[{"_1":2,"_86":-5,"_87":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":-5,"_68":69,"_70":-5,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6407231,"mediaKeyId","2779601-7eac83cede364bcae84408d10db8c193","parentId",2779601,"title","Commerce committee advances package of consumer, construction and utility bills","audioSeconds",180,"startMs",4110000,"endMs",4290000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2779601-7eac83cede364bcae84408d10db8c193&start=4110&end=4290","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2779601-7eac83cede364bcae84408d10db8c193/thumbnail_4110000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6407231/Commerce-committee-advances-package-of-consumer-construction-and-utility-bills","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6407231-20765df8f473688a0b06a129e09dd284/orig.mp4?Expires=1770694858&Signature=YCw3~i8DPTR9g9ZRs4~xI8~-bN5A3sg4Mp2QktEK-ZOBBDTfKW~SU-jvTwPjGVpJdBx0nLkCUTrnpHzakgGb8xsnQbiBa3rFBa3iWMpw97kycr-eYAu85nQOvHuELLXwNDcUA5hAYk3qod5P7Ahmg15K9-DnEVa-IF0VpFmYUjfN8Egf4kbSDphwxzzRLshhz13ebmh2cc4L5aS4y-kugsVN~p6eVCMrLcs1VC9pZGfWdz90I0T6l6QCoWjUaeA69Y86hgoptzegKUymd-5OBXnbE-acElvSbvRr1ChJzYOVp9gxLg-IUDDGduMT-DqbHud~9gS~sBHeE~owGAff-w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","TN State Legislature","date","2025-03-26T00:00:00Z","article","NASHVILLE — The Tennessee House Commerce Committee on March 26 advanced a package of bills that members said aim to clarify state consumer protections, encourage apprenticeships on large public projects, provide local options for hemp/CBD enforcement and update licensing or payment rules for several sectors.

The committee acted on amendments and then voted to refer seven bills for further consideration, typically to calendar and rules or to the next committee specified on the floor. Committee members emphasized consumer protections, uniformity for local governments and regulatory clarity for businesses and utilities.

Why it matters: The measures touch multiple areas that affect business permitting, consumer fraud enforcement and local enforcement of state hemp rules. Several bills carry follow-up steps — including rulemaking or memorandums of understanding with state agencies — that committee members said would shape enforcement and implementation.

What the committee did

House Bill 911 (Garrett). Representative John Garrett offered an amendment (coding 006000) that he said narrows the bill to correct exemptions in the Tennessee Information Protection Act and to clarify which public utilities are exempt. After the amendment was attached, the committee voted to pass the bill as amended.

House Bill 965 (Hawk). The sponsor described the bill as a permissive encouragement for bidders on state construction contracts of $1 million or more to use apprentices, designed to increase skilled-trades entrants. The committee approved the bill.

House Bill 962 (Foster). The bill, carried with an amendment (6085), would allow local governments to establish hemp/CBD-style local boards and to act as an enforcement partner with the state under a memorandum of understanding; sponsors said the change is intended as a stopgap until state regulation is finalized. Committee members discussed limits on local authority and whether local land-use rules (zoning) would remain intact; sponsors said local governments would enforce state law and could continue to regulate land use.

House Bill 922 (Bricken). A short consumer-protection measure that adds to the state’s Consumer Protection Act language to target callers who falsely claim a citizen is involved in a lawsuit and then try to extract fees. The committee attached an amendment and advanced the bill.

House Bill 743 (Kiesling). The measure separates regulation of debt-resolution providers from credit counselors, requires licensing, mandates FDIC-insured trust accounts for consumer funds and preserves consumers’ rights to terminate agreements, among other provisions. The committee adopted two amendments and advanced the bill.

House Bill 772 (Powers). The bill updates law to allow electronic payments, including credit-card payments, for premium-finance loans and authorizes a single insufficient-funds/handling charge per payment; the committee approved the bill after debate.

House Bill 542 (sponsor discussed in committee). The amended bill would require utilities to permit private installers to perform certain system-improvement work when developers need faster service or utilities lack capacity, subject to bonding, inspection and a one-year warranty after acceptance. Sponsors described the bill as standardizing practices that many utilities already use. The committee approved the amended bill.

Votes at a glance

- HB 911 (amendment 006000 attached) — Passed; clerk tally: 21 ayes, 0 nos. Referred as amended.
- HB 965 — Passed; clerk tally: 23 ayes, 0 nos. Referred as amended.
- HB 962 (amendment 6085 attached) — Passed; clerk tally: 20 ayes, 0 nos, 1 present not voting. Referred to finance as amended.
- HB 922 (amendment 4585 attached) — Passed; clerk tally: 21 ayes, 0 noes. Referred as amended.
- HB 743 (amendments 4631 and 5917 attached) — Passed; clerk tally: 22 ayes, 0 nos. Referred as amended.
- HB 772 — Passed; clerk tally: 19 ayes, 3 noes. Referred as amended.
- HB 542 (amendment 6399 attached) — Passed; clerk tally: 18 ayes, 3 noes. Referred to finance.

Context and next steps: Several sponsors said their measures create frameworks that require follow-up implementation steps — for example, memoranda of understanding between local governments and state agencies for hemp/CBD enforcement and licensing or fee rules that will be implemented by the relevant state departments. The committee’s approvals move the bills to the next legislative stages where floor calendars, other committees or rulemaking will determine final form.

