AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 47, relative to consumer protection.
Summary
HB0911 makes a narrow change to Tennessee’s consumer protection law in Title 47. Specifically, it amends Tennessee Code Annotated § 47-18-3302(16)(C) by replacing the phrase “organized under the laws of this state” with “organized or regulated under the laws of this state.” The bill does not create a new consumer protection scheme; instead, it broadens the statutory language so that the affected provision applies not only to entities formed under Tennessee law, but also to entities that are regulated by Tennessee law.
The practical effect is to expand the scope of the existing definition or coverage in the referenced consumer protection section, which may affect which businesses, organizations, or regulated entities are included under the statute. Because the bill is limited to a single wording change, its legal impact is targeted rather than sweeping, but it could influence how regulators, courts, and covered parties interpret eligibility or applicability under the consumer protection framework.
Impact
This bill amends one definition-related phrase in Tennessee’s consumer protection statutes, potentially widening the class of entities covered by the referenced provision from only Tennessee-organized entities to those either organized or regulated in Tennessee. It affects interpretation and enforcement under Title 47, Chapter 18, and may have consequences for businesses and other entities subject to Tennessee regulation even if they were formed elsewhere.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have been noncontroversial and broadly supported. It advanced unanimously through the House Banking and Consumer Affairs Subcommittee, the House Commerce Committee, and the House floor, with no recorded opposition in the available votes. The lack of committee transcripts suggests there was little public debate or visible disagreement.
Contention
No notable contention is evident in the available record. The only substantive issue is the scope of the statutory language change—whether consumer protection coverage should extend beyond entities organized under Tennessee law to those merely regulated by Tennessee law. The unanimous votes indicate that any concern was either minimal or resolved before final passage.