AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 68, relative to propane.
Summary
HB0412 amends Tennessee’s propane law in Title 68 by updating a statutory reference in the definition section for the liquified petroleum industry. Specifically, it replaces a reference to “the National Propane Gas Association” with broader language referring to “state or national associations representing the liquified petroleum industry.” The bill is narrow and technical, focused on modernizing and broadening the list of industry associations recognized in the code.
The practical effect is limited to state law governing propane and liquified petroleum gas regulation, likely affecting how the relevant statutory definition is read by regulators, industry participants, and any entities relying on that definition in Title 68. It does not appear to create new regulatory requirements, fees, or enforcement powers; rather, it updates an existing cross-reference so the statute is not tied to a single national organization.
The bill appears to have been noncontroversial and received unanimous support at each recorded stage, including subcommittee, full committee, and floor passage on the consent calendar. There is no committee transcript indicating debate or opposition, and the 94-0 floor vote suggests broad agreement that the change was administrative and industry-neutral.
Because the measure is a technical clarification rather than a policy overhaul, there is little visible contention. The main point of interest is the shift from naming one specific association to allowing either state or national associations representing the liquified petroleum industry, which may have been intended to make the statute more flexible and inclusive for industry representation.
Impact
This bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 68-135-103(1), by broadening a statutory reference from the National Propane Gas Association to state or national associations representing the liquified petroleum industry. The change affects the legal definition used in Tennessee’s propane-related statutes and may influence how agencies, regulated businesses, and industry groups interpret or satisfy that definition, but it does not otherwise alter substantive regulatory standards.
Sentiment
The overall sentiment around HB0412 was strongly positive and routine. It moved through the House Business and Utilities Subcommittee, the House Commerce Committee, and the floor without any recorded opposition, culminating in unanimous or near-unanimous votes and consent-calendar passage. The lack of transcripts or recorded debate suggests the bill was viewed as a straightforward technical update rather than a controversial policy measure.
Contention
There is no recorded substantive contention in the available materials. The only potentially notable issue is whether the statute should continue to reference a single national organization or instead recognize a broader set of state and national industry associations. The bill resolves that issue in favor of flexibility, and the unanimous votes indicate no apparent disagreement among legislators or stakeholders in the available record.