Boats, Boating

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details about penalties or enforcement mechanisms.

Rules for Boating and Docks

This bill makes it illegal to block boat launches or damage docks, boats, or marinas in Tennessee.

What This Bill Does

• Makes it a crime to engage in activities that prevent others from using public boat launch areas beyond the time needed for launching and retrieving recreational boats.
• Bans swimming, fishing, or other activities near docks that interfere with their intended use or cause damage.

Who It Names or Affects

• People who use public boat launches and docks in Tennessee.

Terms To Know

Class C misdemeanor

A minor crime that can result in a fine or short jail time.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify what activities are allowed near public boat launches.
• It is unclear how the rules will be enforced and who will enforce them.

Official Summary Text

This bill makes it a Class C
misdemeanor offense for a person to:

(1) Engage in an activity

that inhibits the use of a public access area or launching area for a period of time beyond that associated with the customary launching and retrieval of recreational boats; or

(2)
E
ngage
in an activity that interferes with the intended use of a dock or causes damage to a dock, boat, or marina.

Current Bill Text

SENATE BILL 447
By Lowe

HOUSE BILL 500
By Keisling

HB0500
002529
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 68,
Chapter 102, Part 6; Title 69 and Title 70, relative
to activities on the waters.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 69-9-216, is amended by adding the
following as a new subsection (h) and redesignating the existing subsection (h) accordingly:
(h) It is a violation of this chapter, subject to the penalties in § 69-9-219, for a
person to:
(1) Engage in an activity, including fishing, that inhibits the use of a public
access area or launching area for a period of time beyond that associated with
the customary launching and retrieval of recreational boats; or
(2) Swim, fish, or engage in another activity that interferes with the
intended use of a dock or causes damage to a dock, boat, or marina.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it.