Raccoons, Charlie Kirk and turtles: 5 unique laws introduced to this year's Tenn. general assembly

NASHVILLE — Tennessee has some interesting laws. Take, for example, a law that specifically allows Tennesseans to possess and eat roadkill. Another law creates a misdemeanor for having two or more people ride a single-person bike at the same time. Laws of that nature may come down the pipeline relatively infrequently. But this past year, there were a few bills introduced to the general assembly that could, at least, raise some eyebrows. No fees to own a raccoon A bill passed the Tennessee General Assembly in April that waives the permitting fee for owning a pet raccoon, as long as certain conditions are met. The raccoon must be vaccinated and obtained from a legal source, which bill sponsor state Rep. Kip Capley, R-Summertown, said is typically a "raccoon breeder." State Rep. Chris Todd, R-Madison County, joked the bill should be renamed "The Trash Panda Pet Act." It's not clear where the bill originated, as the bill's sponsor did not say. No raccoon lobbyists are listed on the Tennessee Ethics Commission directory. A Zippedy Doodle Day A resolution sponsored by Johnson City's own state Sen. Rusty Crowe, R, passed the Tennessee Senate, which honors Randall Franks, an eastern Tennessee bluegrass musician, filmmaker and actor. Unfortunately, the resolution does not actually create a Zippedy Doodle Day. It honors Frank's upcoming album and documentary, titled "A Zippedy Doodle Day: American Folk Songs." The proceeds from the album and film will go toward supporting graduating seniors talented in traditional Appalachian and southern music. Two scholarships are awarded each year, ranging between $500 and $1,000 each. "This initiative not only safeguards a unique chapter of American folk music history celebrated by historians such as Alan Lomax and Loyal Jones, it also fosters the next generation of Appalachian artists, strengthening cultural preservation and educational opportunities across Tennessee and the region," reads the resolution. A Charlie Kirk plaza for every pot State Rep. Monty Fritts, R-Kingston, sponsored a bill that would have required every public college campus in the state to create and designate a "Charlie Kirk Memorial Courtyard for Civil Debate." All courtyards would have been required to be opened to the public by the end of this year. A total of 47 courtyards would have been built, with each measuring at least 40-by-40 feet. At the North, South, East and West ends of the courtyard, the bill requires displays of the Tennessee Constitution, Bill of Rights, Declaration of Independence and Ten Commandments. The courtyards were estimated to cost the state $18 million to build and $235,000 every year after to maintain. Fritts called that cost "laughable," saying it seemed way too high. The bill passed one House committee, but did not advance any further. The Bog Turtle has its day State Rep. Justin Jones, D-Nashville, sponsored 19 bills in the past two legislative sessions. The only one to receive a favorable vote was HB1851, which designates the bog turtle as the official state reptile of Tennessee. The bog turtle is the smallest turtle in North America, measuring about the length of a human thumb. The bill states that the turtle species is threatened, with less than 2,000 remaining in the southern U.S. The bill passed the Senate, but was deferred to next year's calendar in the House State and Local Government Committee.