KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to Tennessee

SB0528 • 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
Stevens, Gillespie
Last action
2025-03-25
Official status
Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Judiciary Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide specific details about the number of free days or which day(s) will be chosen by the bureau of parks and conservation.

Free Day at State Parks for Veterans

This bill changes Tennessee's laws 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 per year for veterans, not just a single designated day.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Veterans who can use Tennessee's state parks for free on designated days.
  • The bureau of parks and conservation which must organize the free day(s) for veterans.

Terms To Know

bureau of parks and conservation
A government agency responsible for managing Tennessee’s state parks, including setting policies and organizing events like free days for veterans.
public welfare requiring it
This phrase means that the law should take effect immediately because it is important for public benefit.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify which day or days will be chosen by the bureau of parks and conservation.
  • It's unclear how many free days exactly will be provided each year, only that there must be at least one.

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 Tennessee law that establishes a program for providing free legal representation to veterans whose disability benefit claims have been remanded by federal courts or agencies.

  • Creates a 'Tennessee Competitive Appeal Program' under the Department of Veterans Services to provide legal representation for eligible veteran claimants.
  • Limits eligibility to veterans who have had their benefits appeal cases remanded by the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims or other federal authorities.
  • Specifies that participating law firms will only be compensated through a contingency fee if they successfully recover benefits for the veteran, and all costs are covered by this potential fee.
  • The amendment does not specify how the program will be funded beyond stating it is contingent on federal regulations regarding fees.
  • Details about the implementation timeline or specific funding sources are not provided in the text.

Bill History

  1. 2025-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Judiciary Committee

  2. 2025-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Taken off notice for cal in s/c Departments & Agencies Subcommittee of State & Local Government 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 
HOUSE BILL 309
By Gillespie

SENATE BILL 528
By Stevens

SB0528
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.