Senate Joint Resolution 610, sponsored by Lowe, proposes an amendment to Article XI of the Tennessee Constitution to establish and protect the rights of individuals regarding food. The resolution asserts that all individuals possess a natural, inherent, and unalienable right to save and exchange seeds, as well as to acquire and consume food of their own choosing, provided they do not engage in trespassing, theft, poaching, or other abuses of property rights. Additionally, it affirms the right to grow, raise, harvest, and produce food on land that is not specifically zoned against such activities, as long as the same legal boundaries regarding property rights are respected.
The resolution clarifies that while these rights are recognized, they do not restrict the state's authority to regulate or prohibit the possession of seeds or the cultivation of plants that produce controlled or illegal substances. Following its proposal, the amendment will be referred to the next General Assembly for consideration and will be published on the official websites of the Secretary of State and the General Assembly, ensuring transparency and public awareness.