Held July 12, 2025 @1pm at VFW Post 1291, Nashville, TN
ATTENDANCE
Board Member Organizations with a representative(s) in attendance:
AFA
AMVETS
MCL
MOAA
VFW
WVA – Executive Board Member Select – WVA 47
BOARD Members Organizations with no representation:
Buffalo Soldiers
DAV
Farmer Veterans
Vet Coalition
VSO
VVA
WVA – Clarksville
WVA – Nashville
Chairman Howard French opened the session with the pledge and welcomed everyone with a few general comments
FINANCE
The finance report was read:
Jan 2025 beginning balance: $5343.48
Jan payments – TNVET Insurance – $162.00
Mission BBQ (Vet Day On The Hill lunch) – $1377.26
Jan ending balance: $3804.22
Feb beginning balance: $3804.22
Feb deposit – DAV dues – $200.00
Feb ending balance: $4004.22
March beginning balance: $4004.22
March deposit – West Vet Coalition – $50.00
March ending balance: $4054.22
April through July 1st balance (no banking activity): $4054.22
ALL members organizations are asked to check their membership rolls and submit any changes to the TNVET treasurer (Robin Beamon: email – rbnbmn@yahoo.com ) by July 31. It is time to renew membership dues for 2026. Dues payment statements will be emailed in a couple of weeks.
Members organizations are reminded that dues pay for the following: $1 million yearly insurance (used for Vet Day on the Hill requirements), lunch for Vet Day on the Hill, post office box, TNVET domain website name, postage, paper/office and print supplies, occasionally for parking near the legislative building in Nashville. Those TNVET members who attend and speak on behalf of TNVET at the Capitol usually donate their time, gas, parking, and some printing supplies. These “donations” save TNVET $1,000 or more a year. TNVET also gets donations for veteran members, which are greatly appreciated!
As a reminder of the efforts by the TNVET Executive Board, many items that would cost TNVET several thousands of dollars to put on Vet Day on the Hill are donated by Nashville business organizations to help our cause. Mission BBQ reduces the cost of lunch by about 50% for the lunch provided (and does not charge to provide a serving and setup crew – vets attending Vet Day provide a few dollars each as a tip to these crews). Gray Lines Transportation of Nashville provides two 32-passenger at NO COST to TNVET for the Vet Day transportation, Nashville Sport Authority allows vets to park free at the TITANs football stadium. For our annual TNVET in-person meeting, the VFW in Nashville allows us to use their facility. We are also very fortunate that the Vietnam Vets of America allows TNVET to piggyback our website off their website system, thus saving us hundreds of dollars a year in website costs.
The bottom line is that TNVET is operated as cost-efficiently as any organization out there. The dues paid by the member organizations are stretched as far as possible.
RECAP of 2025 Legislative Session Efforts
Tennessee Veteran Lottery
A full written report is provided as an attachment to this report
Heroes Grant
If you kept up with reports provided during the last legislative session, you know that the bill did not get fully filed by the deadline, and thus was not considered during the last session. We wanted to expand the parameters of those who could qualify for the grants and expand the education opportunity to the Applied Technology/VoTech schools, instead of strictly universities. There was confusion about the costs of these actions by the House member who was to file the bill, causing the bill to miss the filing date. We were not asking for more money with our changes, just complete use of what was available. The Senate member carrying our bill made the cutoff. A bill requires a Senate and House filing to be considered. Bottom line, there were no additional costs, but our effort was to use all the money allocated each year more fully. Money was left over every year, and this had been noted in a state Comptroller report.
Disabled Veteran Property Tax Reimbursement
If you kept up with reports filed by TNVET, you know that every House and Senate legislative committee votes all “yes” and zero “No” on our bill. As we had informed you before the last session, if Gov. Lee did not fund the bill in his state budget, it would be long odds in getting it approved and funded. On the last couple of days of the session, TNVET was there to speak, if possible, to plead for the small amount of funding the legislature is given to dole out. We were not given that opportunity, and our bill, like many others, went unfunded and died.
In February 2025, the state comptroller briefed the Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee that the program would not have funding to meet all obligations, and Gov. Lee and the Legislature would have to address that issue. In addition, that shortfall in funding did not include the estimated $6 million increase in costs to change the math calculations from “Market Value” to “Assessed Value” for the affected disabled vets. Tennessee appears to be the only state to deduct money from the $175,000 allowed for a property value. If the market value of your property goes up 10% in a year, you lose 10% on the reimbursement you should have received.
