TFWC Meeting Set for August 20-21 in Nashville

NASHVILLE --- The Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission will return to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency's Region II Ray Bell Building in Nashville for its Aug. 20-21 meeting. The committee meetings begin Thursday, Aug. 20, at 1 p.m., with full Commission proceedings continuing Friday at 9 a.m. To watch both days of the meeting, visit the TWRA YouTube Channel.

Among the agenda items will be a presentation of the 2027-28 TWRA budget for review on Thursday, with the vote on Friday. Also, at this meeting, the Commission will consider any adjustments needed to the 2026-27 budget.

Commissioner and Audit Committee Chair Ford Little will present a Federally Assisted Program Civil Rights Review. Conducted by the U.S. Department of the Interior and recently completed by TWRA, the review found that the TWRA complies with applicable federal civil rights requirements. The review recognized strengths, including free Hunter and Boater Education courses, effective recruitment, and the integration of ADA reviews into routine facility inspections.

The TWRA will present two rules for Commission action. One is the new license and permit structure designed to reduce the complexity of licensing options. This license structure will be very similar to the amended version that was previously proposed to the Commission and the Government Operations Committee. The other rule concerns new fees for TWRA shooting ranges and hunter education centers.

Fisheries Division Assistant Chief Travis Scott will give a report on the Tennessee Black Bass Management Plan. The plan is a comprehensive plan developed to guide black bass management from 2027-36. A Stakeholder Advisory Committee (SAC) was created late last year,

A Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) consisting of TWRA staff and outside experts developed the objectives and strategies to meet stakeholder goals. The plan will be finalized in October 2026.

Additionally, award presentations will take place on Friday, which will include the annual Boating Officer of the Year, part-time Boating Officer of the Year, Boating Education of the Year, and Boating and Law Enforcement Dispatcher of the Year awards. In addition, resolutions honoring former TFWC Commissioner Tony Sanders and Lt. Gov. Randy McNally will be made.

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is responsible for protecting, managing, and conserving fish and wildlife species for the benefit of Tennesseans and visitors. The Agency also maintains public safety through law enforcement and safety education on waterways.

---TWRA--