Veterans

HB 683 creates a new "enhanced armed guard" certification in Tennessee for security guards with qualifying backgrounds. It directly affects security officers who have at least five years as a law enforcement officer (or four years in combat military service), requiring them to complete approved 16-hour training covering rifle deployment scenarios and secure storage. The bill allows certified guards to carry rifle-caliber weapons only when a legitimate threat exists, with strict rules on storage and annual background checks for renewal. This policy change modifies existing law to establish new standards for weapon-carrying security personnel under Tennessee Code Annotated Title 62, Chapter 35.

SB 528 amends Tennessee law to require the Bureau of Parks and Conservation to designate **at least one free day annually** for all veterans at state parks, campgrounds, and golf courses - replacing the previous requirement of exactly one fixed day. This change directly affects **all veterans** in Tennessee who use state park facilities. The key provision shifts the requirement from a single, unchangeable day to a flexible annual designation, allowing the bureau to select one or more days as needed. The bill maintains that access and use of all state park amenities must remain free for veterans on the designated day(s), with no new costs or eligibility changes specified.