HB0024 • 2026

Game and Fish Laws

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 70, relative to wildlife resources.

Children Crime

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Hemmer, Walley
Last action: 2025-05-15
Official status: Comp. became Pub. Ch. 407
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details on how the increased fines will be used or their impact on enforcement practices.

Tennessee Wildlife Law Changes

This law changes fines for wildlife violations in Tennessee by increasing them from $10 to $500 for most offenses, except boating safety violations which remain capped at $50.

What This Bill Does

Increases the maximum fine a person can pay instead of going to court from $50 to $500 for most wildlife violations, except boating safety violations which remain capped at $50.
Raises fines for taking wildlife without a license from between $10 and $25 to up to $500.
Increases the fine for hunting on another's land without permission from a Class C misdemeanor (up to 30 days in jail or a fine of up to $50) to a Class B misdemeanor (up to six months in jail or a fine of up to $500).
Raises fines for various wildlife offenses, such as commercial fishing and musseling violations from between $50 and $1,000 to up to $500.
Changes the minimum sentence for violating a court-ordered revocation of hunting or fishing privileges from 10 days in jail (with no suspension) to a fine of up to $500.

Who It Names or Affects

People who violate wildlife laws in Tennessee, such as hunters, trappers, and anglers.
Local courts that handle wildlife law violations.
Law enforcement officers responsible for enforcing wildlife regulations.

Terms To Know

Class C misdemeanor: A minor crime with a maximum penalty of up to 30 days in jail or a fine of up to $50.
Class B misdemeanor: A more serious crime than a Class C, with a maximum penalty of up to six months in jail or a fine of up to $500.

Limits and Unknowns

The law does not specify how local governments will fund the increased fines.
It is unclear if and how this change will affect wildlife populations or enforcement practices.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HA0507

Amendment 1-0 to HB0024

Plain English: The amendment changes the wording related to fines for wildlife violations from 'not to exceed' to 'of more than'.

Changes the phrase 'fine not to exceed' in the bill to 'fine of more than'.

The exact amount or range of the fine is not specified and remains unclear after this amendment.

HA0529

Amendment 2-0 to HB0024

Plain English: The amendment changes penalties for wildlife violations by setting a maximum fine of $500 and allowing courts to revoke licenses upon conviction.

Changes the penalty for violating certain wildlife laws from unspecified punishment to a Class B misdemeanor with a maximum fine of $500 per violation.
Adds provisions that allow courts to revoke the license of someone convicted under these sections, requiring surrendered licenses to be part of prosecution records.

The original language before amendment is not provided, so details about previous penalties are unknown.

SA0372

Amendment 1-0 to SB0014

Plain English: The amendment changes the wording related to fines for wildlife violations from 'not to exceed' to 'of more than'.

Removes the phrase 'fine not to exceed' in the bill.
Replaces it with 'fine of more than'.

The exact amount of fines after this change is unclear as no specific fine amount is provided.

Bill History

2025-05-15 Tennessee General Assembly
Comp. became Pub. Ch. 407
2025-05-15 Tennessee General Assembly
Effective date(s) 07/01/2025
2025-05-15 Tennessee General Assembly
Pub. Ch. 407
2025-05-09 Tennessee General Assembly
Signed by Governor.
2025-05-01 Tennessee General Assembly
Transmitted to Governor for action.
2025-04-30 Tennessee General Assembly
Signed by H. Speaker
2025-04-29 Tennessee General Assembly
Signed by Senate Speaker
2025-04-28 Tennessee General Assembly
Enrolled and ready for signatures
2025-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly
Comp. SB subst.
2025-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly
Concurred, Ayes 29, Nays 1 (Amendment 2 - HA0529)
2025-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate Message Calendar 3 for 4/22/2025
2025-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly
Passed H., as am., Ayes 73, Nays 8, PNV 10
2025-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly
H. adopted am. (Amendment 2 - HA0529)
2025-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly
Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - HA0507)
2025-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly
Subst. for comp. HB.
2025-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly
H. Placed on Regular Calendar 2 for 4/21/2025
2025-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/21/2025
2025-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly
Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules Committee
2025-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on cal. Finance, Ways, and Means Committee for 4/21/2025
2025-04-17 Tennessee General Assembly
Re-ref. Finance, Ways, and Means Committee
2025-04-17 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/17/2025
2025-04-17 Tennessee General Assembly
Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules Committee
2025-04-17 Tennessee General Assembly
Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee
2025-04-16 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/17/2025
2025-04-15 Tennessee General Assembly
Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.
2025-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly
Sponsor(s) Added.
2025-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly
Engrossed; ready for transmission to House
2025-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly
Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 32, Nays 0
2025-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly
Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0372)
2025-04-11 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/14/2025
2025-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/14/2025
2025-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed behind the budget
2025-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly
Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 11, Nays 0 PNV 0
2025-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/9/2025
2025-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly
Assigned to s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee
2025-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly
Rec. for pass; ref to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee
2025-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/8/2025
2025-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly
Action deferred in Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee to 4/8/2025
2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on cal. Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee for 4/1/2025
2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly
Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee
2025-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/1/2025
2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on s/c cal Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee for 3/26/2025
2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly
Action Def. in s/c Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee to 3/26/2025
2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on s/c cal Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee for 3/19/2025
2025-02-26 Tennessee General Assembly
Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee
2025-02-19 Tennessee General Assembly
Action Def. in s/c Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee to Special Calendar
2025-02-19 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee calendar for 2/26/2025
2025-02-19 Tennessee General Assembly
Action deferred in Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee to 2/26/2025
2025-02-13 Tennessee General Assembly
Sponsor(s) Added.
2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on s/c cal Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee for 2/19/2025
2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly
Action Def. in s/c Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee to 2/19/2025
2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly
Sponsor(s) Added.
2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee calendar for 2/19/2025
2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly
Sponsor(s) Added.
2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on s/c cal Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee for 2/12/2025
2025-01-28 Tennessee General Assembly
Assigned to s/c Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee
2025-01-16 Tennessee General Assembly
Ref. to Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee
2025-01-15 Tennessee General Assembly
P2C held on desk, pending appointment of Standing Committees
2025-01-15 Tennessee General Assembly
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee
2025-01-14 Tennessee General Assembly
Intro., P1C.
2025-01-14 Tennessee General Assembly
Introduced, Passed on First Consideration
2024-12-10 Tennessee General Assembly
Filed for introduction
2024-12-05 Tennessee General Assembly
Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

