[{"_1":2,"_109":-5,"_110":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":-5,"_68":69,"_70":-5,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6414623,"mediaKeyId","2389758-85dee8336905132770c3d1ea198f3f11","parentId",2389758,"title","Pacific Legal Foundation attorney tells agriculture committee wetlands rules and local land-use controls can impede housing and farming","audioSeconds",5628,"startMs",5635000,"endMs",6300,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2389758-85dee8336905132770c3d1ea198f3f11&start=5635&end=6","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2389758-85dee8336905132770c3d1ea198f3f11/thumbnail_5635000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6414623/Pacific-Legal-Foundation-attorney-tells-agriculture-committee-wetlands-rules-and-local-land-use-controls-can-impede-housing-and-farming","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6414623-8fc420e97e27e4215f84089cdf8d3292/orig.mp4?Expires=1775906244&Signature=OGSW7nG8ZggtEJBNiG9Ph9basiMFkOcOEfAaywDZNgkb3rQ5COiBJNeu8UOewu0562gWCaNBvGbWamyq0qr6gT404ZahBe3NcdS2Fw~Imf4oyzTc0IX0Aoqd1El739o4HD8XDTG7ugKB8XYhbTxqUpV7xIPL4eKbxVuBTWE014r0CMCHJudubabVGI4xAgXupLzRWo~cXb4vYxRGl2dj1CVViHTZq~B3PtgxJoWFhHljR~vtzIJKI7N6NfWIydKOtkKenVetvSNP8FDhv~fMQ9GZm48S92VivwjWXG0ZsK~3bsHA2cXhCcXX-FRNyINamxy7t-J2n75An6OHJh77Ng__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","TN State Legislature","date","2025-02-25T00:00:00Z","article","Mark Miller, senior attorney for Pacific Legal Foundation, presented to the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, describing the foundation’s legal work on property rights, wetlands jurisdiction and housing-affordability issues. Miller summarized the Sackett v. EPA litigation as an example of how prolonged federal wetlands enforcement can prevent a private landowner from building a home, and he urged that any wetlands-related state legislation preserve the agricultural exemptions present in the federal Clean Water Act.

Miller described Pacific Legal Foundation as a nonprofit public-interest law firm that represents property owners pro bono in suits against government agencies. He said the Sackett litigation ultimately established that property owners have the right to challenge EPA assertions that a parcel contains “waters of the United States,” and urged the committee to ensure state codes exempt normal farming, silviculture and ranching activities — items he listed from the federal 404(f) exemptions (plowing, seeding, cultivating, drainage, construction/maintenance of farm ponds, irrigation ditches, farm roads, etc.).

On housing, Miller argued that restrictive local land-use regulation and inclusionary zoning increase housing costs. He praised Tennessee for statewide prohibitions on rent control and on inclusionary zoning as measures that keep markets freer, and said easing regulatory controls would help expand housing supply. Miller stressed he was not testifying for or against a specific wetlands bill at the hearing but urged legislators to consider exemptions that protect ordinary agricultural activities if they draft new wetlands rules.

Committee leaders cut the presentation short at the scheduled end of the meeting but thanked Miller for traveling to speak to the panel.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee\tFeb 25, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Mark Miller of Pacific Legal Foundation told lawmakers that wetlands enforcement and restrictive land-use regulation can block housing construction and farming activities, citing the Sackett case and urging protections for normal agricultural activities.","taxTitle","taxId",0,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":-5,"_68":69,"_70":-5,"_71":72,"_73":72},6414654,"Tennessee Forestry Association warns committee of rising wildfire risk as population grows into forested areas",1308,4170000,5478000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2389758-85dee8336905132770c3d1ea198f3f11&start=4170&end=5478","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2389758-85dee8336905132770c3d1ea198f3f11/thumbnail_4170000.jpg","/articles/6414654/Tennessee-Forestry-Association-warns-committee-of-rising-wildfire-risk-as-population-grows-into-forested-areas","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6414654-e67cc2a5cd59885701b64850acff2b82/orig.mp4?Expires=1775906244&Signature=TBoh93MsMIfYJCql5bXjQYfmKuPpnt69A1iJVAc40i6ZAUcjGuW9tRK0HoXGMueB69xj72SJm7xD0-4L2RYSxWBVFID0PC~Jxd-2bEvLqo0hhEXWU93uaKarp7q458cJZtbDQVyUGNoXiZAJOWBrAwSaVEAiE7ETfRkwtmbLbNiFS7G8UXDT1LCIxj8fPr4Wys5K5KLCyIJBXJRWVawUhnSheqPzObTdNV6bBKIkocJHuqIj69LOUR2ni4BLeVUnt6fK~CMdxczrHNC4GI0jtAVP4gCNiljQWa4AC1gpcFl2WOuvn-HnxNbz3Jq-HzBVHYzuob6BhRJ3nAxUrZ4FWw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Tom Midgett, chairman of the Tennessee Forestry Commission, and Heather Slayton, the state forester and assistant commissioner at the Tennessee Department of Agriculture’s Division of Forestry, briefed the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee on the commission’s 2024 annual report and on wildfire and resource management priorities.

