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As Tennessee enters its annual wildfire season during National Fire Prevention Week, the Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry (TDF) reminds residents to burn safely and responsibly. Beginning October 15, anyone burning leaves or natural debris must obtain a free burn permit from TDF.

NASHVILLE – Attention, new business owners! Join the Department of Revenue on Wednesday, October 8 at 8:30 Central time for a free webinar designed for new businesses.

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) is accepting grant proposals for projects that will help improve water quality by reducing nonpoint source (NPS) pollution in the state. For the first time, incentives will be given to projects located in both economically distressed and at-risk counties.

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) mobile household hazardous waste collection service will be in Cheatham and Houston counties on Saturday, October 11.

The Commissioner of Financial Institutions hereby announces that the maximum effective rate of interest per annum for home loans as set by the General Assembly in 2025, Public Chapter 290, for the month of November 2025 is 10.31 percent per annum. The maximum effective rate of interest per annum for home loans shall be set at an amount equal to four (4) percentage points above the average prime offer rate (APOR), as defined in 12 CFR 1026.35, that applies to a thirty-year fixed loan, as published by the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC), or its successor federal entity. For the most recent APOR statistical data available preceding the date of this announcement, the calculated rate is 6.31 percent.

NASHVILLE--Commissioner of Financial Institutions Greg Gonzales announced today that the maximum effective formula rate of interest in Tennessee is 11.25 percent per annum. The rate is based on a ceiling of 4 percent over the weekly average prime loan rate of 7.25 percent as published by the Federal Reserve on October 6, 2025.

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry (TDF) is now accepting applications for the 2025 Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) program until Oct. 31, 2025. Departments may apply for VFA wildland fire suppression kits to supplement their department’s wildland firefighting capacity.

NASHVILLE --- The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency’s (TWRA) popular Tennessee Angler Recognition Program (TARP) is closing in on a milestone, approaching 10,000 entries from anglers who have recorded trophy-sized catches in Volunteer State waters.

On Friday, Oct. 3, Governor Bill Lee, Department of Safety and Homeland Security Commissioner Jeff Long, and Tennessee Office of Homeland Security (OHS) Deputy Commissioner Greg Mays presented badges to nine new OHS Special Agents in a graduation ceremony at the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy in Nashville.

Tennessee State Parks has opened new accessible paddling launches at Reelfoot Lake State Park, Indian Mountain State Park, and Warriors’ Path State Park.