Senate passes bill asserting state control over hunting and fishing; urban senators raise safety concerns

The Tennessee Senate voted to pass Senate Bill 20 28, a measure amended on the floor to clarify that authority to regulate the manner and means of taking wildlife rests with the state and the Fish and Wildlife Commission. Sponsors said the bill merely restates state authority; opponents warned it could undercut municipal public‑safety rules and long‑standing local ordinances restricting discharge of firearms within city limits.

Senator Lowe, sponsor of the bill and a floor manager for the amendment, said the measure clarifies existing law and does not eliminate local enforcement of firearm‑discharge restrictions or public‑safety offsets. "There are current restrictions around hunting and fishing that stand in place for public safety," he told the chamber.

Opponents pressed that local governments rely on ordinances to limit dangerous discharges in dense urban areas. Senator Campbell, speaking for members concerned about Nashville and other cities, said floor‑level protections matter: "I mean, it it's kinda crazy to to to allow hunting in the city of Nashville," she said, arguing local leaders should retain authority to address urban safety risks.

Senator Oliver, who represents Nashville and spoke in opposition, cautioned about stray bullets in densely populated neighborhoods: "Bullets don't have eyes," she said, stressing the practical dangers of limiting municipal control over where firearms may be discharged.

Sponsor responses and clarifications

Senator Lowe and supporters repeatedly emphasized that the bill does not repeal or change existing safety rules on where a firearm may be discharged, offsets from dwellings, or other statutory protections; instead, proponents argued, the bill reinforces that the state sets the parameters for hunting and related wildlife regulation. Lowe said: "You cannot go hunt squirrel on a downtown street of Nashville," and cited existing law governing discharge and safety offsets.

Vote and next steps

After extended debate and multiple senators raising concerns about urban public‑safety implications, the Senate adopted the amendment and passed Senate Bill 20 28 by recorded vote (Ayes 24, Nays 7). The bill will proceed to the next steps required by legislative procedure and, where pertinent, to the other chamber for concurrence.

Why it matters

The vote affects the balance of authority between state wildlife regulation and municipal public‑safety control. Municipal leaders and urban legislators emphasized that while many hunting rules are statewide, cities widely rely on their ordinances to manage firearm discharge in crowded areas, near schools, and in residential neighborhoods. Supporters countered that existing discharge‑safety rules remain enforceable and that the bill is a statutory clarification.

Ending: The Senate passed the bill as amended after the floor debate; implementation and any downstream rulemaking or enforcement consequences may require follow‑up oversight and, where applicable, attention from local governments and law enforcement.