Midgett told the committee the state’s growing population is expanding into the “wildland-urban interface” and pointed to increased recreational pressure on state forests. He said Tennessee sees roughly 1,000 wildfires annually that burn about 18,000 acres in a typical year and noted that the state is losing roughly 10 acres of agricultural and forest land every 10 minutes as development spreads into wooded areas. He emphasized investment in training and equipment for local volunteer fire departments and better protection for state forest assets.

State forester Heather Slayton said the Division of Forestry manages 16 state forests totaling roughly 174,000 acres; the division also works collaboratively with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and TDEC through a state lands group set up to coordinate management and avoid duplicated effort. Slayton explained that the division sells timber through competitive bids and sometimes helps other agencies (for example, TDEC and TWRA) with timber management after storm events or where habitat and forest health work is needed.

Tom Midgett highlighted a limitation: state foresters do not have independent law-enforcement authority to cite individuals for damage to state forest property; the division relies on local law-enforcement partners for enforcement. Committee members asked about managing species mix, oxygen/air-quality questions, and funding or grant opportunities for volunteer fire departments; Slayton and Midgett said diversity and active management are key to forest health and noted a need for equipment and training grants for local departments.","Tennessee Forestry Association and Division of Forestry officials told the Agriculture Committee that population growth into forested areas increases wildfire risk; they described volunteer fire department needs, state-forest recreation pressures and limits on enforcement authority.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":-5,"_68":69,"_70":-5,"_71":72,"_73":72},6414671,"Agriculture committee codifies Tennessee Century Farms program after tabling amendments on studies and equity",595,3636000,4231000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2389758-85dee8336905132770c3d1ea198f3f11&start=3636&end=4231","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2389758-85dee8336905132770c3d1ea198f3f11/thumbnail_3636000.jpg","/articles/6414671/Agriculture-committee-codifies-Tennessee-Century-Farms-program-after-tabling-amendments-on-studies-and-equity","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6414671-60d022550c5215b742a00c73f09ca84c/orig.mp4?Expires=1775906244&Signature=H45J1NofOeklZH4rQH9VV4BeJqewCle4MfLLE7txr6W5jon0FwtPX3ALxD2sP-1CXlid27cYEIyWimPN5BNlGLo3-e5KmbEZsCt5j~ja7gXpvD8fX34x5l8yC2V9hnkLWWrRtiUYLZwqjCKAQjcQqKl3rVbbp5ZtedP25RyHkuIdYBrE4qpy5EPMSGnNA3a1J-bCxrzHiXatyfSC8OHBvKPJamdKU7ugWfWMMio6QUwvOvnuUU0z5PVeCwba61QcJh0ZqPQhLG5IOrplVyiN5BxXYkwxMPwVo3RY5XaojOQpzA6pHT-kf-TU81Zp-c5uM9eb93ksE9a6nQjz4KwrxA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Tennessee House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee approved HB 901 to codify the Tennessee Century Farms program — a recognition for farms in continuous family operation for more than 100 years — after debating and then tabling two amendments offered by Representative Jones.

Representative Jones offered two amendments she described as studies and supports for Century Farms, including one amendment aimed at identifying barriers facing Black-owned Century Farms. Committee members moved to table each amendment; the chair put the tabling motions to voice votes and announced that the motion to table passed both times. After tabling the amendments, the committee voted to approve HB 901 with a roll-call result of 15 ayes, 1 present not voting.

Representative Jones said the amendments sought a nonpartisan study of obstacles Century Farm families face (market pressures, heirs not choosing farming, and development pressure) and also highlighted that only 14 Century Farms remain Black-owned in the state. During debate she said, “you should be ashamed of yourself,” addressing fellow committee members after arguing the amendment process was handled unfairly; the chair reminded members that the motion before the committee was whether to table amendments, not to debate motives.

The sponsor, Chairman Todd, described HB 901 as codifying an established program — the Century Farms recognition has existed for decades but was not in statute. Committee staff reported that, since program founding, 2,244 farms have been certified Century Farms and that 96 have been sold out of the family.

