Tennessee Senate Bill SB0249

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/22/25

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 11, Chapter 3 and Title 58, relative to state park discounts for veterans.

Summary

SB0249 amends Tennessee law to expand and clarify discounts available to veterans at Tennessee state parks. Under the bill, the commissioner of Environment and Conservation must offer Tennessee-resident veterans the same discounts on activities, retail purchases, camping, and lodging that are available to state employees. In addition, the bill creates a separate year-round discount of at least 50% for camping and overnight cabin lodging for Tennessee-resident veterans who have a service-connected disability rated by the VA as 100% permanent and total disability. The bill also sets eligibility and verification requirements. Veterans must provide proof of veteran status and Tennessee residency to receive the general veteran discounts, and those seeking the enhanced disability discount must provide VA certification of the disability rating and proof of residency. The enhanced discount is limited by availability and applies only to reservations made within 30 days of the intended stay. The bill removes an existing subdivision in the statute and adds language making the veteran discount requirements supplemental to other state park discount provisions in Title 58.

Impact

The bill would amend Tennessee Code Annotated §§ 11-3-121 and 58-3-112 to create a more explicit and expanded statutory discount structure for veterans at state parks. It increases the scope of mandatory discounts for eligible Tennessee veterans, adds a specific 50% minimum discount for certain totally disabled veterans, and clarifies that these veteran discounts are in addition to other park discount requirements. The practical effect is to require the state park system to administer and verify veteran eligibility and residency, while potentially reducing revenue from camping, lodging, and related purchases for qualifying users.

Sentiment

The available legislative history suggests broad support for the measure. The Senate Energy, Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee recommended passage on a 9-0 vote, indicating unanimous committee approval at that stage. No committee transcript was provided, but the vote pattern suggests the bill was viewed favorably as a veterans’ benefit and a state park policy adjustment rather than a controversial proposal.

Contention

There is little visible opposition in the provided record, but the main policy issues are administrative and fiscal. The bill requires proof of veteran status, residency, and, for the enhanced discount, VA disability certification, which may raise implementation questions for the parks department. The 30-day reservation window and availability limitation for the 50% discount also reflect a balancing of access for eligible veterans against capacity and revenue concerns. Any contention would likely center on the cost to state parks, the scope of the discount, and how eligibility is verified and managed.