Official Summary Text
Present law authorizes the county legislative bodies of the several counties and the governing bodies of each municipal corporation, jointly or severally, to establish service offices for the purpose of advising veterans of the United States armed forces,
and their dependents, of all rights, privileges, immunities and benefits to which they may be entitled under any law, state or federal, and which may be made available to them by private institutions, organizations or individuals and of assisting them in
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very way possible in obtaining such rights, immunities and benefits. These service offices are required to be staffed by accredited veterans' service officers.
This bill requires the county legislative bodies and municipal governing bodies creating local veterans service offices to choose the persons hired to provide veterans services, subject to guidance provided by the department of veterans services. Employ
ees of a local veterans service office who served in the armed forces are known as "county veterans service officers (CVSOs)," and those who did not serve are known as "county veterans service representatives (CVSRs)."
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS
This bill authorizes the following counties to hire administrative assistants for clerical duties who are not required to hold an accreditation from the United States department of veterans affairs: Anderson, Blount, Bradley, Davidson, Hamilton, Knox, Ma
dison, Maury, Montgomery, Putnam, Rutherford, Sevier, Shelby, Sullivan, Sumner, Washington, Williamson, and Wilson.
BACKGROUND CHECKS
This bill requires all CVSOs, CVSRs, and administrative assistants to have a background check.
HIRING PREFERENCE
This bill provides that veterans, especially combat veterans, should be given hiring preference for positions requiring accreditation by the United States department of veterans affairs and consideration must be given to those with administrative, human
resources, and computer education and experience backgrounds. Combat service must be verified via separation or other official military documents
CVSOS AND CVSRS
Once a CVSO or CVSR receives accreditation from the United States department of veterans affairs, this bill provides that the CVSO or CVSR will hold office if CVSO or CVSR remains fully qualified, unless terminated for misconduct. The appointing author
ity for each local veterans service office must ensure that each office is staffed by at least one CVSO and that staffing of the office is in accordance with the ratio of CVSOs to CVSRs, as established by the department of veterans services.
This bill requires the commissioner of veterans services to publish guidance on an annual basis on a recommended number of part-time and full-time CVSOs and CVSRs per political subdivision. The commissioner must establish a required minimum salary rate
for CVSOs and CVSRs as well as a recommended number of paid hours, including hours designated for required training and continuing education. The recommended salary rates may include a lower probationary rate to be paid until completion of all required s
ta
te and federal training for accreditation.
Upon application by a local governing body, this bill requires the department of veterans services to provide a salary grant for the purpose of hiring new CVSOs and CVSRs to meet the minimum state staffing requirements at the state-mandated salary rate.
The department may also provide additional grants to cover the costs to train and maintain qualified CVSOs and CVSRs, including costs for state-mandated annual and recurring certifications and costs to pay the state-mandated minimum salary. The commissio
ne
r of veterans services may create annual bonuses for CVSOs and CVSRs who meet performance metrics prescribed by the commissioner.
DEPARTMENTAL HEADS OF A LOCAL VETERANS SERVICE OFFICE
This bill appoints the senior CVSO to be the departmental head of a local veterans service office for the department of the governing body that created the office. In the case of a local veterans service office that is created by two or more political s
ubdivisions, the office is a department under the political subdivision providing a majority of the office funding. If the funding is equally divided and the political subdivisions are unable to agree on the organizational placement of the office, then t
he
commissioner of veterans services must decide under which political subdivision the office is placed.
Local governing bodies that create a local veterans service office are encouraged to maintain enough CVSOs, CVSRs, and administrative assistants to support the size of their respective veteran populations, as well as provide adequate office space and adm
inistrative support. When three or more CVSOs or CVSRs are employed by a local governing body, a CVSO must be designated as the director of veterans services and be paid an amount corresponding with other departmental heads of similarly sized departments
o
f the local governing body or the state recommended wage, whichever is greater. For offices with one CVSO, the CVSO is designated the director.
