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                     ~tate of \!tennessee

                         PUBLIC CHAPTER NO. 1047

                                                  HOUSE BILL NO. 2614

                   By Representatives Renea Jones, Hill, Crawford, Littleton, Hawk

                                       Substituted for: Senate Bill No. 2654

                    By Senators Crowe, Gardenhire, Bailey, Bowling, Harshbarger

         AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 3; Title 4; Title 8 and Title 9,
relative to state government.

          WHEREAS, the Rhododendron Festival, which is celebrating its eightieth anniversary
this spring, and the Fall-O-Dendron Festival are held in beautiful Roan Mountain, which is
famous for its stunning beauty and being home to the world's largest natural Catawba
Rhododendron gardens; and

          WHEREAS, for generations, the Rhododendron Festival has been an important tradition
that reflects the heritage, culture, and community history and spirit of Roan Mountain, which
traces its roots back to the Overmountain Men, who famously crossed Roan Mountain on their
way to victory at the Battle of Kings Mountain during the American Revolution; and

          WHEREAS, in 1946, the Roan Mountain Citizens Club was established to promote the
beauty and history of Roan Mountain; and

          WHEREAS, the next year, the Roan Mountain Citizens Club developed and held the first
Rhododendron Festival atop Roan Mountain, reflecting that "the people go where the
Rhododendron grows"; and

          WHEREAS, the Roan Mountain Citizens Club, after seeing the overwhelming popularity
and attendance at the spring festival, launched the Fall-O-Dendron Festival in October of each
year, featuring arts, crafts, vendors, music in the amphitheater, and demonstrations and crafts
reflecting the Appalachian lifestyle and history of days gone by; and

          WHEREAS, the Roan Mountain Rhododendron and the Fall-O-Dendron festivals serve
as major economic drivers for the Roan Mountain community and for Carter County as a whole,
bringing thousands of visitors from across the region and around the world; and

          WHEREAS, revenue from the festivals is used to support scholarships for Johnson
County students preparing for college, local schools, volunteer fire departments, and the
beautification of the Roan Mountain community; and

          WHEREAS, true Tennessee treasures, the Rhododendron and Fall-O-Dendron festivals
are richly deserving of special recognition; now, therefore,

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:

          SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 1, Part 3, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:

          The Rhododendron and the Fall-O-Dendron festivals of Roan Mountain are designated
the official Rhododendron and Fall-O-Dendron festivals of Tennessee in recognition of such
festivals' contributions to the preservation of the heritage, history, and beautiful landscapes of
this state.

          SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.
                    HOUSE BILL NO. 2614

PASSED:  April 21, 2026

                               CAMERON SEXTON, SPEAKER
                               HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

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                                        -
                                       SPEAKER OF THE

1 APPROVED this fJ. f:,t day of {V]a,                   2026

BILL LEE, GOVERNOR