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SB1704 • 2026

Game and Fish Laws

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 70, Chapter 4, relative to raccoons.

Active

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

Sponsor
Lowe, Faison
Last action
2026-04-06
Official status
Companion House Bill substituted
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Changes to Raccoon Hunting Laws

This bill removes specific laws about raccoon hunting in Tennessee and allows the state's fish and wildlife commission to set new rules for it.

What This Bill Does

  • Removes certain laws about raccoon hunting from the books.
  • Gives the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission the ability to set new rules for raccoon hunting through proclamations and regulations.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Hunters who want to hunt raccoons in Tennessee
  • The Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission

Terms To Know

Tennessee Code Annotated
A collection of laws for the state of Tennessee organized by subject.
Fish and Wildlife Commission
An agency that manages wildlife and hunting regulations in a state.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what new rules will be made for raccoon hunting.
  • It is unclear how the removal of these laws might affect current hunting practices until new rules are set by the commission.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Transmitted to Governor for his action.

  2. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Senate Speaker

  3. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by H. Speaker

  4. 2026-04-07 Tennessee General Assembly

    Enrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker.

  5. 2026-04-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Companion House Bill substituted

  6. 2026-04-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed Senate, Ayes 32, Nays 0

  7. 2026-04-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Senate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.

  8. 2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Consent Calendar 2 for 4/6/2026

  9. 2026-02-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Received from House, Passed on First Consideration

  10. 2026-02-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.

  11. 2026-02-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  12. 2026-02-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed H., Ayes 92, Nays 0, PNV 0

  13. 2026-02-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. Placed on Consent Calendar for 2/23/2026

  14. 2026-02-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee

  15. 2026-02-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 2/19/2026

  16. 2026-02-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee

  17. 2026-02-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee calendar for 2/18/2026

  18. 2026-02-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee for 2/17/2026

  19. 2026-02-11 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  20. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee for 2/11/2026

  21. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee

  22. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee

  23. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  24. 2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  25. 2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  26. 2026-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  27. 2026-01-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HOUSE BILL 2030
By Faison

SENATE BILL 1704
By Lowe
SB1704
009673
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 70,
Chapter 4, relative to raccoons.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 70-4-112, is amended by deleting the
section.
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 70-4-122, is amended by deleting the
section.
SECTION 3. This act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it.