Tennessee House Bill HB1493

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/9/26
• Refer: 1/14/26
• Refer: 3/4/26
• Refer: 4/8/26
• Refer: 4/14/26

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 11; Title 12; Title 29 and Title 43, relative to local historical boards.

Impact

The statute emphasizes that any proceeds generated from these agricultural contracts must be directed towards the preservation of historic sites and structures managed by the local historical boards. To ensure transparency and accountability, these boards are required to submit an annual report to the Tennessee historical commission, detailing the contracts and their financial outcomes. This encourages responsible financial management of funds generated through farming activities.

Summary

House Bill 1493 proposes amendments to the Tennessee Code Annotated concerning local historical boards and their authority to engage with farmers for agricultural activities on historical sites. The bill specifically allows local historical boards to contract with farmers to farm crops on historical land that is at least five contiguous acres in size, and to harvest hay from land smaller than this size. This creates opportunities for the boards to generate revenue while contributing to the preservation of historical properties through agricultural use.

Contention

While the intent of HB1493 is to promote the maintenance and preservation of local historical sites by introducing agricultural activities, there may be concerns regarding the management of these contracts and the potential impact on the historical integrity of the sites. Critics might argue about the appropriateness of farming practices on areas designated for historical preservation and whether agricultural activities might interfere with the site's historical significance. Therefore, this bill could spark discussions around balancing agricultural development with historical conservation efforts.