SB 2094 changes tuition rules at Tennessee public colleges and universities to better support military-connected students. It requires schools to classify as "in-state" for tuition purposes the spouse of a service member who resides in Tennessee while enrolled, even if the service member hasn’t lived in Tennessee for a year. The bill also expands eligibility to include dependents of active-duty military personnel or veterans living outside Tennessee. Public institutions must now *provide* in-state tuition to these groups (replacing a previous "may" option), and the law defines "military-affiliated" to cover spouses, dependents, and active-duty personnel. The changes take effect for the 2026-2027 academic year.
HB 1789 requires Tennessee public colleges and universities to classify military spouses and dependents of active-duty service members or veterans as in-state students for tuition purposes, regardless of whether they’ve lived in Tennessee for one year. This applies if the spouse or dependent resides in Tennessee while enrolled, maintains continuous enrollment, and meets citizenship or residency requirements. The bill amends state law to make this mandatory (replacing "may" with "shall") and expands eligibility to include military dependents living outside Tennessee. It takes effect for the 2026-2027 academic year and applies to all public higher education institutions in the state.
HB 1677, the "Military Families Licensing Recognition Act," streamlines occupational licensing for military-connected individuals in Tennessee. It allows active or retired military members, spouses, and dependents to obtain a Tennessee license in their occupation if they hold a current license from another state or the military with similar scope, meet education/experience requirements, and have no disqualifying records. Licensing boards must issue licenses within 10 business days after applicants verify their qualifications under penalty of perjury. The bill does not override state licensing laws, make licenses valid in other states, or affect court-regulated professions.
SB 1692, the "Military Families Licensing Recognition Act," allows Tennessee to issue occupational licenses to active or retired military members and their spouses/dependents who hold valid licenses in another state or the military. It requires applicants to confirm they held a license in good standing for at least one year, meet education/experience standards, and have no disqualifying criminal records or pending complaints. Licensing boards must issue licenses within 10 business days after verifying the applicant’s claims under penalty of perjury. The law does not override state regulations or allow out-of-state work under interstate compacts, and licenses are valid only within Tennessee.
HB 1989 updates Tennessee's legal references to recognize the U.S. Space Force as a distinct military branch. It amends 15 Tennessee Code sections to add "space force" alongside existing branches (army, navy, air force, etc.) in definitions covering military personnel, benefits, and service-related provisions. This change directly affects how Tennessee law references military service members, including their spouses, dependents, and eligibility for state programs like vehicle registration reciprocity. The bill makes no new policy changes but aligns state statutes with the federal establishment of the Space Force.
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.
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.
