SB2597 • 2026

Tennessee Fish & Wildlife Commission

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 70, relative to wildlife resources.

Crime

Active

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

Sponsor: Southerland, Atchley
Last action: 2026-04-14
Official status: Signed by Governor.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill does not provide specific details on the consequences for local police exceeding their authority under agreements.

Tennessee Wildlife Enforcement and Bear Feeding Law

This law allows TWRA to enter agreements with local police for wildlife enforcement and makes feeding black bears in prohibited areas a crime.

What This Bill Does

Allows the executive director of TWRA (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency) to make agreements with local police to assist in enforcing wildlife laws related to human-wildlife interaction.
Requires local police who join these agreements to report back to TWRA about any actions they take under the agreement.
Makes it illegal to feed black bears in areas where feeding them is prohibited by the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission.

Who It Names or Affects

TWRA (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)
Local police departments
People who feed black bears in certain areas

Terms To Know

TWRA: Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, which manages wildlife and natural resources in Tennessee.
Class B misdemeanor: A type of crime that is less serious than a felony but more serious than an infraction or violation. It can result in fines and jail time.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify the format or frequency for local police reports to TWRA.
It's unclear how TWRA will determine which areas are off-limits for feeding black bears.

Amendments

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

HA0622

Amendment 1-0 to HB2215

Plain English: The amendment adds provisions that allow wildlife agencies to work with local police to enforce rules against feeding bears and sets penalties for violating these rules.

Adds a new subdivision in Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 70-1-305, allowing the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency to enter into agreements with local law enforcement to assist in enforcing wildlife regulations related to public safety issues like bear feeding.
Establishes penalties for feeding black bears within areas where such feeding is prohibited by proclamation of the Fish and Wildlife Commission. Violations are classified as Class B misdemeanors, with fines ranging from a written warning for first offenses to at least $250 for repeat offenses.

The amendment text does not specify all details about how local law enforcement agencies will be involved in enforcing wildlife regulations beyond the scope provided.

SA0595

Amendment 1-0 to SB2597

Plain English: The amendment adds provisions that allow wildlife agencies to work with local police to enforce rules against feeding bears and sets penalties for violating these rules.

Adds a new subdivision in Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 70-1-305, allowing the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency to enter into agreements with local law enforcement to assist in enforcing wildlife regulations related to public safety issues like bear feeding.
Creates a new section in Title 70, Chapter 4, Part 2 of the Tennessee Code Annotated, making it illegal to feed black bears within areas where such feeding is prohibited by proclamation from the Fish and Wildlife Commission. Violations are punishable as Class B misdemeanors with fines or warnings based on whether the violation was knowingly committed.
Specifies that unknowingly leaving food accessible to bears can also be penalized if done repeatedly.

The exact details of how local law enforcement will collaborate with wildlife agencies are not fully explained in the amendment text.

Bill History

2026-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly
Signed by Governor.
2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly
Transmitted to Governor for action.
2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly
Signed by H. Speaker
2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly
Signed by Senate Speaker
2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly
Enrolled and ready for signatures
2026-03-30 Tennessee General Assembly
Passed H., Ayes 84, Nays 3, PNV 1
2026-03-30 Tennessee General Assembly
Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - HA0622)
2026-03-30 Tennessee General Assembly
Subst. for comp. HB.
2026-03-30 Tennessee General Assembly
Sponsor(s) Added.
2026-03-30 Tennessee General Assembly
Comp. SB subst.
2026-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly
H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 3/30/2026
2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 3/26/2026
2026-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly
Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee
2026-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly
Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.
2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on cal. Finance, Ways, and Means Committee for 3/24/2026
2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly
Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee
2026-03-16 Tennessee General Assembly
Sponsor(s) Added.
2026-03-16 Tennessee General Assembly
Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 30, Nays 0
2026-03-16 Tennessee General Assembly
Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0595)
2026-03-16 Tennessee General Assembly
Engrossed; ready for transmission to House
2026-03-13 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 3/16/2026
2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 3/18/2026
2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly
Assigned to s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee
2026-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly
Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee
2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly
Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 8, Nays 0 PNV 0
2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on cal. Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee for 3/10/2026
2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly
Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee
2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee calendar for 3/4/2026
2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on s/c cal Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee for 3/4/2026
2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee
2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly
Assigned to s/c Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee
2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly
P2C, ref. to Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee
2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly
Intro., P1C.
2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly
Introduced, Passed on First Consideration
2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly
Sponsor change.
2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly
Filed for introduction
2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly
Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Present law generally gives TWRA and the Tennessee fish and wildlife commission exclusive jurisdiction over the duties and functions relating to any laws relating to the management, protection, propagation, and conservation of wildlife, including hunting
and fishing. Present law also requires state and federal wildlife officers to enforce such laws.