TRAINING AND ACCREDITATION
Present law requires all veterans' service officers to be honorably discharged veterans of the United States armed forces. Veterans' service officers must have the authority to administer oaths and to take acknowledgments related to any matter falling w
ithin the scope of authority of their office, including the presentation of claims and other functions incident to obtaining benefits for discharged veterans. All veterans' service officers must successfully complete training and be issued accreditation
by
the department of veterans services within one year from the date of appointment. Any veterans' service officer who does not complete the required training and receive accreditation within one year of appointment must be removed from office by the gover
ning body or bodies of the political subdivisions creating the veterans' service office by which the officer is employed.
This bill, in addition to the training and accreditation required by present law, requires all CVSOs and CVSRs to attain accreditation by the United States department of veterans affairs within six months from the date of appointment. Any CVSO or CVSR w
ho does not receive United States department of veterans affairs accreditation within six months of appointment must be removed from office by the governing body of the political subdivision creating the veterans service office at which the CVSO or CVSR i
s
employed. CVSOs and CVSRs must complete all annual and recurring training required by the United States department of veterans affairs and department of veterans services to maintain all required accreditations and meet claims filing performance standard
s established by the department. Failure to do so can result in removal from office within 30 days after notification by the commissioner to the local governing body of the political subdivision in which the employing veterans service office is located.
This bill authorizes the department of veterans services to enter into agreements with nationally chartered veterans services organizations to provide for cross accreditation and to provide initial and recurrent service officer accreditation training. T
he department may grant accredited representatives of those organizations access to department data systems for the purpose of using common claims filing software. The department may also provide funds to nationally chartered veterans service organizatio
ns
for the purpose of promoting the availability of veterans services.
FUNDING AND BUDGETS
This bill requires all state funding provided to local veterans service offices to be used exclusively for salaries, benefits, supplies, and training expenses and to not be used for any other purpose by the local governing body. Local veterans service o
ffice budgets must be published as a separate item within the political subdivision's annual budget.
ON APRIL 13, 2026, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 2483, AS AMENDED.
AMENDMENT #1 rewrites the bill to, instead, require the department of veterans services to conduct a study, within its existing resources, that includes all of the following:
An evaluation of county veterans service office resources, including (i) current county veterans service office (CVSO) staffing levels; (ii) accreditation status of office personnel; (iii) the hours of operation of such offices; and (iv) CVSO office budget levels and funding sources.
The identification of underserved areas, including (i) an analysis of veteran population by county; (ii) a comparison of veteran population numbers based on affiliated CVSOs; and (iii) the identification of counties or regions without a full-time CVSO.
Operational capacity, including a review and compilation of county-level workload productivity metrics.
Local outreach efforts, community outreach events, partnerships, and other entities providing, or sources of, assistance for veterans at the local level.
The identification of potential funding mechanisms to support local veterans service offices.
This amendment requires the department to compile a report of the study and submit the report to
the governor and the speakers of the senate and the house of representatives by December 31, 2026.
Current Bill Text
Read the full stored bill text
SENATE BILL 2483
By Bowling
HOUSE BILL 2143
By Glynn
HB2143
012647
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AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4,
Chapter 25 and Title 58, Chapter 3, relative to
veterans services.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 58-3-109, is amended by adding the
following as new subsections:
(c) The county legislative bodies and municipal governing bodies creating the
local veterans service offices shall choose the persons hired to provide veterans
services, subject to guidance provided by the department of veterans services.
Employees of a local veterans service office who served in the armed forces are known
as "county veterans service officers (CVSOs)," and those who did not serve are known
as "county veterans service representatives (CVSRs)." Counties with a population
greater than seventy-five thousand (75,000), according to the 2020 federal census or a
subsequent federal census, may hire administrative assistants for clerical duties who are
not required to hold an accreditation from the United States department of veterans
affairs. Once a CVSO or CVSR receives accreditation from the United States
department of veterans affairs, the CVSO or CVSR will hold office if CVSO or CVSR
remains fully qualified, unless terminated for misconduct.
