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SB2305 • 2026

Veterans Services, Dept. of

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 52; Title 68 and Title 71, relative to veterans' benefits.

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Active

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

Sponsor
Pody, Lynn
Last action
2026-03-25
Official status
Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate State and Local Government Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Veterans Benefits Report

This bill requires the Tennessee Department of Veterans Services to create and submit a report about state and federal benefits for veterans and their surviving spouses.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires the department to make a list of all state and federal benefits available to veterans and their surviving spouses.
  • Asks the department to write a summary (synopsis) of each benefit included in the list.
  • Says the report must be given to the leaders of both houses of the Tennessee General Assembly by January 1, 2027.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Department of Veterans Services in Tennessee
  • Veterans and their surviving spouses who receive benefits

Terms To Know

Synopsis
A short summary or overview of something, like a benefit program.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what will happen after the report is submitted.
  • It's unclear if there are any penalties for failing to comply with this requirement.

Amendments

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

Amendment 1-0 to SB2305

Plain English: The amendment adds new provisions to Tennessee law that aim to help veterans and their surviving spouses qualify for federal aid and assistance benefits by providing financial support to qualified providers who assist with the process.

  • Adds definitions related to 'Aid and Assistance Benefit', 'Division', 'Long-term Care Assessment', 'Pension Claims Assistance Provider', and other relevant terms in Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4.
  • Establishes requirements for qualified providers who help veterans or surviving spouses with long-term care assessments, including background checks, PIV card holder requirements, and prohibitions on certain activities.
  • Specifies that the Division of TennCare will reimburse qualified providers for expenses incurred during the preparation of a long-term care assessment.
  • The text is truncated at the end, so some details about reimbursement limits are missing.
  • Specific implementation and operational rules may be established by the division through further regulations not detailed in this amendment.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Taken off notice for cal. in State & Local Government Committee

  2. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 4/8/2026

  3. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in State & Local Government Committee to 4/8/2026

  4. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate State and Local Government Committee

  5. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/25/2026

  6. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 3/31/2026

  7. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in State & Local Government Committee to 3/31/2026

  8. 2026-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/25/2026

  9. 2026-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate State and Local Government Committee to 3/25/2026

  10. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/24/2026

  11. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 3/24/2026

  12. 2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate State and Local Government Committee to 3/24/2026

  13. 2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  14. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/17/2026

  15. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Departments & Agencies Subcommittee for 3/17/2026

  16. 2026-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Departments & Agencies Subcommittee

  17. 2026-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Ref. to State & Local Government Committee - Government Operations for Review

  18. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  19. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, caption bill, held on desk - pending amdt.

  20. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  21. 2026-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  22. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  23. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HOUSE BILL 2469
By Lynn

SENATE BILL 2305
By Pody
SB2305
012565
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4;
Title 52; Title 68 and Title 71, relative to veterans'
benefits.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. The department of veterans services shall submit a report on the total
number of state and federal benefits, and a synopsis of each benefit, available to a veteran and
the veteran's surviving spouse to the speaker of the senate and the speaker of the house of
representatives on or before January 1, 2027.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.