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SB 878

Agriculture, Dept. of - As introduced, requires the department to make its annual reports regarding operation of the Tennessee Agricultural Museum and the museum's board available in a publicly accessible location on the department's website within one month from the date the governor approves the reports. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 11; Title 43; Title 44; Title 53; Title 57; Title 62; Title 63; Title 66; Title 67; Title 68; Title 69 and Title 70.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026)

Tennessee Department of Agriculture must publish annual Tennessee Agricultural Museum reports on its website within one month of governor approval.

Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee
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Bill Summary · SB 878

Legislative bill overview

SB 878 requires Tennessee's Department of Agriculture to publish annual reports on the Tennessee Agricultural Museum and its board's operations on the department's website within one month of gubernatorial approval. The bill amends multiple sections of Tennessee Code Annotated to implement this transparency requirement.

Why is this important

Government transparency regarding public institutions and their governance is a foundational accountability mechanism. Making museum operational reports publicly accessible allows taxpayers, stakeholders, and policymakers to monitor institutional performance and resource allocation without requesting documents directly.

Potential points of contention

  • Minimal fiscal impact vs. administrative burden: While the requirement appears straightforward, agencies may argue that posting timelines create workload pressures or cost implications
  • Scope of amendments: The bill amends 10 different Tennessee Code titles, which is unusually broad for a seemingly narrow transparency requirement—this raises questions about whether substantive changes beyond website posting are included that aren't fully captured in the bill summary
  • Definition ambiguity: The bill doesn't specify what constitutes adequate "public accessibility" on the website or what happens if reports are delayed beyond the one-month window, leaving enforcement mechanisms unclear

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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