AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39 and Title 47, relative to lighters.
Summary
HB0343 amends Tennessee consumer protection law to prohibit the sale, offering for sale, or free distribution of counterfeit lighters and “unsafe lighters.” The bill defines counterfeit lighters as products that infringe intellectual property rights, and defines unsafe lighters by reference to specific ASTM safety standards for disposable, refillable, utility, grill, fireplace, lighting rod, and gas-match lighters.
The measure also creates limited exceptions for lighters merely passing through Tennessee in interstate transportation and for storage in warehouses or distribution centers that are not open to the public for retail sale or distribution. A violation is treated as an unfair or deceptive act under Tennessee’s consumer protection statutes, making it enforceable under the state’s existing remedies and penalties for deceptive trade practices.
Impact
The bill adds a new section to Title 47, Chapter 18, Part 1 of the Tennessee Code and cross-references the unfair or deceptive acts statute in § 47-18-104. It expands the state’s consumer protection enforcement framework to cover the sale and distribution of noncompliant or infringing lighters, while leaving interstate transit and non-retail warehouse storage outside the prohibition. The law applies to conduct on or after July 1, 2025.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have been broadly supported and noncontroversial. It advanced unanimously through the House Banking and Consumer Affairs Subcommittee and the House Commerce Committee, and then passed the House on the consent calendar with overwhelming support. The available record shows no recorded opposition in committee or on the floor.
Contention
No significant contention is reflected in the available materials. The only potentially debatable issues are the use of ASTM standards to define safety compliance and the scope of the exceptions for interstate transport and warehouse storage, but no member objections or divided votes are shown. The bill’s treatment as a consumer protection measure rather than a criminal regulation also appears to have been accepted without dispute.