Boats, Boating

Plain English Breakdown

The bill was withdrawn, which means it is unlikely to become a law. However, the summary text does not provide details on penalties for violations.

Rules for Using Public Boat Areas

This bill makes certain activities near public boat launches and docks illegal if they interfere with their use or cause damage.

What This Bill Does

• Makes it against the law to engage in an activity, including fishing, that stops others from using a public access area for longer than is normal when launching or retrieving boats.
• Bans swimming, fishing, or engaging in other activities near docks if these actions interfere with their intended use or cause damage.

Who It Names or Affects

• People who use public boat launch areas and docks in Tennessee.

Terms To Know

Class C misdemeanor

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

Public access area

An area where the public is allowed to launch and retrieve boats, usually at lakes or rivers.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill was withdrawn on February 25, 2025, so it may not become a law.
• It does not specify what happens if someone breaks these rules.

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

HOUSE BILL 500
By Keisling

SENATE BILL 447
By Lowe

SB0447
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.