Tennessee legislation · 114th General Assembly

Tennessee HB1536: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4 and Title 43, relative to the Tennessee Agricultural Innovation and Education Initiative.

Status: Chaptered, May 15, 2026

Fiscal Summary STATE GOVERNMENTREVENUEGeneral FundTennessee Agricultural Innovation and Education Initiative FundFY26-27 & Subsequent Years-$2,000,000 EXPENDITURESGeneral FundTennessee Agricultural Innovation and Education Initiative FundFY26-27 & Subsequent Years$2,000,000$2,000,000 Bill Summary This bill enacts the Tennessee Agricultural Innovation and Education Initiative within the department of agriculture ("department"). This initiative must prioritize benefits toward farmers and producers, students and workforce participants, and consumers and communities of this state by accomplishing all of the following goals:  Support statewide outreach, education, and storytelling related to agriculture in this state. Expand digital access to agriculture-focused workforce and learning resources. Promote market access and economic opportunity for farmers and agricultural businesses of this state. Encourage collaborations that prepare the next generation of agricultural leaders. Strengthen this state's position as a model for agriculture-centered technology and innovation. This bill authorizes the initiative to include all of the following program activities in order to accomplish such goals:  Development and distribution of agriculture-focused educational programming. Workforce training modules aligned with agriculture technology, logistics, media, and entrepreneurship. Digital tools promoting statewide agricultural literacy. Producer onboarding to e-commerce marketplaces. Youth engagement and career-path exploration in agriculture. Marketing and outreach efforts promoting state-grown products. Technical assistance for rural communities adopting digital agricultural tools. PARTNERSHIP CONTRACTS This bill authorizes the department to contract with one or more