TWRA withdraws broad fee rule after committee pushback; smaller registration and exam changes move forward

Jun 18, 2025

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency withdrew a broad rule that would have raised many hunting and fishing licenses after lawmakers and local businesses warned of economic harm and urged a longer-term funding plan.

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The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) presented a package of rule changes that included moving a $10 boater safety-exam certificate fee from statute into rule, raising boat-registration fees tied to vessel length by roughly 22 percent, and a broader fee proposal that would adjust hunting and fishing license prices across the board. The agency said some fees had not been adjusted in a decade and cited a 22–32 percent rise in the consumer price index and higher operating costs.

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