AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 68, relative to propane.
Summary
SB0507 makes a narrow change to Tennessee’s propane-related law in Title 68. Specifically, it amends Tennessee Code Annotated § 68-135-103(1) by replacing a reference to “the National Propane Gas Association” with the broader phrase “state or national associations representing the liquified petroleum industry.” The bill does not create a new regulatory program or impose new requirements; it updates the statutory language governing how the state recognizes industry associations in this area.
In practical terms, the bill broadens the category of trade groups that may be referenced under the statute, which could allow Tennessee to rely on or recognize a wider range of propane or liquified petroleum gas industry organizations. Because the change is limited to a definitional/reference amendment, its legal impact is modest and primarily affects interpretation and administration of existing propane-related provisions rather than substantive rights or obligations.
Impact
The bill amends a single provision in Title 68 of the Tennessee Code Annotated, changing one statutory reference from a specific national trade association to a broader class of state or national associations representing the liquified petroleum industry. This affects the legal framework for propane-related provisions by making the statute less tied to one named organization and more flexible in recognizing industry representation. No new enforcement mechanism, licensing requirement, or penalty is added.
Sentiment
The available legislative history suggests the bill was noncontroversial and received strong support. It passed the Senate Energy, Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee unanimously 9-0 and later passed the floor motion to adopt by a 32-0 vote. There are no committee transcript excerpts indicating opposition or significant debate, which is consistent with the bill’s narrow, technical nature.
Contention
No notable points of contention are reflected in the available record. The only substantive policy choice appears to be whether the statute should continue to name a single national association or instead allow recognition of state or national associations representing the liquified petroleum industry. The unanimous committee and floor votes indicate that any concern about the scope of the reference was either minimal or resolved without recorded opposition.