HB1851 • 2026

Naming and Designating

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 4-1-321, relative to official state reptiles.

Active

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

Sponsor: Jones J, Kyle
Last action: 2026-04-08
Official status: Action def. in State & Local Government Committee to First January Calendar
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and text do not mention keeping the eastern box turtle as an official state reptile or updating the law to include both turtles. This information was removed because it is not supported by the provided source material.

Designating the Bog Turtle as an Official State Reptile

This bill designates the bog turtle as one of Tennessee's official state reptiles.

What This Bill Does

Adds the bog turtle to the list of official state reptiles in Tennessee.

Who It Names or Affects

People who are interested in Tennessee's wildlife and state symbols.

Terms To Know

Official State Reptiles: Reptile species that the state of Tennessee officially recognizes as a symbol.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not provide details on how to protect or conserve bog turtles.
It is unclear if this designation will increase awareness about the conservation status of the bog turtle.

Bill History

2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly
Action def. in State & Local Government Committee to First January Calendar
2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 4/8/2026
2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly
Action def. in State & Local Government Committee to 4/8/2026
2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 3/31/2026
2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly
Action def. in State & Local Government Committee to 3/31/2026
2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 3/24/2026
2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly
Action def. in State & Local Government Committee to 3/24/2026
2026-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 3/18/2026
2026-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly
Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.
2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly
Action def. in State & Local Government Committee to 3/18/2026
2026-03-09 Tennessee General Assembly
Engrossed; ready for transmission to House
2026-03-09 Tennessee General Assembly
Passed Senate, Ayes 32, Nays 0
2026-03-06 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate Consent Calendar 2 for 3/9/2026
2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 3/11/2026
2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly
Action def. in State & Local Government Committee to 3/11/2026
2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly
Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee
2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 3/4/2026
2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee calendar for 3/4/2026
2026-02-18 Tennessee General Assembly
Action def. in State & Local Government Committee to 3/4/2026
2026-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly
Sponsor(s) Added.
2026-02-11 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 2/18/2026
2026-02-09 Tennessee General Assembly
Sponsor(s) Added.
2026-02-09 Tennessee General Assembly
Rec. for pass; ref to State & Local Government Committee
2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly
Sponsor(s) Added.
2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee
2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on cal. Naming & Designating Committee for 2/9/2026
2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly
P2C, ref. to Naming & Designating Committee - State & Local Government Committee
2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly
Introduced, Passed on First Consideration
2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly
Intro., P1C.
2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly
Filed for introduction
2026-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly
Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

SENATE BILL 2009
By Kyle

HOUSE BILL 1851
By Jones J
HB1851
011312
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 4-
1-321, relative to official state reptiles.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
WHEREAS, the bog turtle is North America's smallest turtle, measuring about the length
of a human thumb; and
WHEREAS, the bog turtle is found in the State of Tennessee and is a testament to the
unique biodiversity of this State; and
WHEREAS, bog turtles are divided into northern and southern populations, with the
northern population listed as federally threatened in 1997; and
WHEREAS, in the past two decades, the bog turtles' southern population has also
plummeted; and
WHEREAS, the bog turtle is one of the most imperiled turtles on the continent, its
southern population declining by at least fifty percent in the past two decades and fewer than
2,000 bog turtles presently remaining; and
WHEREAS, bog turtles live in marshy wetlands that are being drained for development,
and only 500 acres of mountain bog habitat remain across the turtles' entire southern range;
and
WHEREAS, habitat destruction and poaching are the primary causes of the bog turtles'
steep population decline; and
WHEREAS, protecting bog turtles is in the interest of all Tennesseans and requires swift
action and increased public awareness; now, therefore,
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:

- 2 - 011312

SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 4-1-321, is amended by deleting the
section and substituting:
The official state reptiles are:
(1) The eastern box turtle, Terrapene carolina carolina; and
(2) The bog turtle, Glyptemys muhlenbergii.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.