Game and Fish Laws - As enacted, enacts the "Hunting for Heroes Act"; creates the Tennessee national guard sportsman license. - Amends TCA Title 70, Chapter 2. Companion bill has been assigned Public Chapter Number 856 b, the official text

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         PUBLIC CHAPTER NO. 856

                   SENATE .BILL NO. 2238

By Johnson, Lowe, Harshbarger, Rose, Yager, Gardenhire, Powers, Stevens

         Substituted for: House Bill No. 2550

By Lamberth, Cochran, Wright, Vital, Crawford, Hemmer, Hawk, Powers, Russell, Davis, Chism

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 70, Chapter 2, relative to the creation of a
          Tennessee national guard sportsman license.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:

SECTION 1. This act is known and may be cited as the "Hunting for Heroes Act."

          SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 70-2-104, is amended by adding the
following as a new subsection:

          (i) For purposes of the Tennessee national guard sportsman license created in § 70-
2-201:

         (1) A member in good standing shall provide all information necessary to the

agency in order to obtain a Tennessee national guard sportsman license. For

purposes of this subsection (i), "member" has the same meaning as defined in § 49-

4-1003.                             '·

          (2) Applications for a Tennessee national guard sportsman license must
contain information as the executive director, or designee, may require in order to
verify eligibility for issuance. At a minimum, eligibility requires:

         (A) A valid United States military identification card; and

                  (B) Tennessee national guard membership information provided to the
         agency by the adjutant general of the military department.

          (3) Notwithstanding another law to the contrary, it is the legislative intent that
the costs of the Tennessee national guard sportsman license are borne by the state
from the state general fund and not from the wildlife resources fund.

          SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 70-2-201, is amended by adding the
following as a new subsection:

          ( ) There is hereby created a Tennessee national guard sportsman license, which
entitles a member in good standing to qualify for a no-cost sportsman license in the same
manner as a resident annual sportsman license.

          (1) The holder of a Tennessee national guard sportsman license shall have
the same benefits as a sportsman license as set forth in subsection (e).

          (2) For purposes of this subsection, "member" has the same meaning as
defined in§ 49-4-1003.

SECTION 4. This act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it.
         SENATE BILL NO. 2238

PASSED:  April 7, 2026

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                            '             RANDY M~ALLY

                               SPEAKER OF THE SENATE

                            CAMER1'WSEXTON,SPEAKER
                            HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

APPROVED this f).]t:L day of ;9;-pr,-1    2026

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                      BILL LEE, GOVERNOR