This bill authorizes the executive director of TWRA to

enter into agreements with local law enforcement agencies for the limited purpose of assisting the agency with the enforcement of wildlife laws and proclamations specific to human wildlife interaction. Any such agreement must require the local law enforc
ement agency to provide regular reports to the executive director when the authority under the agreement is exercised.

This bill also makes it a Class B misdemeanor offense for a person to feed black bears within the confines of an area for which the commission has proclaimed that feeding black bears is prohibited. A knowing violation is punishable by a fine of no less
than $250. An unknowing violation that occurs as a result of knowingly leaving food or garbage unsecured and otherwise accessible to black bears is punishable by a written warning only for a first offense and a fine of no less than $250 for a second or s
ub
sequent offense.

ON MARCH 16, 2026, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 2597, AS AMENDED.

AMENDMENT #1 a
dds a preamble, specifies that an agreement between TWRA and a local law enforcement agency under this bill

does not authorize
the
local law enforcement agency to exceed
TWRA
's jurisdiction
, and establishes a criminal offense for feeding bears under certain circumstances.

This amendment makes it
an offense to feed a black bear within the confines of an area the
fish and wildlife
commission has proclaimed that feeding black bears is prohibited.

Knowingly feeding a black bear in violation of
this

amendment
is a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of no less than $250, before the imposition of any additional court costs or fees.

Unknowingly feeding a black bear in violation of
this amendment
, that occurs as a result of knowingly leaving food or garbage unsecured and ot
herwise accessible to black bears, is a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by:

(1) For a first offense, a written warning only; or

(2) For a second or subsequent offense, a fine of no less than $250, before the imposition of any additional court costs or fees.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HOUSE BILL 2215
By Atchley

SENATE BILL 2597
By Southerland
SB2597
012442
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 70,
relative to wildlife resources.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 70-1-305, is amended by adding the
following new subdivision (13):
(A) Notwithstanding §§ 70-1-301(a) and 70-6-101(a), enter into agreements with
local law enforcement agencies for the limited purpose of assisting the agency with the
enforcement of this title, rules promulgated by the fish and wildlife commission, and
proclamations passed by the fish and wildlife commission;
(B) Such agreements must be limited in scope to assisting with matters of public
safety specific to human wildlife interaction such as feeding of wildlife and interaction
with wildlife that could cause a public safety concern. The agreements must specify the
laws, rules, or proclamations the local law enforcement agency is authorized to enforce
and cite; and
(C) The agreements created and entered into pursuant to this subdivision (13)
must require local law enforcement agencies to provide regular reports to the executive
director, or the director's designee, when the authority under the agreement is exercised.
Such reporting must include, but not be limited to, all details related to the citation,
including the facts of the offense, and the final disposition.
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 70, Chapter 4, Part 2, is amended by
adding the following new section:

- 2 - 012442

(a) Notwithstanding another law to the contrary, it is an offense to feed black
bears within the confines of an area for which the commission has proclaimed that
feeding black bears is prohibited.
(b) Knowingly feeding a black bear in violation of subsection (a) is a Class B
misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of no less than two hundred fifty dollars ($250),
before the imposition of any additional court costs or fees.
(c) Unknowingly feeding a black bear in violation of subsection (a), that occurs
as a result of knowingly leaving food or garbage unsecured and otherwise accessible to
black bears, is a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by:
(1) For a first offense, a written warning only; or
(2) For a second or subsequent offense, a fine of no less than two
hundred fifty dollars ($250), before the imposition of any additional court costs or
fees.
SECTION 3. This act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it, and
applies to acts or omissions occurring on or after such date.