SB 1188 expands Tennessee's "Helping Heroes Grant" to include veterans who received any U.S. combat or heroism medal authorized by Congress, broadening eligibility beyond previous criteria. It allows these veterans to use the grant for certificate programs at eligible colleges or universities, not just degree programs. The bill removes prior restrictions requiring recipients to pursue associate or bachelor's degrees, instead explicitly permitting certificate training. This change applies to the 2025-2026 academic year and future terms.
SB 922 requires Tennessee's Health Commissioner to study ways to help veterans with military medical training (like medics or corpsmen) become primary care providers in Tennessee, such as doctors, nurses, or physician assistants. The study must identify barriers in current laws, find where military training counts toward licensure, and suggest new or streamlined career pathways. It directs the commissioner to use existing department resources and report findings and recommendations to lawmakers by December 31, 2025. This bill does not change laws immediately but aims to create future options for veteran healthcare workers.
HB 52, the VALOR Act, exempts Tennessee veterans with 100% permanent and total service-connected disability from specific taxes and fees. It removes the $10 fee for permanent hunting/fishing licenses, reimburses property taxes on their primary home, and waives registration fees for one vehicle (passenger car, RV, or half/¾-ton truck). Eligibility requires verification of disability status through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The law takes effect January 1, 2026, directly benefiting qualifying veterans who own homes or vehicles in Tennessee.
SB 1152, the "Ola Mae Ransom Reintegration Act," exempts Tennessee veterans of the U.S. military (including National Guard and reserves) from paying the $15 fee required for a business license. It directly affects veterans seeking to start or operate businesses in Tennessee, removing a financial barrier to entrepreneurship. The bill amends Tennessee law to explicitly state that veterans cannot be charged this fee for business licenses, effective July 1, 2025. This policy change aims to support veterans' economic reintegration by reducing costs associated with business licensing.
HB 299 expands Tennessee's tuition waiver program for dependents of veterans to include children and spouses of veterans who sustained a permanent 100% service-connected disability during military service. It directly affects dependent children under 23 and spouses of qualifying veterans who received U.S. government certification of their disability. Key provisions require proof of the disability determination, limit spouse eligibility to 10 years from the disability certification date, and apply the waiver to all state public universities starting July 2025. The bill modifies existing education code to extend this benefit to a new group of veterans' families, matching the existing waiver for dependents of veterans who died or were missing in action.
HB 309 amends Tennessee law to require the Bureau of Parks and Conservation to designate **at least one day annually** - instead of exactly one day - when all state parks, campgrounds, and golf courses are free for veterans. This directly affects **veterans** seeking access to state park facilities, expanding potential free days beyond the current single-day requirement. The key provision modifies an existing law (TCA Title 58, Chapter 3) to mandate annual free access while shifting responsibility from the "division of parks" to the "bureau of parks and conservation." The bill does not create new fees or alter veteran eligibility, only adjusting the frequency and administrative oversight of free park access.
SB 368 removes a market value cap that previously limited property tax relief for disabled veterans in Tennessee. It requires the state to fully reimburse eligible disabled veterans for all local property taxes paid each year on their primary residence, instead of capping relief at a specific property value. This directly affects disabled veterans who own and live in their primary residence and qualify for property tax relief under Tennessee law. The change takes effect for tax years beginning July 1, 2025.
SB 295 expands Tennessee's tuition waiver program for dependents of veterans to include children and spouses of veterans with permanent, total service-connected disabilities (100% disability rating). It directly affects dependent children under 23 and spouses of qualifying veterans who served during a qualifying conflict. The bill requires U.S. government certification of the disability, mandates Tennessee residency for the veteran at application, and sets a 10-year eligibility window for spouses. The waiver covers all tuition and fees at public colleges and universities, effective for the 2025-2026 academic term.
HB 114 amends Tennessee's STRONG Act to expand educational benefits for National Guard members. It explicitly covers mandatory fees (like parking, tech, and library fees) and master's degree program fees, in addition to 100% of in-state tuition. The bill increases the maximum credit hours for eligibility from 120 to 130 and requires reimbursement applications within 45 days of course completion. It also adds eligibility requirements, barring members suspended from federal tuition assistance due to academic issues. This law, effective May 2, 2025, directly affects Tennessee National Guard members pursuing higher education.
HB 48 would change Tennessee's property tax relief for disabled veterans by removing a market value cap on the primary residence. It requires the state to fully reimburse eligible disabled veterans for all local property taxes paid on their primary home each year, instead of capping the relief at a specific property value. This applies to veterans already qualifying for property tax relief under current law. The change takes effect for tax years beginning July 1, 2025, and is funded through state general funds.
