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SB2238 • 2026

Game and Fish Laws

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 70, Chapter 2, relative to the creation of a Tennessee national guard sportsman license.

Budget
Active

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

Sponsor
Johnson, Lamberth
Last action
2026-04-14
Official status
Signed by Senate Speaker
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and text do not provide specific details about all application requirements beyond mentioning they will be set by the executive director.

Hunting for Heroes Act

This bill creates a free sportsman license for active members of the Tennessee National Guard who are in good standing.

What This Bill Does

  • Creates a new type of sportsman license called the Tennessee National Guard Sportsman License.
  • Allows eligible members to get this license at no cost, similar to how resident annual licenses work.
  • Requires applicants to provide necessary documentation like military ID and proof of membership from the adjutant general.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Active members of the Tennessee National Guard in good standing
  • The state government, which must cover the cost of the new licenses

Terms To Know

Tennessee National Guard Sportsman License
A free hunting and fishing license for active members of the Tennessee National Guard who are in good standing.
General Fund
The main fund used by the state to pay for various programs and services, including this new sportsman license program.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not specify how many members might apply or use these licenses.
  • Does not detail all application requirements beyond mentioning they will be set by the executive director.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Senate Speaker

  2. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Enrolled and ready for signatures

  3. 2026-04-07 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed H., Ayes 94, Nays 1, PNV 0

  4. 2026-04-07 Tennessee General Assembly

    Subst. for comp. HB.

  5. 2026-04-07 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  6. 2026-04-07 Tennessee General Assembly

    Comp. SB subst.

  7. 2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/7/2026

  8. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/2/2026

  9. 2026-03-31 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee

  10. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Finance, Ways, and Means Committee for 3/31/2026

  11. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  12. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 3/25/2026

  13. 2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  14. 2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  15. 2026-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee for 3/17/2026

  16. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee

  17. 2026-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  18. 2026-03-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.

  19. 2026-03-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  20. 2026-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

  21. 2026-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  22. 2026-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed Senate, Ayes 31, Nays 0

  23. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee for 3/11/2026

  24. 2026-03-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  25. 2026-03-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Consent Calendar 2 for 3/5/2026

  26. 2026-03-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee

  27. 2026-02-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 3/3/2026

  28. 2026-02-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee

  29. 2026-02-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  30. 2026-02-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  31. 2026-02-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee calendar for 2/18/2026

  32. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  33. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee

  34. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee

  35. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  36. 2026-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  37. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  38. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

This bill creates a Tennessee national guard sportsman license, which
entitles an active member of a federally recognized unit of the Tennessee national guard in good standing to qualify for a no-cost sportsman license in the same manner as a resident annual sportsman license. The full text of this bill specifies the docum
entation and other application requirements necessary to obtain a Tennessee national guard sportsman license. This bill expresses the intent that the cost of the new licenses will be paid from

the state
's
general fund and not from the wildlife resources fu
nd.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HOUSE BILL 2550
By Lamberth

SENATE BILL 2238
By Johnson
SB2238
011251
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 70,
Chapter 2, relative to the creation of a Tennessee
national guard sportsman license.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. This act is known and may be cited as the "Hunting for Heroes Act."
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 70-2-104, is amended by adding the
following as a new subsection:
(i) For purposes of the Tennessee national guard sportsman license created in §
70-2-201:
(1) A member in good standing shall provide all information necessary to
the agency in order to obtain a Tennessee national guard sportsman license.
For purposes of this subsection (i), "member" has the same meaning as defined
in § 49-4-1003.
(2) Applications for a Tennessee national guard sportsman license must
contain information as the executive director, or designee, may require in order to
verify eligibility for issuance. At a minimum, eligibility requires:
(A) A valid United States military identification card; and
(B) Tennessee national guard membership information provided
to the agency by the adjutant general of the military department.
(3) Notwithstanding another law to the contrary, it is the legislative intent
that the costs of the Tennessee national guard sportsman license are borne by
the state from the state general fund and not from the wildlife resources fund.

- 2 - 011251

SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 70-2-201, is amended by adding the
following as a new subsection:
( ) There is hereby created a Tennessee national guard sportsman license,
which entitles a member in good standing to qualify for a no-cost sportsman license in
the same manner as a resident annual sportsman license.
(1) The holder of a Tennessee national guard sportsman license shall
have the same benefits as a sportsman license as set forth in subsection (e).
(2) For purposes of this subsection, "member" has the same meaning as
defined in § 49-4-1003.
SECTION 4. This act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it.