AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 70, relative to wildlife resources.
SB2597 amends Tennessee wildlife law to address the feeding of black bears and to strengthen enforcement of existing wildlife regulations. The bill makes it an offense to feed a black bear in areas where the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission has prohibited that conduct, and it distinguishes between intentional feeding and situations where a person knowingly leaves food or garbage unsecured in a way that makes it accessible to bears. Intentional feeding is punishable as a Class B misdemeanor with a minimum $250 fine, while an unintentional violation caused by unsecured food or garbage results in a written warning for a first offense and a Class B misdemeanor with a minimum $250 fine for repeat offenses.
The bill also expands enforcement tools by allowing the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency to enter into limited agreements with local law enforcement agencies to assist with enforcement of Title 70, commission rules, and commission proclamations. Those agreements are narrowly tailored to public-safety issues involving human-wildlife interaction, such as feeding wildlife, and must specify the exact laws or proclamations the local agency may enforce. Local agencies must also provide regular reports on citations and dispositions, and the bill makes clear that these agreements do not expand a local agency’s jurisdiction.
In practical terms, the bill affects Tennessee Code Annotated Title 70 by creating a new offense and penalty structure for bear feeding and by adding a new enforcement authority provision for local law enforcement cooperation with TWRA. It is aimed at reducing bear habituation to human food sources, limiting aggressive bear behavior, and protecting public safety, property, and wildlife welfare. The act takes effect July 1, 2026, and applies only to conduct occurring on or after that date.
The overall sentiment reflected in the bill text and voting history is strongly supportive and largely noncontroversial. The bill passed the Senate Energy, Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee unanimously and later passed the Senate floor by wide margins, with only a small number of dissenting votes on final passage. The stated legislative purpose emphasizes public safety, wildlife preservation, and support for enforcement rather than expanding hunting restrictions.
The main point of distinction in the bill is between intentional feeding of bears and accidental attraction caused by unsecured food or garbage, with the latter treated more leniently for a first offense. Another potential area of concern is the involvement of local law enforcement in wildlife enforcement, but the bill addresses that by limiting the scope of any agreement and preserving jurisdictional boundaries. The bill also expressly excludes lawful hunting activities from its reach, signaling an intent to avoid conflict with hunting rights and existing wildlife regulations.
SB2597 amends Tennessee Code Annotated Title 70 by creating a new misdemeanor offense for feeding black bears in areas where the Fish and Wildlife Commission has prohibited that conduct, establishing minimum fines, and adding a warning-only first-offense treatment for certain unintentional violations involving unsecured food or garbage. It also authorizes TWRA to enter limited enforcement agreements with local law enforcement agencies for public-safety-related wildlife matters, requires reporting on enforcement actions, and preserves local jurisdiction limits. The bill primarily affects individuals in bear-prohibited areas, local law enforcement agencies, and TWRA enforcement practices.
The bill appears to have broad bipartisan support and little visible opposition. Committee and floor votes were overwhelmingly favorable, including a unanimous committee recommendation and a 30-0 Senate floor vote at one stage, followed by final passage with only three nays. The bill’s framing around public safety, nuisance bear prevention, and wildlife protection likely contributed to the positive reception.
The most notable substantive issue is how to balance public safety enforcement with avoiding over-penalization of accidental bear attraction. The bill resolves this by distinguishing intentional feeding from unsecured food or garbage and by using a warning for a first unintentional offense. A secondary point is the use of local law enforcement to enforce wildlife rules; the bill limits that authority to specific agreements, specific public-safety concerns, and specific laws or proclamations, suggesting an effort to address jurisdictional and enforcement-scope concerns. The bill also explicitly excludes lawful hunting, indicating sensitivity to hunters and wildlife-regulation stakeholders.