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HB0309 • 2026

Veterans

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 58, Chapter 3, relative to veterans.

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Gillespie, Stevens
Last action
2025-03-25
Official status
Taken off notice for cal in s/c Departments & Agencies Subcommittee of State & Local Government Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide additional details about how the change might affect park operations or specify that it ensures inclusion of all facilities.

Veterans' Day at State Parks

This bill changes Tennessee's law to require state parks to offer free access and use for veterans on at least one day each year.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the law so that state parks must have at least one free day for veterans every year.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Veterans who can use Tennessee's state parks on at least one free day each year.
  • The bureau of parks and conservation which must designate the free days for veterans.

Terms To Know

Bureau of Parks and Conservation
A government agency responsible for managing Tennessee's state parks.
Veterans
People who have served in the military.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify which day or days will be chosen by the bureau of parks and conservation.
  • It is unclear how this change might affect park operations on free veteran days.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

Amendment 1-0 to SB0528

Plain English: The amendment adds a new section to Title 58, Chapter 3 of Tennessee Code Annotated to establish a program providing free legal representation for veterans with remanded disability benefit claims.

  • Establishes the 'Tennessee Competitive Appeal Program' which provides free legal representation for eligible veteran claimants whose appeals have been remanded by the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.
  • The state does not pay any fees or expenses; instead, a private law firm is compensated through a contingency fee if benefits are awarded to the veteran.
  • Requires that contracted firms meet specific criteria including having an office in Tennessee and at least ten years of experience representing veterans before the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
  • The exact details of how the program will be implemented, such as the process for notifying eligible claimants or the specifics of attorney-client agreements, are not fully detailed in the amendment text.

Bill History

  1. 2025-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Taken off notice for cal in s/c Departments & Agencies Subcommittee of State & Local Government Committee

  2. 2025-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Judiciary Committee

  3. 2025-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) withdrawn.

  4. 2025-03-20 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Departments & Agencies Subcommittee for 3/25/2025

  5. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee for 3/26/2025

  6. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee to 3/26/2025

  7. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  8. 2025-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Refer to Senate Judiciary Committee

  9. 2025-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recalled from Senate Energy, Ag., & Natural Resources Committee

  10. 2025-03-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee calendar for 3/19/2025

  11. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee for 3/19/2025

  12. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee

  13. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  14. 2025-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee

  15. 2025-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee

  16. 2025-01-30 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  17. 2025-01-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  18. 2025-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SENATE BILL 528
By Stevens

HOUSE BILL 309
By Gillespie

HB0309
001720
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 58,
Chapter 3, relative to veterans.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 58-3-112, is amended by deleting the
following language:
the division of parks and recreation shall designate one (1) day per year during which
access to and use of all state parks, including, but not limited to, campgrounds and golf
courses, shall be free of charge for all veterans
and substituting instead the following:
the bureau of parks and conservation shall designate at least one (1) day per year
during which access to and use of all state parks, including, but not limited to,
campgrounds and golf courses, must be free of charge for all veterans
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.