Senate Bill 2338, also known as House Bill 2446, amends Tennessee Code Annotated to establish a new volunteer firefighter vehicle grant program aimed at assisting volunteer fire departments with local match requirements for federal grants to purchase vehicles. The bill introduces a new section that outlines the program's framework, including the establishment of grant amounts by the commissioner of commerce and insurance, the proportional distribution of funds based on the number of recognized volunteer fire departments in each of the state's three grand divisions, and the intent to fund the program with an initial appropriation of one million dollars for the fiscal year 2026-2027.

Additionally, the bill deletes existing language that mandated equal division of grants among the state's grand divisions and restrictions on grant funding for fire trucks or vehicles. It also stipulates that any unspent funds from the grant program must remain available for future expenditures rather than reverting to the general fund. The commissioner is tasked with creating rules for evaluating grant requests in accordance with the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act. The act will take effect upon becoming law for rule promulgation purposes, while other provisions will take effect on July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 68-102-154(d), 68-102-154, 68-102-154(e)(1)
Amended with HA1201 -- 04/21/2026: 68-102-154(d), 68-102-154, 68-102-154(e)(1)