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                             PUBLIC CHAPTER NO. 859

                                                    SENATE BILL NO. 2275

 By Briggs, Rose, Akbari, Bailey, Bowling, Campbell, Crowe, Gardenhire, Haile, Harshbarger,
    Hensley, Jackson, Johnson, Kyle, Lamar, Lowe, Massey, Oliver, Pody, Powers, Reeves,
        Roberts, Seal, Southerland, Stevens, Taylor, Walley, Watson, White, Yager, Yarbro,
                                                      Mr. Speaker McNally

                                           Substituted for: House Bill No. 2438

 By McKenzie, Glynn, Salinas, Parkinson, Fritts, Camper, Stevens, Freeman, Towns, Dixie, Hulsey,
Reneau, Keisling, Russell, Reedy, Powell, Powers, Lynn, Terry, Clemmons, Lafferty, Howell, Wright,

                                                      Butler, Moody, Hale

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 15, Chapter 2, relative to "Gold Star Father's
          Day."

          WHEREAS, November 9 is the day for observance of "Gold Star Father's Day" to honor the
fathers of fallen or permanently disabled members of the United States Armed Forces and to
celebrate and honor such fathers and their child's sacrifice; and

          WHEREAS, the goals of "Gold Star Father's Day" on November 9, are to honor and
celebrate fathers who have lost children in service to the United States; to honor fathers of fallen
members of the Armed Forces and recognize that they, as parents, have experienced extraordinary
and unimaginable loss; to recognize the need to support families of members of the Armed Forces
throughout the United States; and to honor the courage of fathers who understand the true price of
freedom and now face Father's Day without their child or children; and

          WHEREAS, thousands of men .and women have laid down their lives to defend the liberty
and soul of our nation, and families of such fallen members of the United States Armed Forces have
lost their loved ones in service to our country; and

          WHEREAS, families of members of the Armed Forces demonstrate a unique kind of heroism
that includes supporting children and family members while loved ones are deployed, sacrificing
holidays with members who are serving overseas, and facing each day knowing their loved one
might be in danger and may never return home; and

          WHEREAS, before the Iraq war, the United States lost over 1,300,000 members of the
Armed Forces during wartime, and, since October 2001, over 4,400 members of the Armed Forces
have lost their lives serving this country, leaving thousands of grieving family members behind; and

          WHEREAS, in 1936, Congress designated the last Sunday in September as Gold Star
Mother's Day; and

          WHEREAS, in 2015, the Gold Star Father's Act was signed into law to ensure Gold Star
Fathers were eligible for the same benefits guaranteed to mothers of fallen or permanently disabled
members of the Armed Forces to recognize their sacrifice and loss. However, the Act did not
designate a Gold Star Father's Day; and

          WHEREAS, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr., designated September 25, 2022, as Gold Star
Mother's and Family Day, President Donald Trump designated September 24, 2017, as Gold Star
Mother's and Family Day, and President Barack Obama proclaimed September 25, 2016, as Gold
Star Mother's and Family Day; and

          WHEREAS, on March 24, 2017, the Georgia House of Representatives adopted House
Resolution 723, recognizing November 9 as Georgia Gold Star Father's Day; and
SB 2275
          WHEREAS, on March 6, 2025, the Mississippi House of Representatives adopted House

Concurrent Resolution 48, recognizing November 9 as Mississippi Gold Star Father's Day; and
          WHEREAS, it is important that the members of this legislative body also honor the fathers of

those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country; now, therefore,
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:

          SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 15, Chapter 2, Part 1, is amended by adding
the following as a new section:

                    November 9 of each year is to be observed as "Gold Star Father's Day," to honor and
          recognize fathers who have lost children in service to the United States as members of the
          United States armed forces. This day shall not be a legal holiday as defined in§ 15-1-101.
          SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.

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         SENATE BILL NO. 2275

PASSED:  April 14, 2026

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                         \                   RANDY McN~LY

                                     SPEAKER OF THE SE: TE

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                         CAMERON SEXTON, SPEAKER
                         HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

:J:7tf APPROVED this  day of Apr,-/          2026

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                         BILL LEE, GOVERNOR