The committee forwarded HB 901 to calendar and rules. No direct funding or support provisions for century farms were added in the approved bill; Representative Jones asked whether the bill would provide financial assistance and was told the measure codifies the recognition program rather than creating new funding.","The committee passed HB 901 to put the Century Farms recognition program into statute but tabled two amendments that would have added a study of barriers to keeping farms in families and measures addressing Black-owned Century Farms.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":91,"_47":103,"_49":104,"_51":105,"_53":106,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":107,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":108,"_67":-5,"_68":69,"_70":-5,"_71":72,"_73":72},6414691,"House Agriculture committee advances confirmations, mine-reclamation notice bill and natural-area additions; votes at a glance",1514,2717000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2389758-85dee8336905132770c3d1ea198f3f11&start=2717&end=4231","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2389758-85dee8336905132770c3d1ea198f3f11/thumbnail_2717000.jpg","/articles/6414691/House-Agriculture-committee-advances-confirmations-mine-reclamation-notice-bill-and-natural-area-additions-votes-at-a-glance","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6414691-c63ef0bb54afd77897ed2966cb078255/orig.mp4?Expires=1775906244&Signature=BZeCNAv38fFs0DjM~e5vh1oheWdd~CUiFp8ktrpSOvYyTmLYwAylZJkZsS2U8it6IzfGyU8AIHq-EwO-RWqTzKEoSCRp3x~kf6VURgur52~PY2Tn3V-qLykunuokPYlDBy6cTVBr1rRsbs2VuWr7D1zo5yOy6a4X8XQAxR-sj-K8hwWhzv9XLXo8f8XRyFyZYIeVbfxkGvwASvbwB26YgRA3wPa3xBnnlG2hzeHrCGxcIEr0~r0AOYsApcf~PeerUlsN1jPlFSoWyVldsRwQXCIH2B-JT2p6bqKbJfwmCB~x6rKz5TF~QsGyUETx7CfLE468aQDy4Knw0fJ7A~QlYA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a meeting of the Tennessee House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, members voted to confirm several appointees to forestry and related boards and approved bills that update notice requirements for abandoned coal-mine reclamation, add and expand state natural areas, and change license expiration dates in the Department of Agriculture.

The committee confirmed multiple nominees to forestry-related positions and to the Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners, advanced bills that officials said preserve federal funding or modernize administrative dates and fees, and approved a measure to codify the longtime Century Farms recognition program after members tabled two proposed amendments.

Votes at a glance

- HDR 171 (Michael Biddle confirmation, nominee to the Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners) — motion carried (committee announced “the ayes have it,” motion carries). (Transcript evidence: introduction and committee vote.)
- HAR 161 (Jean Philippe confirmation to the Tennessee Forestry Commission) — 16 ayes, motion carries.
- HJR 189 (Jake Allman confirmation to the Tennessee Forestry Commission) — 16 ayes, motion carries.
- HJR 193 / HJR 192 (Mark Rogers confirmation to the Tennessee Forestry Commission) — 15 ayes, motion carries.
- HB 123 (requires notice to landowners of potential creation of a lien related to reclamation of abandoned coal mines) — 16 ayes, motion carries. Sponsor said the change is needed to ensure continued receipt of about $8,500,000 in annual federal AML funding.
- HJR 177 (name Blue Springs Boat Ramp for U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Terry William Prater) — 16 ayes, motion carries.
- HB 752 (extends eligibility window for TWRA lifetime sportsman licenses for adopted children) — 13 ayes, 2 present not voting, motion carries.
- HB 530 (allows remote/online testing for certain certification exams and lets TWRA set certification/replacement fees) — 16 ayes, motion carries.
- HB 921 (replaces the term “firing” with “shooting” and removes an obsolete fee for ranges) — 16 ayes, motion carries.
- HB 1303 (sets a uniform June 30 expiration date for several Department of Agriculture licenses) — 16 ayes, motion carries.
- HB 126 (adds four state natural areas, expands six and updates boundaries) — 16 ayes, motion carries.
- HB 220 (allows Perry, Stewart, Houston and Humphreys counties to join the West Tennessee River Basin Authority; includes initial general-fund support and creation of two positions) — 16 ayes, motion carries.
- HJR 150 (urges the UT Institute of Agriculture to study economic effects of Bradford pear) — 16 ayes, motion carries.
- HB 901 (codifies the Tennessee Century Farms program) — 15 ayes, 1 present not voting, motion carries after tabling two amendments.

Committee sponsors said many bills were “clean-up” or administrative measures meant to preserve federal funding streams, modernize agency procedures, or put an existing program into statute. Several confirmations included short nominee remarks and questions from committee members before the committee recessed briefly to hear nominees.

Clarifying details included during discussion: the abandoned-mine notice bill was described as necessary to secure roughly $8,500,000 annually in federal AML funding; expansion of West Tennessee River Basin Authority membership carries a first-year general-fund impact noted at $312,900 to create two positions and is expected to be offset by basin funding in later years; HB 752’s fiscal note was described as not significant by the sponsor.

Committee leaders redirected the meeting at multiple points to conduct roll-call or voice votes after brief technical interruptions, and votes reported by the clerk are recorded above as stated aloud in the transcript.

The committee forwarded the passed items to the calendar, rules or the next committee listed (for example, finance/ways and means) as indicated on the record.","The Tennessee House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee approved a package of confirmations and bills affecting forestry, abandoned-mine reclamation, state natural areas and local flood-control authority; members also passed the measure to codify the Century Farms program after tabling two proposed amendments.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Pacific Legal Foundation attorney tells agriculture committee wetlands rules and local land-use controls can impede housing and farming

Tennessee Forestry Association warns committee of rising wildfire risk as population grows into forested areas

Agriculture committee codifies Tennessee Century Farms program after tabling amendments on studies and equity

House Agriculture committee advances confirmations, mine-reclamation notice bill and natural-area additions; votes at a glance