Barry Brady Act to add diagnoses eligible to be covered under workers’ compensation for firefighters. Originally enacted in 2019, the Act created a presumption that certain cancers in full-time firefighters are a result of their employment and are covered by worker’s compensation. It initially included Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, colon cancer, skin cancer, and multiple myeloma, later adding leukemia and testicular cancer. Sponsored by Senator Paul Bailey (R-Sparta), this bill adds prostate, breast, and pancreatic cancer to the Barry Brady Act. The legislation is named for a retired captain of the Sparta Fire Department who passed away from cancer on April 4, 2019, at the age of 50, with over 31 years in fire service.
Less is More Act advances to increase government efficiency
The Senate Government Operations Committee unanimously passed Senate Bill 1316, which seeks to establish the Less is More Act of 2025. This bill makes various changes to regulatory boards and groups to cut red tape and limit government involvement. The Less is More Act will eliminate licensure barriers, amend provisions to board appointments, allow for electronic meetings, introduce a variety of cost savings, and more.
Legislation advances to ensure consistent standards for state incentive recipients
The Senate Commerce and Labor Committee passed Senate Bill 1074, a measure that establishes clear guidelines for state economic development incentives. The legislation limits the availability of state incentives for employers that enter into community benefits agreements – which often impose additional employment conditions, require union participation, or mandate specific services for select groups. By prohibiting community benefits agreements that impose unrelated obligations on employers, Senate Bill 1074 promotes a fair and transparent economic development process while protecting taxpayer investments. It strengthens accountability, supports fair competition, and keeps incentives aligned with Tennessee’s long-term economic goals.
To the Citizens of Senate District 15
As this week comes to a close, I want to take a moment to thank you for your continued support and engagement in the work we are doing for our community. From promoting economic growth to enhancing education and healthcare, my commitment remains focused on serving you with integrity and dedication.
It has been a productive week, and I am proud of the progress we have made on key issues important to the future of Tennessee. Your input and voices are what drive the work we do, and I am grateful for the trust you have placed in me to represent you.
I appreciate the opportunity to serve you, and I remain committed to fighting for the issues that matter most to our community. I look forward to the work ahead and encourage you to reach out if I can ever be of assistance.
All My Best,
Paul