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SB2294 • 2026

Boats, Boating

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 69, relative to boating.

Active

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

Sponsor
Yager, Carringer
Last action
2026-03-11
Official status
Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide information on who owns or uses docks and boat ramps being affected.

Boat Speed Rules Change

This bill changes the distance from docks or ramps where jet boats carrying passengers for hire must travel at no-wake speed before they can go faster.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the law to say that jet boats carrying people for money must stay at slow speeds until they are 75 feet away from a dock or boat ramp, instead of just 50 feet.
  • Updates Tennessee's boating rules in Title 69 of the state code.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Jet boats that carry passengers for hire

Terms To Know

no-wake speed
A very slow speed where the boat does not make waves.
jet boats
Boats that use a jet of water for propulsion instead of propellers.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill only affects jet boats carrying passengers for hire, not all types of boats.
  • It does not specify how the change will be enforced or what penalties there might be for breaking this rule.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee

  2. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Taken off notice for cal in s/c Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee of Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee

  3. 2026-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  4. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  5. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  6. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee

  7. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Ref. to Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee

  8. 2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  9. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  10. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, caption bill, held on desk - pending amdt.

  11. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  12. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  13. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  14. 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 2308
By Carringer

SENATE BILL 2294
By Yager
SB2294
012399
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 69,
relative to boating.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 69-9-218(a)(3), is amended by
deleting "fifty feet (50')" and substituting "seventy-five feet (75')".
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.