Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

Tennessee Senate Bill SB0874 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1
2	2	HOUSE BILL 901
3	3	By Darby
4	4
5	5	SENATE BILL 874
6	6	By Reeves
7	7
8	8
9	9	SB0874
10	10	000956
11	11	- 1 -
12	12
13	13	AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 43,
14	14	relative to century farms.
15	15
16	16	BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
17	17	SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 43, Chapter 25, is amended by adding
18	18	the following new section:
19	19	(a) This act is known and may be cited as the "Tennessee Century Farms Act."
20	20	(b) It is the intent of the general assembly to recognize the historical significance
21	21	of family farms that have been in operation in this state for over one hundred (100) years
22	22	and to highlight their contribution to agriculture in and the economy of this state.
23	23	(c) As used in this section:
24	24	(1) "Century farm" means a farm that:
25	25	(A) Is composed of ten (10) or more acres of the original farm
26	26	owned by a founder of the farm;
27	27	(B) Produces at least one thousand dollars ($1,000) in annual
28	28	revenue;
29	29	(C) Has remained in the founder's family continuously for at least
30	30	one hundred (100) years; and
31	31	(D) Is owned in whole or in part by at least one (1) resident of this
32	32	state; and
33	33	(2) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of the department of
34	34	agriculture.
35	35
36	36
37	37	- 2 - 000956
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39	39	(d) The commissioner shall establish a century farms program to recognize
40	40	century farms in continuous operation for more than one hundred (100) years in this
41	41	state for purposes of promoting awareness of century farms and the interests of
42	42	agriculture in this state.
43	43	(e) The commissioner shall:
44	44	(1) Operate the program within the existing resources of the department
45	45	of agriculture;
46	46	(2) Establish the criteria for qualification as a century farm under the
47	47	program;
48	48	(3) Designate a qualified historic preservation center to administer the
49	49	program; and
50	50	(4) Design and provide a specialty commemorative sign in recognition of
51	51	a century farm to be provided to the owner of the farm at no cost to the owner.
52	52	Commemorative signs may also be designed and provided to owners of century
53	53	farms to recognize each additional fifty (50) years that a farm remains in
54	54	continuous operation and qualifies for participation in the program. Additional
55	55	signs may be purchased by a qualified owner at a cost specified by the
56	56	commissioner. The commissioner may collaborate with the Tennessee historical
57	57	commission and the historic preservation center administering the program for
58	58	purposes of designing signs in accordance with this subdivision (e)(4).
59	59	(f) In administering the program, the historic preservation center designated
60	60	pursuant to subdivision (e)(3) shall:
61	61	(1) Maintain a database of century farms and serve as a clearing house
62	62	with respect to information on century farms and the program;
63	63
64	64
65	65	- 3 - 000956
66	66
67	67	(2) Collaborate with the department of agriculture and the Tennessee
68	68	historical commission for purposes of administering the program; and
69	69	(3) Educate the public and promote awareness with respect to
70	70	Tennessee's historic century farms in this state as well as their contribution to
71	71	agriculture in this state.
72	72	SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.