AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 71-5-142, relative to the comptroller of the treasury.
Summary
HB1478 amends Tennessee Code Annotated Section 71-5-142, which concerns the administration of certain state health-related programs, by expressly adding the comptroller of the treasury to the list of entities referenced in the statute. The bill makes a narrow technical change to existing law by inserting the comptroller’s office after the Department of Commerce and Insurance in the relevant provision. It does not create a new program or benefit, but instead adjusts statutory language governing oversight or administration under the affected section.
The bill’s practical effect is to clarify the comptroller of the treasury’s role in the statute and ensure the office is specifically named in the law. Because the measure amends only one subsection and contains no substantive policy expansion, its impact is limited to state administrative law and the agencies or officials responsible for carrying out Section 71-5-142. The act takes effect immediately upon becoming law.
Impact
HB1478 makes a targeted amendment to Tennessee Code Annotated Section 71-5-142 by adding the comptroller of the treasury to the statutory text. This changes the legal framework for the affected section by explicitly recognizing the comptroller alongside the Department of Commerce and Insurance, likely clarifying oversight, reporting, or enforcement responsibilities under the statute. The bill affects state administrative practice rather than private rights broadly, and its impact is confined to the agencies and officials operating under this code section.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have been received very favorably and without controversy. It advanced unanimously through subcommittee and committee votes and passed the House on a consent calendar with 94 yeas and 0 nays. The absence of recorded committee discussion suggests the measure was viewed as a routine or technical clarification rather than a disputed policy change.
Contention
There is little to no visible contention around HB1478. No committee transcripts are available, and every recorded vote was unanimous, indicating broad agreement. If any concern existed, it was not reflected in the available legislative history; the bill seems to have been treated as a noncontroversial technical amendment involving the comptroller of the treasury and the Department of Commerce and Insurance.