(d) The appointing authority for each local veterans service office shall ensure
that each office is staffed by at least one (1) CVSO and that staffing of the office is in
accordance with the ratio of CVSOs to CVSRs, as established by the department of
veterans services by rule.
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SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 58-3-111, is amended by adding the
following as new subsections:
(e) A local veterans service office is a department of the governing body that
created the office, and the senior CVSO is its departmental head. In the case of a local
veterans service office created by two (2) or more political subdivisions, the office is a
department under the political subdivision providing a majority of the office funding. If
the funding is equally divided and the political subdivisions are unable to agree on the
organizational placement of the office then the commissioner of veterans services shall
decide under which political subdivision the office is placed.
(f) All CVSOs, CVSRs, and administrative assistants must have a background
check. Veterans, especially combat veterans, should be given hiring preference for
positions requiring accreditation by the United States department of veterans affairs and
consideration must be given to those with administrative, human resources, and
computer education and experience backgrounds. Combat service must be verified via
separation or other official military documents.
(g) In addition to the training and accreditation required by subsection (d), all
CVSOs and CVSRs shall attain accreditation by the United States department of
veterans affairs within six (6) months from the date of appointment. Any CVSO or CVSR
who does not receive United States department of veterans affairs accreditation within
six (6) months of appointment must be removed from office by the governing body of the
political subdivision creating the veterans service office at which the CVSO or CVSR is
employed.
(h) CVSOs and CVSRs shall complete all annual and recurring training required
by the United States department of veterans affairs and department of veterans services
to maintain all required accreditations and meet claims filing performance standards
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established by the department. Failure to do so can result in removal from office within
thirty (30) days after notification by the commissioner to the local governing body of the
political subdivision in which the employing veterans service office is located.
(i) Local governing bodies that create a local veterans service office are
encouraged to maintain enough CVSOs, CVSRs, and administrative assistants to
support the size of their respective veteran populations, as well as provide adequate
office space and administrative support. When three (3) or more CVSOs or CVSRs are
employed by a local governing body, a CVSO must be designated as the director of
veterans services and be paid an amount corresponding with other departmental heads
of similarly sized departments of the local governing body or the state recommended
wage, whichever is greater. For offices with one (1) CVSO, the CVSO is designated the
director.
(j) The commissioner of veterans services shall publish guidance on an annual
basis on a recommended number of part-time and full-time CVSOs and CVSRs per
political subdivision. The commissioner shall establish a required minimum salary rate
for CVSOs and CVSRs as well as a recommended number of paid hours, including
hours designated for required training and continuing education. The recommended
salary rates may include a lower probationary rate to be paid until completion of all
required state and federal training for accreditation.
(k) Upon application by a local governing body, the department of veterans
services shall provide a salary grant for the purpose of hiring new CVSOs and CVSRs to
meet the minimum state staffing requirements at the state-mandated salary rate. The
department may also provide additional grants to cover the costs to train and maintain
qualified CVSOs and CVSRs, including costs for state-mandated annual and recurring
certifications and costs to pay the state-mandated minimum salary. The commissioner
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of veterans services may create annual bonuses for CVSOs and CVSRs who meet
performance metrics prescribed by the commissioner.
(l) The department of veterans services may enter into agreements with
nationally chartered veterans services organizations to provide for cross accreditation
and to provide initial and recurrent service officer accreditation training. The department
may grant accredited representatives of those organizations access to department data
systems for the purpose of using common claims filing software. The department may
also provide funds to nationally chartered veterans service organizations for the purpose
of promoting the availability of veterans services.
(m) All state funding provided to local veterans service offices must be used
exclusively for salaries, benefits, supplies, and training expenses and must not be used
for any other purpose by the local governing body. Local veterans service office budgets
must be published as a separate item within the political subdivision's annual budget.
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.