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SB2173 • 2026

Tennessee Fish & Wildlife Commission

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 70, Chapter 9, relative to off-highway vehicles.

Active

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

Sponsor
Yager, Powers
Last action
2026-04-13
Official status
Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/15/2026
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Tennessee Off-Highway Vehicle List Requirement

This bill requires the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency to post information about areas where off-highway vehicles can be used on its website.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires the director of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency to put a list online.
  • The list must show which places in Tennessee allow off-highway motor vehicles.
  • Each area's size and trail length must also be included.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who use off-highway vehicles
  • Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency

Terms To Know

Off-Highway Motor Vehicles
Vehicles like ATVs and dirt bikes that are not used on regular roads.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how often the list must be updated.
  • It is unclear if there will be any penalties for non-compliance with this requirement.

Amendments

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

Amendment 1-0 to SB2173

Plain English: The amendment adds new permit requirements for operating off-highway vehicles (OHVs) in the North Cumberland wildlife management area and sets fees for different types of permits.

  • Requires anyone using OHVs in the North Cumberland WMA to have a valid riding, sportsman supplemental annual riding, or guide permit.
  • Establishes specific fee amounts for various nonresident and resident OHV permits starting July 1, 2026.
  • Introduces a new guide permit that allows individuals to accept compensation for assisting others in OHV use while using the WMA trail system.
  • The exact rules for issuing permits are not detailed and will be determined by future regulations.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/15/2026

  2. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee

  3. 2026-03-31 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/1/2026

  4. 2026-03-30 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/1/2026

  5. 2026-03-30 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rule #83(8) Suspended, to be heard in Senate Finance, Ways & Means Committee on 4/1/2026

  6. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    No Action Taken

  7. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee Ayes 9, Nays 0 PNV 0

  8. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee for 3/18/2026

  9. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee to 3/18/2026

  10. 2026-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee calendar for 3/11/2026

  11. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee to 3/11/2026

  12. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee for 3/11/2026

  13. 2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee calendar for 3/4/2026

  14. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  15. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee

  16. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee

  17. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  18. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  19. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  20. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HOUSE BILL 2091
By Powers

SENATE BILL 2173
By Yager
SB2173
011657
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 70,
Chapter 9, relative to off-highway vehicles.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 70, Chapter 9, is amended by adding
the following as a new section:
The director shall post the list of areas within the state that allow the use of off-
highway motor vehicles developed pursuant to § 70-9-104(6) on the commission's
website. The list must indicate the acreage of each area and an estimated length of the
trails in the area.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.