TWRA Rate Hikes set for July no longer happening

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WDEF) — A planned increase in TWRA fees next month will not happen.

The agency pulled the request during a session of the Joint Government Operations Committee of the Tennessee Legislature.

The TWRA was to increase boating fees by 22 percent, hunting slash fishing licenses by 28 percent, and Sportsman slash lifetime licenses by 12 percent.

They said the hikes were to make up for inflationary pressures reducing their revenue

However, there was bipartisan opposition to the increase.

Democratic Senator Sara Kyle of Memphis said, “We need to consider the costs. Many people are already on a fixed income that utilize precious waters and land.”

Republican Senator Janice Bowling who represents several counties including Grundy in the News 12 area said, “We already know that the numbers of licenses is decreasing. People are for whatever reason not buying them. To raise the rates of those is going to further decrease the amount of people who are able to afford them.”

Multiple legislators during the session said they will consider reallocating a portion of sales tax revenue, especially related to outdoor activities, towards the TWRA to make up the difference in the proposed 12 million dollars these hikes were set to generate.