Tennessee House Bill HB0208

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/16/25
• Refer: 2/3/25
• Refer: 2/10/25
• Refer: 2/19/25
• Refer: 4/17/25
• Chaptered: 5/15/25
• Passed: 5/15/25

Caption

AN ACT to designate the National Guard Armory in Cheatham County as the "First Sergeant Charles Anderson Douglas National Guard Armory."

Summary

HB0208 designates the National Guard Armory in Cheatham County as the "First Sergeant Charles Anderson Douglas National Guard Armory." The bill is a commemorative naming measure honoring First Sergeant Charles Anderson Douglas, a Tennessee native and longtime enlisted soldier who served as First Sergeant of the Ashland City unit from 1986 until his retirement in 2003. The bill’s findings describe his advocacy for a new armory building and his role in supporting the local National Guard unit over many years. The bill directs the Tennessee Department of Military, using existing resources, to erect or affix appropriate signs or markers identifying the armory by the new honorary name. It takes effect upon becoming law, reflecting the legislature’s intent to implement the designation immediately. The measure does not change eligibility, operations, or funding for the National Guard unit itself; it only changes the official name of the facility and requires signage to match.

Impact

The bill amends state law only to the extent of creating an honorary designation for a state military facility in Cheatham County. It requires the Department of Military to install signage or markers from existing resources, but it does not appropriate new funds or alter the structure, duties, or authority of the National Guard or the armory. The practical effect is limited to official recognition and public identification of the building, while leaving substantive military and local government statutes unchanged.

Sentiment

The bill appears to have been received very positively and moved through the House with unanimous committee support at each recorded stage. The votes were 9-0, 21-0, 11-0, and 27-0, indicating broad bipartisan agreement and little to no opposition. The bill’s commemorative purpose and tribute to a local veteran and National Guard leader likely contributed to the favorable reception.

Contention

There is no recorded substantive opposition in the available committee votes or transcripts. Because the measure is a naming bill, any potential concerns would likely have centered on whether the designation should be made and whether signage should be funded from existing resources, but the bill explicitly avoids new spending. The available record shows no notable controversy, and the bill advanced unanimously through committee review.