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$tate of UI:ennessee
PUBLIC CHAPTER NO. 138
HOUSE BILL NO. 297
By Representatives Lamberth, Rudd, Sherrell, Barrett, Howell, Todd, Vital, Wright,
Eldridge, Renea Jones, Terry, Moody, McCalmon, Littleton, Alexander
Substituted for: Senate Bill No. 247
By Senators Haile, Lowe, Stevens
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 11, Chapter 14, Part 2; Title 11,
Chapter 15 and Title 67, Chapter 5, relative to the Agricultural, Forest and Open Space Land
Act of 1976.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 67-5-1005(a)(1) is amended by
adding the following language immediately after the third sentence of the subdivision:
Property that is qualified as agricultural, owned by two (2) individuals, and held
under the titles of tenancy by the entireties or of joint tenancy with right of survivorship, is
deemed to have unchanged ownership upon the death of an owner if the property is
retained by the other owner through a right of survivorship or upon the divorce of the
owners if the property is retained by either owner through division and distribution of
property in the divorce proceeding.
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 67-5-1006(a)(1) is amended by
adding the following language immediately after the third sentence of the subdivision:
Property that is qualified as forest land, owned by two (2) individuals, and held
under the titles of tenancy by the entireties or of joint tenancy with right of survivorship, is
deemed to have unchanged ownership upon the death of an owner if the property is
retained by the other owner through a right of survivorship or upon the divorce of the
owners if the property is retained by either owner through division and distribution of
property in the divorce proceeding.
SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 67-5-1007(b)(1), is amended by
adding the following language immediately after the third sentence of the subdivision:
Property that is qualified as open space land, owned by two (2) individuals, and
held under the titles of tenancy by the entireties or of joint tenancy with right of
survivorship, is deemed to have unchanged ownership upon the death of an owner if the
property is retained by the other owner through a right of survivorship or upon the
divorce of the owners if the property is retained by either owner through division and
distribution of property in the divorce proceeding.
SECTION 4. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it. HOUSE BILL NO. 297
PASSED: March 20. 2025
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CAMERON SEXTON, SPEAKER
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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---, "' ,. O RANDY MC)ALL y
SPEAKER OF THE SENATE
APPROVED this ~ day of /¼r:£ I 2025
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BILL LEE, GOVERNOR