House Bill 126 proposes amendments to Tennessee Code Annotated, specifically targeting the management and designation of state natural areas. The bill includes several key changes, such as increasing the size of certain protected areas, with notable insertions of new subdivisions that designate additional natural areas, including Clifty Creek Gorge, Rocky Hill, Union Grove, and Versailles Knob. These areas are recognized for their ecological significance, protecting various endangered and threatened species.

Additionally, the bill makes numerous adjustments to the acreage of existing natural areas, with deletions of previous acreages and substitutions with larger figures. For instance, the area previously known as Barnetts Woods is now referred to as Barnett's Woods and Prairie, with an increase from 40 acres to 156 acres. Other areas also see similar increases, such as the addition of 64 acres to a previously designated area, bringing it to 2,754 acres. The bill aims to enhance the conservation efforts for Tennessee's natural resources and biodiversity by expanding the protected areas and updating their designations.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 11-14-108(b)(1)(O), 11-14-108, 11-14-108(b)(2), 11-14-108(b)(2)(B), 11-14-108(b)(2)(G), 11-14-108(b)(2)(I), 11-14-108(b)(2)(P), 11-14-108(b)(2)(S), 11-14-108(b)(2)(NN), 11-14-108(b)(2)(PP), 11-14-108(b)(2)(LLL)