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SB0964 • 2026

Boats, Boating

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 67; Title 68, Chapter 102, Part 6; Title 69 and Title 70, relative to outdoor recreation.

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Active

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

Sponsor
Hatcher, Butler
Last action
2025-02-12
Official status
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The exact penalties for violations are not detailed in the provided source material.

Rules for Using Public Boating Areas

This bill makes certain activities near public boat launches and marinas 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 boat launch area for too long beyond customary times.
  • Forbids swimming, fishing, or doing anything else that interferes with the intended use of docks or causes damage to them.

Who It Names or Affects

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

Terms To Know

Class C misdemeanor
A minor crime that can result in a small fine or short jail time.
Customary
The usual way of doing something.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not specify the exact penalties for breaking these rules.
  • It is unclear how this bill will be enforced or who will enforce it.
  • This bill has not yet been signed into law and needs further steps before becoming official.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

Amendment 1-0 to HB1149

Plain English: The amendment adds new sections to Tennessee law that require commercial paddle craft operators using state boat ramps to pay a fee of forty-two cents per use and imposes penalties for non-compliance.

  • Commercial paddle craft operators must now pay a fee of forty-two cents (42¢) each time they launch or remove a nonmotorized vessel from an agency boat ramp.
  • Operators who comply with the fee requirement will receive parking lot passes in the form of stickers for their vehicles and trailers.
  • The amendment sets penalties, including fines up to $1,000 and prohibition from applying for permits, for operators who do not obtain a permit or pay the required fees.
  • The text does not specify all details about how the parking lot passes will be managed by agencies.
  • It is unclear what specific period of time an operator may be prohibited from applying for permits after failing to comply with the requirements.

Bill History

  1. 2025-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee

  2. 2025-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee

  3. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee for 4/1/2025

  4. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  5. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee for 3/26/2025

  6. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee to 3/26/2025

  7. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee for 3/19/2025

  8. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee to 3/19/2025

  9. 2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee for 3/12/2025

  10. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  11. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee

  12. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee

  13. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  14. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  15. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  16. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

This bill makes it a Class C
misdemeanor offense
, 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.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HOUSE BILL 1149
By Butler

SENATE BILL 964
By Hatcher

SB0964
003217
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 67;
Title 68, Chapter 102, Part 6; Title 69 and Title 70,
relative to outdoor recreation.

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.