Speakers and testimony: Committee chair Kevin Vaughn presided. Sponsors and members who spoke on the measures included Representative John Garrett (HB 911), Representative Hawk (HB 965), Representative Foster (HB 962), Representative Bricken (HB 922), Representative Kiesling (HB 743), Chairman Powers (HB 772) and other members and staff. No extended public testimony was recorded on these bills during the committee’s deliberations.

Ending: Committee members signaled intent to continue work on related proposals in coming weeks; several sponsors described the votes as a step toward clarifying enforcement responsibilities and improving consumer protections across industries.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Commerce Committee Mar 26, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","NASHVILLE — The Tennessee House Commerce Committee on March 26 advanced a package of bills that members said aim to clarify state consumer protections, encourage apprenticeships on large public projects, provide local options for hemp/CBD enforcement and update licensing or payment rules for several sectors.","taxTitle","taxId",0,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":-5,"_68":69,"_70":-5,"_71":72,"_73":72},6407225,"Committee advances bill to regulate for-profit veterans claims companies; testimony warns of 'claim sharks'",1281,2372000,3653000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2779601-7eac83cede364bcae84408d10db8c193&start=2372&end=3653","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2779601-7eac83cede364bcae84408d10db8c193/thumbnail_2372000.jpg","/articles/6407225/Committee-advances-bill-to-regulate-for-profit-veterans-claims-companies-testimony-warns-of-claim-sharks","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6407225-9805223a2987499781addd1c40737820/orig.mp4?Expires=1770694858&Signature=a1pS2czM4YhOG06BhaTfjOwMMygYIn9lM1UibFw1cNDTYzjyo4snSPiaeZ48XPWKpjViNjlBRqR45XihBLXiijCTVYVXrBOcdKvJMpaxe8cSX1ubPRwFFubeIqi7XcrnXzyKTjECeiSCyl9BY4qYSh0VJLgse5eLFP0GdzrojF118bf5Vt9chQ-COkQ7pMdEJh6ZtsNkWYdxFrHnYbT8SAOCU8Q9xP3GPXLENU4OTkBFjFgWfG3hzs3HzTjKunU0xDsIky7ax~m40NPjcPzOALp0KOlCisO3ilY8R-uTGjcRDOzxxprgB5mEr8Ow1mHHLZgdLJ001p0Z8wlW14TGHA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","NASHVILLE — The Tennessee House Commerce Committee on March 26 approved House Bill 342 as amended, a bill that would add state guardrails for for-profit companies that help veterans prepare or file disability claims.

Sponsor Representative Clark Moon said the bill preserves veterans’ choice while adding consumer-protection provisions to limit deceptive or exploitative practices. The measure passed after the committee attached amendment 4247 that sponsors said clarifies scope and creates enforcement mechanisms.

Why it matters: Committee members and witnesses described an unregulated for-profit industry that, they said, sometimes takes advantage of veterans seeking disability compensation. Proponents told the committee that state rules are needed to require transparency, to prohibit upfront or refundable fees and to create civil penalties enforceable by the attorney general under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act.

What the bill would do: The text advanced in committee includes several provisions sponsors summarized on the floor:
- Require fees to be contingent on a successful outcome and limited to a one-time fee; prohibit refundable or upfront fees and referral fees;
- Mandate that veterans be informed of free options available from county veteran service officers and congressionally-chartered nonprofit organizations;
- Restrict certain practices during a veteran’s first 365-day presumptive period without written notice and waiver;
- Prohibit overseas call or data centers from processing veterans’ personal information and require background checks for employees;
- Add civil and criminal penalties for violations, with enforcement by the Tennessee Attorney General under the state Consumer Protection Act (as the bill references enforcement through state authority).

Public testimony: The committee heard two witnesses during the public-comment period. Justin Johnson, a combat veteran from Collierville who identified himself for the record, described an industry of “claims sharks” that he said profits from veterans while veterans wait for overstretched Veterans Service Officers (VSOs). Johnson said the federal expansion of benefits after the PACT Act and the removal of criminal penalties at the federal level have contributed to a marketplace in which for-profit actors pursue veterans with aggressive marketing. He said: \"These companies are making millions and millions of dollars,\" and argued the bill would protect veterans from fraudulent or misleading claims.

Peter O’Rourke, president of the National Association for Veterans Rights and a former acting official at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, testified in support. O’Rourke told the committee that the industry has both reputable firms and bad actors and that state-level rules can help differentiate legitimate services from those that exploit veterans. He said the proposed guardrails align with standards his association and federal officials have discussed for years.

Committee discussion: Members from both parties said they supported protecting veterans while preserving access to assistance. Several members praised local VSOs but said the current unregulated private market creates problems. Leader Cochran and Chairman Moon asked and received clarifications that the bill does not replace federal accreditation requirements and that enforcement would proceed through state law and the attorney general’s office.

Vote and next steps: The committee attached amendment 4247 and approved the bill. Clerk tally: 19 ayes, 0 nos, 2 present not voting. The sponsor was reported as forwarded to calendar and rules as amended. The committee noted the bill may interact with federal accreditation requirements and with staffing levels at state and county veteran services offices.

Ending: Supporters said the bill creates transparency and consumer protections without removing veterans’ right to choose representation. The committee’s approval advances the measure for further consideration on the calendar.

","The Commerce Committee advanced House Bill 342 on March 26 after accepting an amendment. Sponsors and witnesses said the measure seeks to protect veterans from unaccredited, for-profit \"claims\" companies by imposing fee rules, disclosure requirements and civil penalties enforceable under the state Consumer Protection Act.","actionData","errors"]

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Commerce committee advances package of consumer, construction and utility bills

Committee advances bill to regulate for-profit veterans claims companies; testimony warns of 'claim sharks'