Tennessee Senate Bill SB0964

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/5/25

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 67; Title 68, Chapter 102, Part 6; Title 69 and Title 70, relative to outdoor recreation.

Summary

SB 964 amends Tennessee’s boating and waterways law to create a specific violation for conduct that obstructs public access areas, launching areas, docks, boats, or marinas. The bill makes it unlawful for a person to remain in or use a public access or launching area in a way that goes beyond the time normally needed to launch or retrieve recreational boats, including by fishing or engaging in other activities that delay access. It also prohibits swimming, fishing, or other conduct that interferes with the intended use of a dock or causes damage to a dock, boat, or marina. The measure is framed as an outdoor recreation bill, but its practical effect is to regulate behavior at boat ramps and waterfront facilities and to give enforcement authority under existing penalties in Tennessee Code Annotated § 69-9-219. By adding these prohibitions to Title 69, the bill expands the list of actionable offenses related to public access and marina use and could affect anglers, swimmers, boaters, marina operators, and members of the public using shared waterfront infrastructure.

Impact

The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated § 69-9-216 by adding a new prohibited-conduct subsection and applies the existing penalty structure in § 69-9-219 to violations. In effect, it strengthens state regulation of public boat ramps, access points, docks, and marinas by defining interference with those facilities as a statutory violation. The bill would likely be used by law enforcement, marina operators, and local authorities to address congestion, obstruction, and property damage at recreational water access sites.

Sentiment

No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate or formal support/opposition in the available record. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears aimed at improving access and safety at public waterfront facilities, suggesting a generally practical, management-oriented purpose. The absence of recorded discussion makes it difficult to assess whether the bill was controversial, but the subject matter implies likely support from boaters, marina operators, and access managers, with possible concern from anglers or others who use ramps and docks for non-boating activities.

Contention

The main point of contention is likely the bill’s restriction on activities such as fishing or swimming at public access areas and docks, especially where those activities may be common or traditionally tolerated. Supporters would likely argue that the bill prevents obstruction, reduces conflict, and protects boats and marina property, while critics may view it as overly broad or as limiting public use of shared waterfront spaces. Another possible issue is how terms like “inhibits,” “interferes,” and “customary launching and retrieval” would be interpreted in enforcement.