Committee sends agriculture innovation education bill to finance after adopting amendment

The Senate Energy, Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee voted to send an amended Senate Bill 1645 — the Tennessee Agriculture Innovation Education Initiative — to the Finance Committee after adopting an amendment clarifying contracting language and adding a comptroller evaluation.

Sponsor Sen. Joey Wally described the measure as a public–private partnership to bring modern agricultural technology, workforce training and university collaboration into underserved areas. "This is his heart," Wally said of Representative Shaw’s advocacy for the initiative, and he asked the committee to move the bill forward so the House can address budgetary elements.

An amendment requested by the Department of Agriculture and the Comptroller’s Office was adopted; it requires an evaluative report by the Comptroller after the conclusion of the third fiscal year and replaces certain mandatory contract language with permissive language to widen potential partners.

Bernadette Pager, a private citizen, testified against the bill, saying it would create an unnecessary $2 million recurring fiscal note, duplicate existing programs (UT Extension, Tennessee State University, Farm Bureau programs, and others) and lacked a clear definition for "modern agriculture." "If this bill becomes law, there is no doubt to me that the Farm Bureau will continue to use this money..." Pager said.

On the vote to send the amended bill to Finance, the chair announced the result as 6 ayes and 2 noes and the bill will proceed to Finance for further consideration.

Next steps: SB 1645 advances to the Finance Committee, where funding and the comptroller's evaluation timeline will be considered.