Tennessee Senate Bill SB1777

Tennessee 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/22/24

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 67, Chapter 5, Part 10, relative to the classification of agricultural land.

Impact

If enacted, SB1777 would significantly impact land classification practices in Tennessee. By stipulating precise acreage requirements for agricultural classification, the bill aims to ensure that only substantial tracts of land are recognized as agricultural. This could affect various stakeholders, including farmers, landowners, and real estate developers, who might need to reassess their property designations. It may also result in changes to property taxes, zoning laws, and agricultural subsidies connected to land classification as agricultural.

Summary

Senate Bill 1777 seeks to amend the Tennessee Code Annotated, specifically Title 67, Chapter 5, Part 10, which pertains to the classification of agricultural land. The primary objective of this bill is to establish clear and specific minimum size requirements for properties to be classified as agricultural land. Under the proposed amendments, a single tract of land must consist of at least fifteen acres, including any woodlands and wastelands, to qualify. Alternatively, the bill allows for two noncontiguous tracts within the same county, provided that one tract meets the fifteen-acre minimum, while the other can be less than this threshold, as long as the overall land constitutes a farm unit totaling at least fifteen acres.

Contention

The discussions surrounding SB1777 likely include points of contention related to its implications for smaller landowners or those with nontraditional farming setups. Critics may argue that setting a minimum tract size could disadvantage smaller farmers or landowners who do not meet the acreage criteria. Further debates may center on whether the bill adequately addresses the diverse agricultural practices present in Tennessee, especially in regions with varying land availability and farming scales.