FINE IN LIEU OF COURT APPEARANCE

Present law authorizes a person cited for a misdemeanor violation of a wildlife resources or boating safety provision to pay a fine instead of appearing in court. However, this option is not available
for a person arrested for a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of more than $50 or imprisonment for more than 30 days. This bill changes the exclusion from $50 to $500. However, violators of boating safety provisions are still capped at $50.

TAKING WILDLI
FE WITHOUT A LICENSE

Present law prohibits a person from generally hunting, trapping, or taking any form of wildlife without a license acquired in accordance with state provisions. A violation may result in revocation of fishing, hunting, or trapping pr
ivileges, and is a Class C misdemeanor punishable by a fine between $10 and $25. A person who violates a revocation order of the court may be fined at least $25 and may be confined in the county jail or workhouse from 10 days to 11 months and 29 days, it

being mandatory upon the court to impose the prison sentence, and the minimum time may not be subject to suspension.

This bill changes the fine for the Class C misdemeanor under this provision from a fine between $10 and $25 to a fine not to exceed $500.
A person who violates a revocation order of the court is subject to a fine up to $500 and must be confined in the county jail or workhouse for not less than 10 days but not more than 11 months and 29 days. The minimum sentence of 10 days must not be su
s
pended.

FINES FOR WILDLIFE OFFENSES

This bill changes the fines of all the following wildlife law offenses:



Violations relative to commercial fishing and musseling
: From a fine between $50 and $1,000 to a fine not to exceed $500.



Violations relative to permits for a scientific purpose
: From a fine between $25 and $100 to a fine not to exceed $500.



Violations relative to licenses for the purpose of training hunting dogs
: From a fine between $25 and $50 to a fine not to exceed $500.



Violations relative to taxidermist permits
: From a fine between $10 and $25 to a fine not to exceed $500.



Violations relative to fish dealers' licenses
: From a fine between $25 and $50 to a fine not to exceed $500.



Violations relative to diverting water from Reelfoot Lake
: From a fine between $25 and $50 to a fine not to exceed $500.



Violations relative to refusing a game inspection
: From a fine between $25 and $50 to a fine not to exceed $500.

Present law provides that each wild animal, bird, fowl, or fish caught,
taken, killed, captured, destroyed, shipped, offered or received for shipment, transported, bought, sold or bartered, or had in possession, and each trap, snare, net or other device used or attempted to be used is a separate offense, punishable by a fine

between $25 and $50 for each offense. This bill changes the fine to up to $500 for each offense.

TAKING WILDLIFE AND BIG GAME WHILE TRESPASSING
Present law prohibits a person from generally hunting or killing any wild animal, bird, fowl or fish, upon t
he land of another without first obtaining the permission of the landowners. A violation is a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment of not more than 30 days or a fine up to $50, or both. Upon conviction, the court may revoke the license of the

person so convicted.

This bill provides that if the wild animal, bird, fowl, or fish is not removed from the land of another, then the violation is a Class C misdemeanor. However, if it is removed from the land of another, then the violation is a Class
B misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months imprisonment or a fine up to $500, or both.

JURISDICTION AND APPEALS

This bill provides that when a person is arrested for a violation of the wildlife laws, it is the duty of the arresting officer to take t
he person arrested before a court of general sessions for trial, in the county where the offense was committed. If, before the court of general sessions, the accused is found guilty of an offense, then the person has the right to appeal to the circuit or

criminal court having jurisdiction of such appeals, upon giving bond with good security, regardless of the amount of the fine.

