Fishing; Commissioner of Conservation and Natural Resources prohibited from adopting slot limit rule for tournaments on Coosa River under certain conditions

HB 143 prohibits Alabama's Commissioner of Conservation and Natural Resources from banning the possession of certain-sized fish in tournaments on the Coosa River unless evidence proves prior restocking attempts in that area failed. This directly affects fishing tournaments held on the Coosa River and its reservoirs. The bill requires the commissioner to provide documented proof of failed restocking before implementing size restrictions, rather than allowing automatic rule changes. It applies only to the Coosa River system and takes effect October 1, 2025. The law does not create new fishing rules but restricts the commissioner's authority to adopt them without specific evidence.