Committee advances bill to require boat titles in Tennessee to curb stolen and derelict vessels

Chairman Howe moved passage of HB1754, a bill to require titling for boats in Tennessee, saying the change will create a paper trail to help law enforcement, lienholders and insurers identify owners of stolen or abandoned vessels. "We have about 80 stolen boats that have been abandoned in the rivers and lakes just in the year 2025," the sponsor said, arguing titles will show ownership, vessel identification and lien information.

Tory Grimes, general counsel for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, told the committee the bill’s language does not require owners to carry insurance. He said establishing lienholder records could lead lenders to require insurance but that the bill itself does not impose an insurance mandate. Grimes described derelict-boat and mooring issues and said the titling step is part of a broader effort to address abandoned vessels that agencies such as TVA or the Corps may not remove unless waterways are impeding flow.

Members asked detailed implementation questions. The sponsor said the bill would make boats subject to a titling system beginning 07/01/2027 and that existing boats would have a multi‑year compliance period to obtain titles. Committee members pressed about consumer costs; the sponsor estimated a one‑time fee of about $25 for a title, and members noted that TWRA registration fees (by length) would likely remain separate ($35–$55 annually for certain vessels), meaning owners could face a one‑time titling fee in addition to existing registration fees.

Representative Glenn and others raised whether titling would carry insurance or other new ongoing costs; Grimes said the agency did not draft an insurance requirement into the bill and recommended future amendments to address related technical issues as the bill moves forward. The committee adopted untimely and other technical amendments during consideration and voted the bill out (16 ayes, 1 no, 1 present-not-voting). The bill will be considered next by the finance committee.

Ending: The committee recorded the vote and advanced HB1754 to finance; staff and members indicated additional technical cleanups will follow in later stages.