Tennessee legislation · 114th General Assembly
Tennessee SB2528: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 3, Part 10 and Title 11, Chapter 8, relative to the Ocoee River.
Status: Chaptered, May 27, 2026
Fiscal Summary OTHER FISCAL IMPACT Any increase in expenditures from the Ocoee River Recreation and Economic Development Fund are unknown. To the extent the Department of Environment and Conservation issues fewer permits to commercial operators and collects fewer Ocoee River recreation fees, a decrease in state revenue will occur. However, due to multiple unknown factors, any such decrease in state revenue cannot be reasonably determined. Bill Summary Present law establishes the Ocoee River recreation and economic development fund, which is funded in part by a fee that totals 10% of the gross revenue generated by commercial activities occurring within the Ocoee River management zone. Present law establishes two tiers of purposes for which the fund may be expended. Items in the second tier may only be purchased if there are funds available after all of the purposes in the first tier are addressed. Present law places the following in the first tier: (1) All costs incurred by TDEC associated with management of the Ocoee River management zone; (2) Expenses of the Ocoee River recreation and economic development fund board and TDEC associated with administration of the development fund; and (3) The cost of making payments to the TVA for additional releases of water on the Ocoee River. Present law places the following in the second tier: (1) Infrastructure upgrades to the Ocoee River management zone; (2) Tourism promotion and economic development activities that benefit the Ocoee River management zone; and (3) Other reasonable expenses as determined by the commissioner or the board to be necessary to carry out the intent of the Ocoee River Recreation and Economic Development Fund Act. This bill revises (2) and (3) in the second tier to the following: (2) Tourism promotion and economic
What the bill says
From the amended text:
House Agriculture & Natural Resources 1 Amendment No. 1 to HB2425 Todd Signature of Sponsor AMEND S e n ate Bill No. 2528* House Bill No. 2425 by deleting all language after the enacting clause and substituting: SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 11-8-103(e), is amended by deleting the subsection and substituting: (e) (1) Subject to availability of sufficient moneys in the development fund beyond those needed for expenditures for the purposes stated in subsection (d), the commissioner and the board may use the development fund for expenditures for the following purposes: (A) Infrastructure upgrades to the Ocoee River management zone; (B) (i) Tourism promotion and economic development activities that benefit the Ocoee River management zone, including, but not limited to: (a) Hiring persons to coordinate community and outdoor events on the Ocoee River; and (b) Contributing funds to events operated on the Ocoee River for the benefit of a nonprofit organization, including such organizations other than those created or established by the board under § 11-8-105(a)(3); and HA0625 (C) Other reasonable expenses as determined by the commissioner or the board to be necessary to carry out the intent of this chapter, including expenses for professional services, if necessary, to conduct the business of the board. (2) Expenditures made by the board under subdivision (e)(1)(A) or (e)(1)(C) must be approved …