The Tennessee General Assembly will move to honor military veterans with a bill that will allow veterans to indicate their military service on their driver’s licenses or photo ID cards. The bill is sponsored by Representative Vince Dean.
“We want to do everything we can in Tennessee to honor our veterans,” said Rep.
Dean. “Their sacrifice and their service should not go unnoticed or be forgotten. Through this small measure, we can show our veteran community that we remember and we care about all they’ve done to defend our country.”
With this new legislation, veterans can elect to have a symbol or language placed on their driver’s licenses which will signal their service in the military. The add-on will be at no charge to the veteran. The bill does currently carry a significant cost to the state, but Rep. Dean said he is working to cut the cost down as low as possible.
“There is still some fine-tuning needed on the bill’s fiscal note, but I am working with my fellow legislators to shave off expenses and make sure we end up with a bill that will uplift our community and our veterans,” said Rep. Dean.
Rep. Dean pushed the bill through the Transportation Subcommittee and full Transportation Committee last month. It is currently up for vote in the Finance, Ways, & Means Subcommittee. The bill is being sponsored in the state Senate by Senator Bo Watson, Speaker Pro Tempore.
“This bill is a way for the Volunteer State to live up to its name in honoring the many men and women who have volunteered to serve and protect this nation,” said Rep. Dean.
Rep. Dean is seeking the GOP nomination for Hamilton County Criminal Court Clerk. The state primary election is May 6, and early voting runs from April 16 to May 1. The general election will be held Thursday, Aug. 7.