Reduces Wildlife Injury Reporting to 24 Hours
Summary
Tennessee SB2354 amends Tennessee Code Annotated Titles 39, 44, and 70 to reduce the mandatory reporting window for captive wildlife injuries requiring medical attention from 48 hours to 24 hours. The bill was passed by the Tennessee Senate on March 23, 2026, and by the House on April 6, 2026. Entities possessing captive wildlife must report injuries to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency within the new compressed timeframe.
What changed
Tennessee SB2354 reduces the mandatory reporting period for captive wildlife injuries requiring medical attention from 48 hours to 24 hours. The amendment to TCA Titles 39, 44, and 70 applies to any entity possessing captive wildlife that causes an injury necessitating medical treatment. The bill passed the Senate 29-0 and the House 78-14 after Senate Amendment SA0703 was adopted.
Any entity that possesses captive wildlife must immediately update internal protocols to ensure injuries requiring medical attention are reported to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency within 24 hours of occurrence. Compliance is effective immediately upon the bill's passage. Failure to report within the required timeframe may result in violations under Tennessee wildlife possession regulations.
What to do next
- Update captive wildlife incident protocols to report injuries within 24 hours (down from 48 hours)
- Train staff on new reporting timeline and required information for Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency notification
- Review and revise internal documentation procedures to meet the compressed reporting deadline
Source document (simplified)
ChangeBridge / Tennessee / SB2354 Passed SB2354 Senate Bill Passed 2026-03-23
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39; Title 44 and Title 70, relative to possession of wildlife.
As introduced, decreases from 48 hours to 24 hours the time within which an injury requiring medical attention that is caused by captive wildlife must be reported to the Tennessee wildlife resources agency. - Amends TCA Title 39; Title 44 and Title 70.
Bill Details
State Tennessee
Session 114th General Assembly
Chamber Senate
Official Source wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Billinfo/Default?...
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Sponsors
Joseph Hensley (Sen - R)
Action History
2026-04-06 H Passed H., Ayes 78, Nays 14, PNV 0 2026-04-06 H Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - HA0776) 2026-04-06 H Subst. for comp. HB. 2026-03-26 H Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk. 2026-03-23 S Engrossed; ready for transmission to House 2026-03-23 S Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 29, Nays 0 2026-03-23 S Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0703) 2026-03-20 S Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 3/23/2026 2026-03-11 S Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 9, Nays 0 PNV 0 2026-03-05 S Placed on Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee calendar for 3/11/2026 2026-03-04 S Action deferred in Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee to 3/11/2026 2026-02-25 S Placed on Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee calendar for 3/4/2026 2026-02-05 S Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee 2026-02-02 S Introduced, Passed on First Consideration 2026-02-02 S Filed for introduction
Votes
2026-03-11 SENATE ENERGY, AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE: Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 9, Nays 0 PNV 0 Yea: 9 Nay: 0 2026-03-23 FLOOR VOTE: as Amended Third Consideration Yea: 29 Nay: 0
Committee Referrals
2026-02-05 S Energy, Agriculture and Natural Resources 2026-03-11 S Calendar
Amendments
2026-03-16 SA0703
Bill Text Versions
2026-02-03 Draft
Subjects
Tennessee Fish & Wildlife Commission Legislative data powered by LegiScan (CC BY 4.0)
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