1. (a) The Commissioner of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources shall issue a permit to a municipality or private entity associated with fishing or conservation that allows the introduction and placement of black bass into the Coosa River if all of the following are satisfied:

   1. (1) The municipality or private entity obtains the black bass from a fish hatchery located in this state which is approved by the department.
   2. (2) The only black bass that may be introduced or placed into the Coosa River are the Northern Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides salmoides) subspecies, the Florida Bass (Micropterus salmoides floridanus) subspecies, or a first generation offspring of these two subspecies.
   3. (3) The municipality or private entity bears all costs associated with the purchase, transport, and introduction of the black bass.
2. (b) The commissioner, under his or her authority granted in Sections 9-2-2 and 9-2-7, may deny a permit as provided for in this section due to environmental, pathogenic, or biological factors or for the protection of public health and welfare.
3. (c) Nothing in this section shall prohibit the commissioner from issuing permits for the introduction and placement of other subspecies of black bass into segments of the Coosa River when the commissioner determines that the introduction and placement of those subspecies is appropriate for the fishery.
4. (d) The department shall adopt rules as necessary to implement this section.

(Act 2024-90, §1.)