Committee advances several agriculture and outdoor-related bills, including baiting permit and hunting safety color

The House Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee advanced a slate of bills Wednesday, approving measures that range from aligning state meat inspection rules with federal standards to establishing a permit for deer baiting on private land.

Key outcomes from the committee:

- House Bill 1302 (meat and poultry inspection alignment): Representative Jones said the bill aligns Tennesseelaw with federal meat inspection programs. Committee recorded vote: 16 ayes, 0 nays. The bill moves to the Government Operations Committee.

- House Bill 938 (deer baiting on private land): The bill establishes a deer baiting license and fee structure (the bill text discussed $50 resident and $100 nonresident license fees), gives the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) authority to set acceptable bait types and suspend baiting privileges to prevent disease spread, and requires TWRA to promulgate rules by Aug. 1, 2026. Committee adopted an amendment before final passage. Committee recorded vote: 13 ayes, 3 nays. The bill moves to Government Operations.

- House Bill 646 (add fluorescent pink to hunting safety colors): Representative Karringer said fluorescent pink should be recognized like blaze orange; the committee passed the bill and recorded the vote as reported by the clerk (recorded as "60 ayes, no nays" in the committee transcript). The bill moves to Calendar and Rules.

- House Bill 918 (temporary hunting license for disabled veterans on nonprofit-sponsored hunts): The committee approved a measure providing temporary hunting licenses for disabled veterans participating in not-for-profit-sponsored hunts; vote 16-0. The bill moves to Calendar and Rules.

- House Bill 199 (variance appeal process for certain septic systems): The bill would extend a variance appeal process to additional contract counties for certain on-site septic system decisions. The committee adopted the sponsoramendment and recorded the vote 9 ayes, 6 nays; bill moves to Calendar and Rules.

- House Bill 660 (technical clarification for Erwin Utilities Authority): The measure clarifies the authority of the Erwin Utilities Authority to continue enforcing previously established water and wastewater regulations after transferring city utilities to the authority. Vote 16-0; bill moves to Calendar and Rules.

- House Bill 589 (update Tennessee Agriculture Hall of Fame name and governance): The committee approved renaming and modernizing the Hall of Fame (to Tennessee Agriculture and Forestry Hall of Fame) and updating board membership; vote 16-0; bill moves to Government Operations.

Why it matters

Several bills affect how state agencies regulate outdoor recreation and agricultural services. HB938 (deer baiting) drew questions from members and witnesses about disease transmission, ecological impacts and whether a permit program would enable TWRA to monitor and regulate the practice more effectively; the sponsor said the permit framework would allow TWRA to study baiting practices and set rules to mitigate disease risks. HB646 (safety color) responds to requests from sportswomen and proponents who view pink as an additional visibility option.

The committee also paused for remarks and recognition related to Outdoor Day on the Hill and invited members to an outdoor expo and reception; committee members named participating agencies and organizations attending the event.

Votes at a glance (as recorded in committee transcript)

- HB1302 (Meat & Poultry Act alignment): Passed 16-0; referred to Government Operations. - HB938 (Deer baiting license & rules): Passed 13-3 as amended; referred to Government Operations. - HB646 (Add fluorescent pink as hunting safety color): Passed (clerk recorded "60 ayes, no nays" in transcript); referred to Calendar and Rules. - HB918 (Temporary hunting license for disabled veterans on nonprofit hunts): Passed 16-0; referred to Calendar and Rules. - HB199 (Septic variance appeals for contract counties): Passed 9-6 as amended; referred to Calendar and Rules. - HB660 (Erwin Utilities Authority technical clarifications): Passed 16-0; referred to Calendar and Rules. - HB589 (Modernize Agriculture Hall of Fame): Passed 16-0; referred to Government Operations.

Next steps

Each bill will be considered by the committees named above; some measures will go next to Calendar and Rules before a possible floor vote. Members asked agencies, particularly TWRA and TDEC, to prepare rules, implementation details and monitoring plans where the legislation requires agency rulemaking or program oversight.