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SB0297 • 2026

Game and Fish Laws

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 70, Chapter 1, Part 5 and Section 70-2-201, relative to lifetime sportsman licenses for adopted children.

Children Parental Rights
Enacted

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

Sponsor
Haile, Faison
Last action
2025-03-31
Official status
Comp. became Pub. Ch. 57
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on what happens if a guardian applies for a license after the child turns 13.

Lifetime Sportsman Licenses for Adopted Children

This bill changes Tennessee's laws to extend the time guardians of adopted children under age 13 have to apply for lifetime sportsman licenses.

What This Bill Does

  • Extends the period within which a guardian can apply for a lifetime sportsman license from 36 months after adoption to any time before the child turns 13 years old.
  • Updates Tennessee's laws in Title 70, Chapter 1, Part 5 and Section 70-2-201.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Guardians of adopted children under age 13
  • Adopted children who are eligible for lifetime sportsman licenses

Terms To Know

Lifetime Sportsman License
A special hunting and fishing license that does not expire.
Guardian
The person legally responsible for the care of an adopted child.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not specify what happens if a guardian applies after the child turns 13.
  • Only affects guardians and children involved in adoptions.

Bill History

  1. 2025-03-31 Tennessee General Assembly

    Comp. became Pub. Ch. 57

  2. 2025-03-31 Tennessee General Assembly

    Effective date(s) 03/26/2025

  3. 2025-03-31 Tennessee General Assembly

    Pub. Ch. 57

  4. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Governor.

  5. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Transmitted to Governor for his action.

  6. 2025-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Senate Speaker

  7. 2025-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by H. Speaker

  8. 2025-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Enrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker.

  9. 2025-03-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Companion House Bill substituted

  10. 2025-03-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed Senate, Ayes 32, Nays 0

  11. 2025-03-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Senate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.

  12. 2025-03-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Received from House, Passed on First Consideration

  13. 2025-03-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.

  14. 2025-03-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed H., Ayes 90, Nays 0, PNV 0

  15. 2025-03-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  16. 2025-02-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Consent Calendar 2 for 3/3/2025

  17. 2025-02-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. Placed on Consent Calendar for 3/3/2025

  18. 2025-02-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  19. 2025-02-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee

  20. 2025-02-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 2/27/2025

  21. 2025-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee

  22. 2025-02-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee calendar for 2/26/2025

  23. 2025-02-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee for 2/25/2025

  24. 2025-02-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee

  25. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  26. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee for 2/19/2025

  27. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  28. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee

  29. 2025-02-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee

  30. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  31. 2025-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  32. 2025-01-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HOUSE BILL 752
By Faison

SENATE BILL 297
By Haile

SB0297
000896
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 70,
Chapter 1, Part 5 and Section 70-2-201, relative to
lifetime sportsman licenses for adopted children.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 70-2-201(h)(1), is amended by
deleting the language "within thirty-six (36) months immediately".
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.