All Roll Calls
Yes: 142 • No: 0
TennesseeSB 1265114th General Assembly (2025-2026)Senate
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 53, Chapter 7 and Chapter 380 of the Public Acts of 2023, relative to the inspection of food derived from animals.
Sponsored By: Sponsor information unavailable
Signed by Governor
Agriculture, Dept. of
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 3 mixed.
State safety checks for Tennessee meat
The law creates state inspections for cattle, sheep, swine, and goat meat sold within Tennessee. Standards must meet federal requirements for humane handling, safety checks, sanitation, labels, records, transport, and recalls. Exclusions cover personal-use processing, qualifying retail or restaurant preparation, carriers of already-inspected meat, and plants operating solely under federal inspection. Rulemaking, hiring, and other setup work take effect upon enactment. The main rules begin 30 days after the agriculture commissioner receives federal notice approving Tennessee for a cooperative meat inspection agreement.
Meat businesses face licenses and penalties
Meat establishments and custom processors need annual, nontransferable licenses for each location and must pay fees set by rule. Applicants must provide required information, allow inspections, and pass a sanitary inspection before approval. Licensees and responsible persons cannot have felony convictions or more than one conviction for specified food-labeling or food-fraud crimes. Unlicensed processing, selling custom meat, obstructing inspectors, and mishandling unsafe or embargoed meat are Class C misdemeanors. The department may use written warnings or civil penalties instead when that serves the public interest and secures compliance. License denial, suspension, or revocation ends access to state inspections; correcting the problems allows reapplication. These requirements begin 30 days after the agriculture commissioner receives federal notice approving Tennessee for a cooperative meat inspection agreement.
Custom meat gets limited inspection exemptions
The agriculture commissioner may exempt qualifying custom-processed animals and meat from state inspection. Processing must occur at a licensed, sanitary facility, with custom meat always kept physically separate from inspected meat. Packaged custom meat must immediately carry a clear “Not for Sale” mark that stays until delivery to its owner. Licensing, registration, humane handling, sanitation, and rules against unsafe or misleadingly labeled meat still apply; officials may check records and samples. These rules begin 30 days after the agriculture commissioner receives federal notice approving Tennessee for a cooperative meat inspection agreement.
State meat oversight limits local rules
Tennessee's agriculture department controls state regulation and inspection of livestock slaughter, meat processing, and meat transport within Tennessee. Local governments cannot regulate or inspect those activities, but retain zoning and code enforcement and may cooperate with the department. Federal authorities keep control of poultry activities covered by federal law. State inspectors may inspect and sample at federally inspected plants while helping federal authorities enforce federal rules. These changes begin 30 days after the agriculture commissioner receives federal notice approving Tennessee for a cooperative meat inspection agreement.
State pays basic meat inspection costs
Tennessee pays the base cost of required livestock inspections. Meat businesses pay for overtime, holiday inspections, voluntary inspection services, marking devices and supplies, containers, and labels. The agriculture department controls official inspection-marking devices and supplies, with fees and business charges governed by rules. The law gives no dollar amounts or new appropriation. These payment rules begin 30 days after the agriculture commissioner receives federal notice approving Tennessee for a cooperative meat inspection agreement.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
There is no primary sponsor on record.
Cosponsors
Paul Bailey
Republican • Senate
Janice Bowling
Republican • Senate
Adam Lowe
Republican • Senate
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 4/21/2025
FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/21/2025
Yes: 92 • No: 0
Senate vote • 4/15/2025
FLOOR VOTE: as Amended Third Consideration 4/15/2025
Yes: 31 • No: 0
Senate vote • 4/8/2025
SENATE FINANCE, WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE
Yes: 10 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/26/2025
SENATE ENERGY, AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE
Yes: 9 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Effective date(s) 05/09/2025
6/4/2025Pub. Ch. 463
6/4/2025Signed by Governor.
5/9/2025SenateTransmitted to Governor for action.
5/1/2025SenateSigned by H. Speaker
4/30/2025HouseSigned by Senate Speaker
4/29/2025SenateEnrolled and ready for signatures
4/28/2025SenatePassed H., Ayes 92, Nays 0, PNV 0
4/21/2025HouseAm. withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - HA0156)
4/21/2025HouseSubst. for comp. HB.
4/21/2025HouseRcvd. from S., held on H. desk.
4/16/2025HouseSponsor(s) Added.
4/15/2025SenateEngrossed; ready for transmission to House
4/15/2025SenatePassed Senate as amended, Ayes 31, Nays 0
4/15/2025SenateSenate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0248)
4/15/2025SenatePlaced on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/15/2025
4/14/2025SenatePlaced on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/15/2025
4/11/2025SenateRecommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee
4/8/2025SenatePlaced on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/8/2025
4/1/2025SenateRecommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee Ayes 9, Nays 0 PNV 0
3/26/2025SenatePlaced on Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee calendar for 3/26/2025
3/19/2025SenateAction deferred in Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee to 3/26/2025
3/19/2025SenateSponsor(s) Added.
3/18/2025SenatePlaced on Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee calendar for 3/19/2025
3/13/2025SenatePassed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee
2/12/2025Senate
Bill Text
Enrolled / Public Chapter
Fiscal Note
HA0156
Introduced
SA0248
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