SB 1140

ON MARCH 17, 2025, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 1140, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 rewrites the bill to, instead, make the following revisions to present law:  Adds that the executive director of the wildlife resources agency, or the executive director's designee, must , upon request, issue a temporary group hunting event permit to a not-for-profit organization that sponsors and pays for a hunting experience at no cost to a veteran with any percentage of service-connected disability.  Provides that such a temporary group hunting event permit must be for a duration that is no longer than the duration of the hunting experience for which the permit is issued, but in no event may the permit be valid for more than seven days. Such hunting experience must comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and proclamations.  Requires p articipants to provide all information necessary to obtain an individual hunting license in connection with a temporary group hunting event permit, and none of the cost for the permit must be borne by the disabled veteran participant.  Requires the executive director, or the executive director's designee, to accept as evidence of service-connected disability a certification from the veterans' administration.  Provides that in order to account for lost federal funding to the agency and to comply with present law , the executive director, or the executive director's designee, may collect all pertinent and relevant information to certify the unique individuals taking part in the hunting experience under a temporary group hunting event permit.  Authorizes the Tennessee fish and wildlife commission to promulgate rules necessary to effectuate this amendment.