AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 12-10-109 and Title 42, relative to parking fee exemptions for military service.
Summary
SB0987 creates a parking fee exemption for certain vehicles displaying eligible military or memorial license plates when they are parked at airports. The exemption applies to airport parking fees charged by non-federal authorities and covers vehicles used by the plate owner or lessee, as well as vehicles transporting a disabled veteran. The bill lists the qualifying plates, including Medal of Honor, Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Legion of Merit, former prisoner of war, and disabled veteran plates, including a disabled veteran plate issued by another state.
To implement that exemption, the bill adds new sections to three parts of Tennessee law governing airport authorities and amends an existing provision in Title 12 so that the general rule limiting exemptions is subject to the new airport-parking carveout. The act takes effect July 1, 2025, and would require airport-related authorities covered by the cited code sections to honor the exemption for qualifying vehicles.
Impact
The bill would amend Tennessee Code Annotated Title 42 and Section 12-10-109 to create a specific statutory exemption from airport parking fees for qualifying military and memorial license plates. It would affect airport authorities and other non-federal entities that collect parking fees, and it would expand the scope of existing parking fee rules by carving out a new exemption for eligible veterans, service members, and certain military honor plate holders.
Sentiment
The available record does not include committee testimony or recorded votes, so there is no direct evidence of debate or opposition in the provided materials. Based on the bill’s subject matter, the measure appears to be framed as a benefit for veterans and military honorees, which typically draws favorable sentiment in the legislature. No contrary views are documented in the supplied context.
Contention
No specific points of contention are shown in the provided transcripts or vote history because none are available. Potential areas of legislative concern, based on the text alone, could include the revenue impact on airport parking operations, the administrative burden of verifying eligible plates, and whether the exemption should extend to out-of-state disabled veteran plates. However, these concerns are not attributed to any named legislator or stakeholder in the record provided.