2026 Legislative Session Agenda
The Board members discussed the upcoming legislative session that will begin in January 2026. The Tennessee Veteran Lottery was approved again for the legislative effort/session. Efforts to be ready are described in the attached report.
The Heroes Grant bill was to be worked on again this coming session, but late news from the state has changed TNVET’s position, and it will not be resubmitted. The rationale is as follows: TNVET has been in discussions with the Tennessee Education Department of Grant and Scholarship Programs. While the grant program had had excess money for years that was not being utilized, TNVET was told at the start of the last legislative session that any excess money may disappear. As most vets and citizens are aware, the state was pushing for a school choice/voucher program. The state dug for money to support the bill and took all the excess out of the Heroes Grant program. As of this moment, so much money has been taken from the program that it has a shortfall in meeting the 2026 obligations it has. So, any expansion effort of the program is dead on arrival with the legislature at this time. The Heroes Grant is funded through the state education lottery, which is seeing a reduction in revenue at the present time.
However, the Tennessee Higher Education/grants & Scholarships department has advised us that they have the internal authority, by law, to expand part of what our bill was fighting for. Part of our bill was to broaden the qualification of “heroes” military awards/ribbons to include any combat-awarded medals received. Examples would be Medal of Honor, Military Service Crosses, Purple Heart, and Silver Star. This would not require legislation to get approval. TNVET will pursue this route. Also, TNVET will follow the financial aspects of the Heroes Grant and the education lottery. However, as the Governor sets the budget for all programs, it is doubtful we will see the excess funding in the grant program that was evident before.
It was noted that a rough state review of TNVET’s bill (expand medals and add the applied technology/vo-tech schools) would have likely expanded the number of vets using the grant program by 25%. This justifies that TNVET was on the right track to help veterans.
The 100% Disabled Veteran Property Tax Reimbursement will be on for 2026. Two issues have surfaced. The state Comptroller has said the program is out of money for 2026. The use of assessed value versus market value remains to be fought. TNVET has reached out to the offices that work with the Governor on both issues. We have been told this is on the agenda with the Governor and his Legislative Director. We have asked to be a part of those discussions. We await further information/instruction.
Expansion of the Executive Board
TNVET has experimented with different methods to work proposed veteran legislation. These efforts, such as signing up interested volunteers from our various member organizations to form a committee, assigning vet members who expressed an interest in working on legislation to a mix of volunteers and select board members, failed. In every case, the executive board members had to pick up the pieces and do the job. Executive Board members have been taking on the legislative duties for the last several years. With this being the most successful in ensuring the legislation is researched, filed, and speakers with knowledge of the bill are available, the Board decided to expand the Executive Board to provide more workers to do the job.
Thus, for 2026, the Executive Board will expand from 7 to 9 positions, based on approval of the member veteran organizations. Per the Constitution/By-laws, the chairman who finishes his two years in that position, stays on for two more years to assist. Mike Rhew, past chairman, was due to rotate completely off the Board for 2026. However, Mike has shown great ability in legislative research, the ability to present legislation, and interact with legislators at both the state and federal levels. The Board accepted the motion to keep Mike on as an Executive Board and legislative team member. Mike is working on the Veteran lottery bill. He is also a VFW member.
The second Executive Board member added, approved by the member veteran organizations, is Karen Reynolds. Karen has served with the Clarksville City Council and has experience in researching legislation and its legal aspects, and presenting it to both constituents and the council body. Karen will likely be teamed with Mike to help with the Veteran Lottery Bill. She is a member of the Women Veterans of America.
Growing TNVET Membership
TNVET has grown to 12 veteran organizations representing over 55,000 veterans. This makes us the largest combined veteran organization in the state. However, there are many other veteran organizations and thousands of vets who do not have the voice in the state legislature that TNVET has developed. TNVET welcomes all veteran organizations to join us and work for the benefit of the state veteran causes and needs.
Executive Board Changes
Every two years, the Vice-Chairman rolls to the Chairman position, and the next veteran organization on the list steps up to the Vice-Chairman position. Howard French (MOAA) has served as Chairman and has finished his term. TNVET thanks Howard for his work and dedication to the veteran causes and TNVET. We have grown in membership and influence during his tenure. Howard will stay on the Executive Board as past chairman, per TNVET rules.
Joe Leurs steps up to the Chairman position. Joe represents the Marine Corps League and was a recent replacement as Vice-Chairman. So, Joe will have a fast and steep learning curve, but is excited and looking forward to the challenge. TNVET welcomes Joseph (Joe) Leurs to the position, and Board/Executive Board members will be pitching in to ease the learning curve and make his tenure a success.
The Vice-Chair position will go to Tim Woody. Tim represents AMVETS. He will be working with Joe and the other Board members closely on veteran legislation. TNVET welcomes Tim and thanks him for taking up the challenge.
Two places we do not have changes (thank goodness) are at Secretary and Treasurer. These are approved volunteer positions. Daniel Wilson (secretary) and Robin Beamon (Treasurer) have agreed to stay on another year. TNVET thanks them for their work for the organization and the veteran cause.
Steve Singleton and Bill Summers, two of the four founders of TNVET, remain on the board in an emeritus/ ex officio role, working on legislation. They are part of the legislative team development.
In two years, the Veteran Farmers will be the next veteran organization to take the Vice-Chair position.
Veteran Day on the Hill (VDH)– 2026
The proposed dates for the 2026 VDH are either Wednesday, January 28, 2026, or Wednesday, Feb 3, 2026. Availability of meeting rooms at the Cordell Hull Legislative Bldg. will determine the date. Actions to start that event will begin in a few weeks. As in past VDHs, it is planned to provide free parking, free transportation, and free lunch to those who attend. We had an excellent turnout in 2025.
A change in the legislative process was conducted this past year in having attendees sign and date the proposed bills that they would carry to their legislators during their visits. This had a noticeable change in how legislators viewed the proposed legislation. TNVET ensured that all legislators were notified of our bills, as many legislative districts will not have a vet from that area in attendance at VDH. However, those that do were much more attuned to veteran concerns. We will work the same process in 2026.
VDH has been an educational event as much as a legislative effort. Vets get to meet their legislators, discuss issues, hear from the state Commissioner on Veteran issues, and be brought up to date on what things are going on in Nashville. The feedback from visiting vets has been extremely positive, and we thank you for that.
Legislative Veteran Caucus
Legislators who have veteran experience or a deep interest in veteran issues usually join the Legislative Veteran Caucus. However, the number of legislators with military experience is shrinking. Only 3 of 33 state Senators have such experience. We believe we are down to around 10 in the 99-member House. We have seen members of the Caucus battle their fellow legislators due to the lack of understanding of what veterans have faced, the physical health battle they may have from military service, and that vets are not like any other subsection of state citizens. The Veteran population is also one of the largest revenue producers in Tennessee in terms of retirement, health, and education benefits, job workers, and business creators. TNVET works closely with the Caucus members and wants to see it flourish. It is made up of members of both parties and is united in the veteran cause. Its activities suffered during Covid, and we hope to see it rebuild this year into the “political machine” it was before Covid.
Conclusion
TNVET is organizing and preparing for the 2026 legislative effort. The participation of all 12 veteran organizations is needed for success. TNVET has mentioned in the past that many members of the 12 veteran organizations complain that they are not receiving TNVET information through their organizations’ communication channels. TNVET sends info to the points-of-contact that each veteran organization assigns to us. After that, it is the veteran organization’s responsibility to distribute that info. TNVET again asks the leadership of each of the organizations to track how their communication systems are distributing TNVET info. When info is not distributed, it chokes TNVET’s ability to get the vets at the grassroots levels to contact their legislators for action and accountability. Numbers count! Emails and phone calls from veteran constituents are a make-or-break deal in legislation. VDH is the start of the legislative effort….it has to continue with vet interaction through the legislative session.
The TNVET meeting concluded around 2:30 pm. We again thank the VFW for the use of its facilities to meet. The minutes of the meeting were formatted and recorded by Korry Rahn and Bill Summers.
Establish an instant-ticket lottery game to benefit the “Tennessee Fund for Veterans’ Assistance (TNFVA);” a state dedicated method or program that raises money dedicated to Tennessee Veteran needs/programs.
In 2024, the TNVET executive board leadership briefed and gained interest from State & Local leaders and Executive Board member Michael Rhew met with Representative Rush Bricken in Manchester, TN. Representative Bricken agreed to assist with developing and submitting the legislation. In January 2025, Mike Rhew followed up with a letter to Rep. Bricken who drafted the legislation and submitted it for approval and bill number assignment. Unfortunately, after realizing this legislation requires a Tennessee Constitution changed, legal rejected and returned it to Rep. Bricken.
Unable to pursue further, Rep. Bricken introduced House Bill, HB0812, which did not gain any support. TNVET, Mike Rhew, thanked Rep. Bricken for the initiative, but reiterated that this funding is insufficient for the amount of revenue needed.
HB0812 – Veterans Services, Dept. of – As introduced, allocates 1 percent of the revenue from sports gaming in this state to the department to be used to support veterans services in this state. – Amends TCA Title 4; Title 49; Title 58; Title 68 and Title 71.
Tennessee’s online gambling revenue has been significant since the legalization of sports betting. In the first eight days, bettors wagered over $27 million, resulting in almost $510,000 in tax revenue for the state. In the first year, Tennessee collected a total of $35.5 million from sports betting. The estimated total revenue for 2023 was $458.4 million. Eighty percent of the sports betting tax revenue goes to education, 15% to local governments, and the remaining 5% funds mental health programs in the state.
**** Best year 2022 – $68 million at 1 percent equals $680,000
Latest Tennessee Sports Betting Handle and Taxes Information
TNVET will pursue legislation to amend the Tennessee Constitution to create a fund for Veterans’ Assistance, similar to the Tennessee Education Lottery. Establish funding grants and opportunities to include, but are not limited to, Veteran Service Organizations, Veteran County Service Officers, Mental Health, emergency assistance, outreach and training functions, and other needs/programs that will complement but not replicate existing Tennessee Veterans Benefits.
Amend the Tennessee Code (Constitutional Change) to require the Tennessee Lottery Commission to create and operate an instant-ticket lottery game to benefit the “Tennessee Fund for Veterans’ Assistance (TNFVA). The bill sets forth the commission’s duties in operating the lottery game. It requires the commission to market and advertise the game in a manner intended to inform the public that game tickets are available and that proceeds are used to benefit all Tennessee veterans and their families.
The Tennessee Education Lottery (TEL) closed out the third quarter (Jan. 1, 2024 – March 31, 2024) of this fiscal year with a transfer of $113,820,000 to the Lottery for Education Account.
Since inception, more than two million Lottery-funded scholarships and grants have been awarded to Tennessee students seeking a post-secondary education. In addition to hundreds of enriching K-12 after-school programs have been funded, as well as an energy-efficient schools initiative.
Texas Lottery Veterans Scratch Off
Since 2009 through the current 2024-2025 grant cycle, the Texas Veterans Commission, TVC, has awarded over $313 million in FVA grant funds to hundreds of organizations that have assisted over 500,000 veterans across the state. During the last grant cycle (July 1st to June 30th), TVC awarded grants totaling more than $44 million to 161 organizations that served an estimated 41,000 veterans and their families.
More than $250 million for the Texas Veterans Commission’s Fund for Veterans’ Assistance (FVA) in the 15 years since the Legislature directed funds from veterans-themed scratch ticket games to the FVA in 2009.
2025 Legislative Action
March 19, 2025, 0800 – Tennessee Veteran’s Caucus of State Legislators
Attendees- Rep. Fritts, Sen. Briggs, Rep. Camper, Rep. Aron Mayberry
Bill Summers spoke about HB436/SB651, which addresses issues with the Veterans Property Tax Program.
Ms. Qu’ran Folsom with Barron Heights Transitional Center in Memphis (homeless veterans housing) – request for grant/funding.
Rep. Fitz made comment about funding issues, Tennessee Department of Veterans Services, TDVS, Commissioner Baker unable to hire additional Service Officers.
With Mike Rhew attending to discuss the Veterans Lottery Scratch Off, Rep. Fritz comment was a great lead-in. Mike commented that TNVET had tried to introduce a bill for the lottery, a scratch off that could raise funds TDVS, Veterans Service Organizations, and veterans and their families.
Senator Briggs, Knoxville, who was sitting next to Mike commented “This is the kind of thinking we need.” Mike stated that TNVET needs to resubmit the legislation and Senator Briggs readily asked that we work with him over the summer.
June 18, 2025 – Mike Rhew contacted Sen. Briggs executive assistant who asked TNVET provide an email summarizing the Veterans Lottery Scratch Off and that we begin working with Sen. Briggs in August.