PRIA Logo™
TennesseeSB 1670114th General Assembly (2025-2026)SenateWALLET

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 2; Title 6; Title 8; Title 36; Title 39; Title 40; Title 49; Title 55; Title 58; Title 62; Title 63 and Title 66, relative to armed forces.

Sponsored By: Sponsor information unavailable

Signed by Governor

Military

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

9 provisions identified: 8 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.

Space Force Families Avoid Vehicle Reregistration

Space Force members stationed in Tennessee do not need to register their vehicles again in Tennessee. Their vehicles must be properly registered in their home state of domicile. The general nonresident registration rule has a 30-day cap, but this military exemption applies while members are stationed in Tennessee. This avoids duplicate registration costs and paperwork.

Veteran Definition Recognizes Space Force Service

The amended definition of an honorably discharged veteran includes people honorably discharged from the Space Force. Reserve-component members qualify when honorably discharged after performing active federal service in the U.S. armed forces. This recognition applies where that definition is used; the law creates no separate payment.

Practice Exemptions Reach Space Force Clinicians

The medical-practice chapter does not apply to commissioned Space Force physicians and surgeons while they perform official duties. Graduate dentists and dental hygienists serving in the Space Force receive the dental-practice exception during official duties. Space Force surgeons also receive a practice exemption for authorized military service or training, regardless of the practice site. A separate existing provision now covers commissioned Space Force medical and surgical officers.

Space Force Clinicians Avoid State Registration

Tennessee-licensed healing-art practitioners serving as commissioned Space Force medical corps officers are exempt from the chapter's registration requirement. Tennessee-licensed dentists and dental hygienists serving as commissioned Space Force dental corps officers also receive a registration exemption. Dental officers must file an affidavit with the board showing their service entry date and other requested service-verification facts. The law gives no fee amount or dollar savings.

More Interview Access for Military Candidates

When interviews are offered for covered state jobs or promotions, qualifying candidates in the pool must receive an invitation. This includes honorably discharged Space Force members and reserve members who performed active federal service. An interview does not guarantee a job or promotion.

Duty Weapons Exceptions Include Space Force

Existing weapons-law exceptions now include Space Force personnel carrying out official duties. One exception requires conduct tied to official duty and carried out under military rules. Another applies during actual official duties; its National Guard rule requires line-of-duty action under military rules. Two further exceptions require personnel to carry out official duties under orders requiring them to carry arms or weapons.

Military Court Definition Includes Space Force

The amended armed-forces definition expressly includes active-duty Space Force officers and enlisted members. It also includes anyone subject to trial by military court under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. That category includes civilians, reservists, and members of other federal agencies when they are subject to that military law.

State Service Definitions Include Space Force

Election-law coverage for armed forces personnel now includes Space Force members, their spouses, and their dependents. Space Force service also counts as uniformed service under the amended education statute. Full-time Space Force duty counts as active military service, and Space Force enlistment or induction counts under another military-service definition. Active and reserve Space Force components are added to three existing state laws. Regular Space Force members, called guardians, also enter an existing military personnel classification.

Space Force Enlistment Ends State Commissions

Enlisting in the regular U.S. Space Force counts as resignation from all commissions held in Tennessee's military forces. This applies to people who hold a Tennessee military commission when they enlist. The law states no compensation change.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

There is no primary sponsor on record.

Cosponsors

  • Paul Bailey

    Republican • Senate

  • Janice Bowling

    Republican • Senate

  • Becky D. Massey

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 185 • No: 29

House vote • 4/16/2026

FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR PREVIOUS QUESTION PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/16/2026

Yes: 70 • No: 18

House vote • 4/16/2026

FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/16/2026

Yes: 77 • No: 11

Senate vote • 3/23/2026

FLOOR VOTE: Motion to Adopt 3/23/2026

Yes: 29 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/17/2026

SENATE STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE

Yes: 9 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective date(s) 05/05/2026

    5/18/2026

  2. Pub. Ch. 892

    5/18/2026

  3. Signed by Governor.

    5/5/2026Senate

  4. Transmitted to Governor for action.

    4/23/2026Senate

  5. Signed by H. Speaker

    4/21/2026House

  6. Signed by Senate Speaker

    4/21/2026Senate

  7. Enrolled and ready for signatures

    4/20/2026Senate

  8. Passed H., Ayes 77, Nays 11, PNV 0

    4/16/2026House

  9. Subst. for comp. HB.

    4/16/2026House

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

    3/26/2026House

  11. Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

    3/23/2026Senate

  12. Sponsor(s) Added.

    3/23/2026Senate

  13. Passed Senate, Ayes 29, Nays 0

    3/23/2026Senate

  14. Placed on Senate Consent Calendar 2 for 3/23/2026

    3/20/2026Senate

  15. Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee

    3/17/2026Senate

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

    3/11/2026Senate

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

    1/21/2026Senate

  18. Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

    1/15/2026Senate

  19. Filed for introduction

    1/14/2026Senate

Bill Text

  • Enrolled / Public Chapter

    PDF

  • Fiscal Note

    PDF

  • Introduced

    PDF

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation