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Committee approves bill clarifying TWRA authority over raccoons; members trade lighthearted anecdotes
Summary
Representative Faison’s HB2030 would give statewide rulemaking authority to TWRA over raccoon management; members asked questions about pet raccoons and hunting permission and the committee moved the bill forward (14 ayes, 0 nays, 1 present not voting).
Representative Faison presented HB2030 to clarify that the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency has authority to promulgate rules for raccoon management across all 95 counties. The sponsor framed the change as a uniform approach to longstanding local practices.
"This bill deals with trash pandas," Faison said, using a colloquial term for raccoons and prompting lighthearted exchanges: members asked whether the measure would affect keeping a raccoon as a pet or hunting it. Faison confirmed current law allows ownership in many cases but said TWRA needs clear rulemaking authority statewide.
The committee voted to move HB2030 to Calendar and Rules by recorded tally (14 ayes, 0 nays, 1 present not voting).