GRAND JURIES

Present law authorizes grand juries to have and possess inquisitorial powers to inquire with respect to the differ
ent wildlife that are punishable by a fine of more than $50, or by imprisonment. This bill raises the fine to more than $500.

ON APRIL 14, 2025, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 14, AS AMENDED.

AMENDMENT #1 clarifies that the exemption in present law for paying a fine in lieu of a court appearance does not apply to a person arrested for a violation of a boating regulation that is punishable by a fine of no more than $50, instead of a fine not to exceed such amount.

ON APRIL 22,
2025, THE HOUSE SUBSTITUTED SENATE BILL 14 FOR HOUSE BILL 24, ADOPTED AMENDMENT #2, AND PASSED SENATE BILL 14, AS AMENDED.

AMENDMENT #2 rewrites this bill to increase the criminal classification for hunting on the land of another without permission from
a Class C misdemeanor to a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by a fine only, not to exceed $500 per violation. This amendment retains present law authorization for a court to revoke the sportsman's license of a person convicted of hunting on the land of an
o
ther without permission.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

SENATE BILL 14
By Walley

HOUSE BILL 24
By Hemmer

HB0024
000619
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 70,
relative to wildlife resources.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 70-1-310, is amended by deleting
subsection (c) and substituting:
(c)
(1) This section is not applicable to a person arrested for a violation of:
(A) This title, or an offense for which an arrest is authorized
pursuant to this title, that is punishable by a fine of more than five
hundred dollars ($500) or by imprisonment for more than thirty (30) days;
or
(B) Title 69, chapter 9, that is punishable by a fine not to exceed
fifty dollars ($50.00) or by imprisonment for more than thirty (30) days.
(2) This section does not supersede § 40-7-118 and does not require the
use of a citation in lieu of continued custody of an arrested person in any of the
circumstances specified in § 40-7-118(d).
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 70-2-101, is amended by deleting
subsection (e) and substituting:
(e) A violation of this section is a Class C misdemeanor and punishable by a fine
not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500). A person who violates the revocation order of
the court is subject to a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500) and must be
confined in the county jail or workhouse for not less than ten (10) days but not more than

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eleven (11) months and twenty-nine (29) days. Notwithstanding another law to the
contrary, the minimum sentence of ten (10) days must not be suspended.
SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 70-2-205(e)(1), is amended by
deleting "by a fine of not less than fifty dollars ($50.00) nor more than one thousand dollars
($1,000)" and substituting "by a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500)".
SECTION 4. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 70-2-213(c), is amended by deleting
"shall be, upon conviction, fined not less than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) nor more than one
hundred dollars ($100)" and substituting "must be, upon conviction, fined not more than five
hundred dollars ($500)".
SECTION 5. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 70-2-214(c), is amended by deleting
"shall be punishable by a fine of not less than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) nor more than fifty
dollars ($50.00)" and substituting "is punishable by a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars
($500)".
SECTION 6. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 70-2-215(d), is amended by deleting
"shall be fined not less than ten dollars ($10.00) nor more than twenty-five dollars ($25.00)" and
substituting "must be fined not more than five hundred dollars ($500)".
SECTION 7. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 70-2-221(e), is amended by deleting
"by a fine of not less than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) nor more than fifty dollars ($50.00)" and
substituting "by a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500)".
SECTION 8. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 70-4-106(a), is amended by deleting
subdivision (2) and substituting:
(2) If the wild animal, wild bird, wild fowl, or fish is not removed from the land of
another, then a violation of subdivision (a)(1) is a Class C misdemeanor. If the wild
animal, wild bird, wild fowl, or fish is removed from the land of another, then a violation of
subdivision (a)(1) is a Class B misdemeanor. Upon conviction for a violation of

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subdivision (a)(1), the court may revoke the license of the person convicted. A revoked
license must be surrendered to the court and transmitted to the arresting officer, to be
made a part of the prosecution record.
SECTION 9. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 70-5-112(c), is amended by deleting
"by a fine of not less than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) nor more than fifty dollars ($50.00)" and
substituting "by a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500)".
SECTION 10. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 70-6-101(b)(2), is amended by
deleting "by a fine of not less than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) nor more than fifty dollars
($50.00)" and substituting "by a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500)".
SECTION 11. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 70-6-102, is amended by deleting
"by a fine of not less than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) nor more than fifty dollars ($50.00) for
each offense" and substituting "by a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500) for each
offense".
SECTION 12. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 70-6-104, is amended by deleting
subsection (a) and substituting:
(a) When a person is arrested for a violation of the wildlife laws, it is the duty of
the arresting officer to take the person arrested before a court of general sessions for
trial, in the county where the offense was committed. If, before the court of general
sessions, the accused is found guilty of an offense, then the person has the right to
appeal to the circuit or criminal court having jurisdiction of such appeals, upon giving
bond with good security in accordance with § 27-5-103.
SECTION 13. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 70-6-107(a), is amended by
deleting "by a fine of more than fifty dollars ($50.00)" and substituting "by a fine of more than
five hundred dollars ($500)".

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SECTION 14. This act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it, and
applies to offenses committed on or after that date.