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HB1520 • 2026

Parks, Natural Areas Preservation

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 11, Chapter 3, relative to playgrounds at state parks.

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Vital, Watson
Last action
2026-01-14
Official status
Assigned to s/c Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not specify any consequences if the playgrounds are not built by the deadline.

Building Playgrounds at State Parks

This bill requires playgrounds to be built in Booker T. Washington State Park and Harrison Bay State Park by January 1, 2027 using existing resources.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires playgrounds to be built in Booker T. Washington State Park and Harrison Bay State Park no later than January 1, 2027.
  • Specifies that the Department of Environment and Conservation must use its existing resources to build the playgrounds.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Booker T. Washington State Park
  • Harrison Bay State Park

Terms To Know

Department of Environment and Conservation
The state agency responsible for managing Tennessee's natural resources, including parks.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not specify what happens if the playgrounds are not built by the deadline.
  • Does not provide additional funding for building the playgrounds beyond existing department resources.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee

  2. 2026-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  3. 2026-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee calendar for 3/11/2026

  4. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee to 3/11/2026

  5. 2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee calendar for 3/4/2026

  6. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee

  7. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  8. 2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  9. 2026-01-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee

  10. 2026-01-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee

  11. 2026-01-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  12. 2026-01-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SENATE BILL 2063
By Watson

HOUSE BILL 1520
By Vital
HB1520
009827
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 11,
Chapter 3, relative to playgrounds at state parks.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 11, Chapter 3, Part 1, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:
Playgrounds at Booker T. Washington State Park and Harrison Bay State Park
must be built no later than January 1, 2027. The playgrounds must be built using
existing resources of the department of environment and conservation.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.