ON MARCH 14, 2024, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 2204, AS AMENDED.
AMENDMENT #1 rewrites the bill to, instead, do the following:
(1) Require the Ocoee River recreation and economic development fund to be available to the commissioner of environment and conservation for expenditures for the purpose of the cost of making payments to the Tennessee Valley authority for additional releases of water on the Ocoee River;
(2) Add "Class IV Olympic river areas" to the types of river areas included in the state scenic rivers system;
(3) Describe Class IV Olympic River Areas as those rivers or sections of rivers in areas with river management zones affected by the works of man but that still possess actual or potential scenic values, the land of which is managed by the state in accordance with agreements with the Tennessee Valley authority and U.S. forest service. Permits could be issued to commercial rafting operations conducting business within such zones. These rivers would be managed for tourism promotion and economic development activities that benefit the river management zone, including releases for the benefit of persons to participate in whitewater rafting, whitewater races, special events, and for private paddlers;
(4) Add the following to present law relative to rivers initially included in state scenic river system: (i) Class IV Olympic River Areas and (ii) Ocoee River;
(5) Prohibit the department of environment and conservation from issuing new permits for whitewater rafting at the lower Ocoee River Recreational Area on and after July 1, 2024; however, a person who has been issued and possesses a valid whitewater rafting permit as of June 30, 2024, may transfer the permit to a member of the person's immediate family. As used in this amendment, "immediate family" means a spouse, child, step-child, brother, sister, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, parent or grandparent; and
(6) Authorize the commissioner to promulgate rules to effectuate the bill.
ON APRIL 23, 2024, THE HOUSE SUBSTITUTED SENATE BILL 2204 FOR HOUSE BILL 1946, ADOPTED AMENDMENT #2, AND PASSED SENATE BILL 2204, AS AMENDED.
AMENDMENT #2 makes the following changes:
(1) Revises the provisions of the bill describing Class IV Olympic River Areas as those rivers or sections of rivers in areas with river management zones affected by the works of man but that still possess actual or potential scenic values, the land of which is managed by the state in accordance with agreements with the Tennessee Valley authority and U.S. forest service. Permits could be issued to commercial rafting operations conducting business within such zones. This amendment, instead, describes Class IV Olympic River Areas as those rivers or sections of rivers in areas with river management zones affected by the works of man but which still possess actual or potential scenic values, the land adjacent to that which is managed by the state in cooperation with federal agencies, and which rivers are suited to recreational whitewater rafting;
(2) Revises 4(ii) in the bill summary to, instead, read (ii) Ocoee River – That segment of the Ocoee River from Ocoee Dam No. 3 to its confluence with Big Creek;
(3) Deletes both (5) and (6) in the bill summary; and
(4) Prohibits the department of environment and conservation ("department") from issuing more than 24 permits to commercial operations conducting business within the Ocoee River management zone. Persons issued and possessing a permit as of June 30, 2024, may transfer the permit with prior written approval of the commissioner: (i) to a member of the person's immediate family; (ii) pursuant to a purchase and sale agreement; or (iii) as authorized by department rule.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 11-8-103(d), 11-8-103
Amended with SA0647 -- 03/14/2024: 11-8-103(d), 11-8-103, 11-13-103, 11-13-104, 11-13-110(c), 11-13-110
Amended with SA0647, HA1079 -- 04/24/2024: 11-8-103(d), 11-8-103, 11-13-103, 11-13-104, 11-13-110(c), 11-13-110, 11-8-107