Commerce committee advances package of consumer, construction and utility bills
This article was created by AI summarizing key points discussed. AI makes mistakes, so for full details and context, please refer to the video of the full meeting. Please report any errors so we can fix them. Report an error »
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.
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.
View full meeting
This article is based on a recent meeting—watch the full video and explore the complete transcript for deeper insights into the discussion.
View full meeting