TennesseeBoards may farm historic-site land and spend proceeds on preservation
Eligible local historical boards may contract with farmers to work certain historic-site land, and must use the proceeds for preservation.
What it does
Local historical boards may contract with farmers to grow crops on historic-site land of at least five connected acres, or harvest hay and similar products on smaller plots.
Boards must spend all contract proceeds on preserving sites and structures they manage, following applicable standards, and report each year's contracts and spending by December 31.
The Tennessee Historical Commission must develop contract forms for boards to use in these farming and harvesting agreements.
Argument forBoards could earn money from eligible site land and use it to preserve historic places and structures.
Argument againstFarm work could disturb historic-site land that boards are responsible for protecting, even though they must use the proceeds for preservation.
More detail
Local historical boards may contract with farmers to grow crops or harvest naturally grown products on historic-site land. Boards may contract for crops on site land with at least five connected acres, or hay and similar naturally grown products on site land with fewer than five connected acres. A board must be a government or nonprofit entity authorized to preserve historic sites in its area, receive Tennessee Historical Commission assistance to establish its program, and operate under local protections and design review for historic properties or districts.
Boards must use all proceeds from these contracts to preserve historic sites and structures they manage, and report contract and spending details to the Tennessee Historical Commission each year. These duties cover proceeds from the farming and harvesting contracts described in this law. Preservation spending must follow applicable state guidelines and standards issued by the United States secretary of the interior. The annual report is due to the Tennessee Historical Commission by December 31 and covers contracts made during that calendar year and how the proceeds were used.
The Tennessee Historical Commission must develop contracts for boards to use when making these agreements. The contract forms are for agreements under this law between local historical boards and farmers.
Where do you stand?
Choose your position
Tell your reps
Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.
Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 27Pub. Ch. 1065Latest
- May 27Effective date(s) 05/22/2026
- May 22Signed by Governor Bill Lee.Became Law
- May 11Transmitted to Governor for action.To Governor
- May 7Signed by H. SpeakerMajor
- Apr 30Signed by Senate SpeakerMajor
- Apr 27Enrolled and ready for signaturesMinor
- Apr 21Subst. for comp. HB.Major
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/21/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 21Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - HA1086)Minor
- Apr 21Passed H., Ayes 89, Nays 0, PNV 0Passed House
- Mar 2Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.
- Feb 26Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0514)
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: as Amended Third Consideration 2/26/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 26Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 29, Nays 0Passed Senate
- Feb 26Engrossed; ready for transmission to HouseMinor
- Feb 24Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 8, Nays 0 PNV 0
- Vote recorded SENATE STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE: Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 8, Nays 0 PNV 0 2/24/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 24Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 2/26/2026
- Feb 17Action deferred in Senate State and Local Government Committee to 2/24/2026
- Feb 17Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 2/24/2026
- Feb 10Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 2/17/2026
- Jan 14Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate State and Local Government CommitteeMinor
- Jan 13Introduced, Passed on First ConsiderationMinor
- 2025
- Dec 18Filed for introductionIntroduced
Government & Ethics