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HB0479 • 2026

Military

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 58, Chapter 1, Part 2, relative to the "Tennessee National Guard Servicemember's Medical Readiness Act."

Healthcare Labor
Active

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

Sponsor
Hicks G, Stevens
Last action
2025-05-27
Official status
Effective date(s) 07/01/2025
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not specify the exact amount of funds available for this program or how it will be funded beyond future appropriations by the state legislature.

Tennessee National Guard Servicemember's Medical Readiness Act

This law creates a program to help Tennessee National Guard members pay for their TRICARE reserve select or dental insurance by giving them grants, but if the federal government later covers these costs, the state will no longer provide reimbursement.

What This Bill Does

  • Creates the Tennessee National Guard TRICARE premium reimbursement program within the military department.
  • Allows eligible recipients, who are members of the Tennessee National Guard and qualify for certain types of TRICARE coverage, to receive grants for their premiums.
  • Requires that if any portion of the premiums is later covered by the federal government, it will no longer be reimbursed by this program.
  • Gives the adjutant general authority to set rules and guidelines for the reimbursement program.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Members of the Tennessee National Guard who are eligible for TRICARE reserve select or dental insurance coverage.
  • The military department in Tennessee, which will manage the new program.

Terms To Know

TRICARE
A health care program provided by the U.S. government to members of the military and their families.
Adjutant General
The highest-ranking officer in a state's National Guard who is responsible for managing the guard's operations.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This program will only provide grants to those members of the Tennessee National Guard who are not receiving health or dental insurance coverage through their civilian employer.
  • The exact amount and availability of funds for this program depend on future appropriations by the state legislature.

Amendments

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

Amendment 1-0 to HB0479

Plain English: The amendment changes who can get help under the 'Tennessee National Guard Servicemember's Medical Readiness Act' by defining an 'eligible recipient'.

  • Defines an 'eligible recipient' as someone who is a member of the Tennessee National Guard, eligible for TRICARE reserve select or dental program coverage, and not receiving health or dental insurance from a civilian employer.
  • The amendment text does not provide details on how this change will affect current recipients or what specific benefits are covered under the act.
Amendment 1-0 to SB0530

Plain English: The amendment changes who can get certain medical benefits under the Tennessee National Guard Servicemember's Medical Readiness Act.

  • Changes the definition of 'eligible recipient' to specify that it means someone who is a member of the Tennessee National Guard, eligible for TRICARE reserve select or dental program coverage, and not receiving health or dental insurance from a civilian employer.
  • The amendment text does not provide details on how this change will affect current recipients or implementation steps.

Bill History

  1. 2025-05-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Effective date(s) 07/01/2025

  2. 2025-05-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Pub. Ch. 483

  3. 2025-05-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Comp. became Pub. Ch. 483

  4. 2025-05-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Governor.

  5. 2025-05-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Transmitted to Governor for his action.

  6. 2025-05-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Senate Speaker

  7. 2025-04-30 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by H. Speaker

  8. 2025-04-28 Tennessee General Assembly

    Enrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker.

  9. 2025-04-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  10. 2025-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed Senate, Ayes 33, Nays 0

  11. 2025-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Amendment withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - SA0319)

  12. 2025-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Senate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.

  13. 2025-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Received from House, Passed on First Consideration

  14. 2025-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Companion House Bill substituted

  15. 2025-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.

  16. 2025-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed H., as am., Ayes 94, Nays 0, PNV 0

  17. 2025-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. adopted am. (Amendment 1 - HA0513)

  18. 2025-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  19. 2025-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/22/2025

  20. 2025-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee

  21. 2025-04-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/21/2025

  22. 2025-04-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/17/2025

  23. 2025-04-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules Committee

  24. 2025-04-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee

  25. 2025-04-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/21/2025

  26. 2025-04-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/17/2025

  27. 2025-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/15/2025

  28. 2025-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rule #83(8) Suspended, to be heard in Senate Finance, Ways & Means Committee on 4/15/2025

  29. 2025-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/14/2025

  30. 2025-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed behind the budget

  31. 2025-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee Ayes 9, Nays 0 PNV 0

  32. 2025-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 4/2/2025

  33. 2025-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate State and Local Government Committee to 4/2/2025

  34. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/2/2025

  35. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee to 4/2/2025

  36. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 4/1/2025

  37. 2025-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  38. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 3/26/2025

  39. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee to 3/26/2025

  40. 2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 3/12/2025

  41. 2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee

  42. 2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass; ref to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee

  43. 2025-02-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 3/5/2025

  44. 2025-02-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to State & Local Government Committee

  45. 2025-02-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Public Service Subcommittee for 2/26/2025

  46. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate State and Local Government Committee

  47. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  48. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Public Service Subcommittee

  49. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to State & Local Government Committee

  50. 2025-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  51. 2025-01-30 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  52. 2025-01-28 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

This bill enacts the "Tennessee National Guard Servicemember's Medical Readiness Act," which creates within
the military department the Tennessee national guard TRICARE premium reimbursement program to award reimbursement grants to a member of the Tennessee national guard who meets the reimbursement application requirements established by the adjutant general
t
hrough written policies and guidelines for reimbursement of a premium paid for individual coverage through the TRICARE reserve select program or dental program. This bill provides that if any portion of the premiums eligible for reimbursement are later p
a
id for, reimbursed, or otherwise provided by the federal government, then that portion ceases to be reimbursed by the TRICARE premium reimbursement program.

ON APRIL 21, 2025, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 479, AS AMENDED.

AMENDM
ENT #1 adds as an eligibility requirement for insurance premium reimbursement under this bill that the guard member is n
ot receiving health or dental insurance coverage through a civilian employer.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SENATE BILL 530
By Stevens

HOUSE BILL 479
By Hicks G

HB0479
001044
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 58,
Chapter 1, Part 2, relative to the "Tennessee
National Guard Servicemember's Medical
Readiness Act."

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 58, Chapter 1, Part 2, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:
(a) This section is known and may be cited as the "Tennessee National Guard
Servicemember's Medical Readiness Act."
(b) The Tennessee national guard TRICARE premium reimbursement program
is created within the military department.
(c) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires, "eligible
recipient" means an individual who is:
(1) A member of the Tennessee national guard; and
(2) Eligible for TRICARE reserve select or TRICARE dental program
coverage.
(d) The military department may award reimbursement grants to an eligible
recipient who meets the reimbursement application requirements established by the
adjutant general for reimbursement of one (1) or both of the following:
(1) A premium paid for individual coverage for an eligible recipient
through the TRICARE reserve select program; or
(2) A premium paid for individual coverage for an eligible recipient
through the TRICARE dental program.

- 2 - 001044

(e) If any portion of the premiums eligible for reimbursement in this section are
later paid for, reimbursed, or otherwise provided to an eligible recipient by the federal
government, then that portion shall cease to be reimbursed by the TRICARE premium
reimbursement program established in this section.
(f) The adjutant general shall adopt and publish written policies and guidelines to
effectuate the purposes of this section.
SECTION 2. This act is not an appropriation of funds, and funds must not be obligated
or expended pursuant to this act unless the funds are specifically appropriated by the general
appropriations act.
SECTION 3. This act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it.