Tennessee Fish & Wildlife Commission - As enacted, establishes a statutory schedule of permit fees for the operation of off highway vehicles at North Cumberland Wildlife Management Area. - Amends TCA Title 70, Chapter 9., the official text

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      State f/Jenn&ssee

                            PUBLIC CHAPTER NO. 1120

                                                    SENATE BILL NO. 2173

                                               By Yager, Bowling, Gardenhire

                                           Substituted for: House Bill No. 2091

                                                     By Powers, Crawford

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 70, Chapter 9, relative to off-highway vehicles.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:

          SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 70, Chapter 9, is amended by adding the
following as a new section:

                    (a) No person shall operate an OHV within the North Cumberland wildlife
          management area (WMA) unless the person, or a passenger on the same OHV, possesses
          a valid North Cumberland OHV riding permit, a sportsman supplemental annual North
          Cumberland OHV riding permit, or a North Cumberland OHV guide permit.

                    (b) The agency may issue a North Cumberland OHV riding permit to a person who
          pays the appropriate permit fee. A North Cumberland OHV riding permit does not include
          guide privileges in the North Cumberland WMA. Beginning July 1, 2026, the North
          Cumberland OHV riding permit fee is:

                              (1) Fifty dollars ($50.00) for a nonresident one-day permit;

                              (2) One hundred twenty-five dollars ($125) for a nonresident three-day permit;

                              (3) Two hundred dollars ($200) for a nonresident seven-day permit;

                              (4) Three hundred dollars ($300) for a nonresident annual permit;

                              (5) Twenty dollars ($20.00) for a Tennessee resident one-day permit;

                              (6) Thirty dollars ($30.00) for a Tennessee resident three-day permit;

                              (7) One hundred dollars ($100) for a Tennessee resident seven-day permit;
                    and

                              (8) One hundred fifty dollars ($150) for a Tennessee resident annual permit.

                    (c)(1) An annual or lifetime sportsman license issued by the agency does not include
                    OHV riding privileges in the North Cumberland WMA.

                              (2) The holder of a valid annual or lifetime sportsman license may purchase a
                    sportsman supplemental annual North Cumberland OHV riding permit from the
                    agency. A sportsman supplemental annual North Cumberland OHV riding permit
                    does not include guide privileges in the North Cumberland WMA.

                              (3) The agency may issue a sportsman supplemental annual North
                    Cumberland OHV riding permit to the holder of a valid annual or lifetime sportsman
                    license who pays the supplemental permit fee. Beginning July 1, 2026, the sportsman
                    supplemental annual North Cumberland OHV riding permit fee is forty dollars
                    ($40.00).
SB 2173
                   (d)(1)
                                       (A) Except as provided in subdivision (d)(1 )(8), a person shall not
                             accept compensation for assisting others in OHV use while utilizing the North
                             Cumberland WMA trail system unless the person possesses a valid North
                             Cumberland OHV guide permit.
                                       (8) A person is not required to possess a North Cumberland OHV
                             guide permit if the only assistance that the person provides to OHV users in
                             the North Cumberland WMA is roadside assistance, including, but not limited
                             to, towing, battery starting and replacement, tire changes, lockout services,
                             fuel delivery, and winching.
                             (2) In addition to permitting the privilege of accepting compensation for
                   assisting others in OHV use while utilizing the North Cumberland WMA trail system, a
                   North Cumberland OHV guide permit includes the privileges permitted by a North
                   Cumberland OHV riding permit.
                             (3) The agency may issue a North Cumberland OHV guide permit to a person
                   who pays the guide permit fee. Beginning July 1, 2026, the North Cumberland OHV
                   guide permit fee is seven hundred dollars ($700).
                   (e) The commission may promulgate rules to adjust the fees established in this

          section; provided, that such rules and regulations are consistent with § 70-1-206 and § 70-9-
          105, and that any increase to fees established in this part shall not become effective until
          July 1, 2030.
          SECTION 2. This act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it.

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         SENATE BILL NO. 2173

PASSED:  April 22, 2026

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                                       RANDY Met

                         SPEAKER OF THE SENATE

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                         CAMERON SEXTON, SPEAKER
                         HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

APPROVED this ;;;:;;.;° day of (V\~    2026

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                   BILL LEE, GOVERNOR