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Panel clears bill allowing TWRA to offer naming rights for properties and facilities
Summary
House Bill 422 would clarify that the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission may name real property and infrastructure under the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, enabling potential naming-right partnerships to generate revenue. The subcommittee approved the bill and sent it to the full committee (7 ayes).
The Department and Agency Subcommittee approved House Bill 422, which clarifies that the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission has the authority to name real property and infrastructure under the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA).
Speaker Pro Tim Marsh, sponsor of the bill, said the change would allow the commission and agency to offer naming-right opportunities to partner organizations and individuals aligned with agency mission and values. Marsh said naming opportunities could help fund facilities such as shooting ranges, outreach and hunter-education facilities, hatcheries and boat ramps.
Marsh told members that TWRA hatcheries “produce 9,000,000 fish annually to bolster sport fishing and tourism on Tennessee's lakes,” and that boat ramps are among the most common requests the agency receives for new infrastructure. He said the additional revenue from naming rights “could advance the quality and efficiency of agency programs, help mitigate future increases in inflation and expenses, and reduce some of the financial burden on sportsmen and women who fund the agency through licenses.”
Blair Beatty, identified in the meeting as a TWRA representative, was present during the discussion and available for questions. Committee members had no substantive questions on the record and the clerk reported seven ayes. The bill will proceed to the full committee.
The sponsor and TWRA did not present a fiscal note or proposed naming-right contract terms during the subcommittee presentation, and the record does not specify whether naming agreements would require additional statutory language or administrative rules.
