Tennessee House Bill HB0771

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/4/25
• Refer: 2/6/25
• Failed: 3/26/25

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 69, Chapter 9, relative to boating permits for exempt vessels.

Summary

HB0771 creates a new permit requirement for certain “exempt vessels” operating on Tennessee’s intrastate waters. Under the bill, an exempt vessel is one that is not required to be numbered in Tennessee only because it already has a valid number from another state’s federally approved numbering system. A person may not operate, or allow the operation of, such a vessel on Tennessee intrastate waters without first purchasing an exempt vessel permit. The bill sets the initial permit fee at $72, requires the permit to be renewed annually, and allows the permit to be sold through the same channels used for other licenses administered by the agency. It also directs all revenue from these permits into the boating safety fund, to be used solely for administering and operating the commission’s programs and responsibilities under boating law. The fish and wildlife commission is authorized to adopt rules governing the permit’s design, cost, duration, issuance, administration, sale, and future fee adjustments.

Impact

HB0771 would amend Tennessee Code Annotated Title 69, Chapter 9 by adding a new permit category for out-of-state-numbered vessels used on Tennessee intrastate waters. The bill would impose a new compliance obligation on boat owners and operators of qualifying exempt vessels, create a new revenue stream for the boating safety fund, and expand the rulemaking authority of the fish and wildlife commission and its agents under the state’s boating and licensing framework. The bill is set to take effect January 1, 2026, except for rulemaking authority, which takes effect upon becoming law.

Sentiment

The available legislative history suggests limited support in committee. The bill failed in the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee by a vote of 3 yeas to 6 nays, indicating that the proposal did not gain enough traction at that stage. No committee transcript is available, so the record does not show detailed debate, but the vote outcome points to skepticism or opposition among subcommittee members.

Contention

The main point of contention appears to be whether Tennessee should require a separate permit and fee for vessels already registered in another state but used on Tennessee waters. Potential concerns likely include the added cost to boat owners, the administrative burden of a new permit system, and whether the revenue purpose justifies the new requirement. Supporters would likely emphasize boating safety funding and regulatory oversight, while opponents appear to have been sufficient in number to defeat the bill in subcommittee.