House Agriculture & Natural Resources advances farmland preservation fund, wetlands reform and multiple bills; votes at a glance

The House Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee met in session and advanced a package of bills, including House Bill 13-25 to establish a Tennessee Farmland Preservation Fund, a wetlands reform measure (House Bill 5-41), a raised minimum age to operate a personal watercraft (House Bill 9-40) and a pilot to track and fund maintenance of commercial paddle-sports access points (House Bill 11-49).

The meeting featured extended testimony on farmland preservation and wetlands. Supporters of the farmland program said the measure would give landowners a voluntary tool to preserve working farms; opponents of the wetlands changes warned of risks to water quality, groundwater recharge and flood protection.

Representative Bridal, sponsor of House Bill 13-25, described the bill as creating “a pathway to save their farmland” and said the program would be voluntary and administered to help place conservation easements on willing landowners’ property. Testimony included farmers and conservation practitioners who urged the committee to approve the fund and to craft rules making the program workable for small and multi-generational farms. Anna Kern, an eighth-generation farm inheritor and conservation advocate, told the committee, “This bill will lessen that burden for folks that need it the most,” citing legal and transactional costs for conservation easements.

Alex Lewis, speaking on behalf of Governor Bill Lee’s office, said the administration expects program rules to prioritize productive land and noted the funds are intended to go to landowners for easements, not as operating grants to nonprofits. “The money in this program will pass to Tennessee landowners,” Lewis said, adding the easements envisioned are permanent and that the program design and eligibility criteria will be developed in rulemaking.

The committee also debated House Bill 5-41, a broad wetlands statute change presented by Representative Vaughn. Supporters — including Build Tennessee Housing and the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce — argued…