AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 56 and Title 71, relative to insurance.
Summary
SB0998 makes a narrow change to Tennessee insurance law by extending a statutory notice period from 30 days to 35 days in Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 56-2-103(b). The bill does not create a new program or regulate a new class of insurance activity; instead, it adjusts an existing deadline in the insurance code. Because the bill text does not include additional amendments to Titles 4 or 71 beyond the caption, its operative effect is limited to this single timing change.
In practical terms, the bill gives the affected party or parties five additional days to comply with the notice requirement referenced in the statute. The measure takes effect immediately upon becoming law, indicating legislative intent for prompt implementation. No other substantive changes to state law are made in the text provided.
Impact
The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Section 56-2-103(b) by lengthening a notice deadline from 30 days to 35 days. This changes the timing requirements under the insurance code for the affected notice process, potentially giving insurers, regulated entities, or other parties subject to the statute a slightly longer compliance window. The bill does not appear to alter coverage, benefits, enforcement authority, or penalties, and its legal impact is confined to the revised deadline.
Sentiment
There is no recorded committee transcript or vote history in the provided materials, so the bill’s sentiment cannot be measured from debate or recorded floor action. Based on the text alone, SB0998 appears to be a technical, low-profile insurance measure with a limited procedural adjustment rather than a controversial policy change. The absence of opposition or recorded discussion suggests it may have been treated as a routine statutory cleanup or administrative timing fix.
Contention
No specific points of contention are documented in the provided record. The only potentially debatable issue is whether the notice period should remain at 30 days or be extended to 35 days, which could matter to regulated parties that must track deadlines and to any stakeholders relying on the existing timeframe. However, without committee testimony or votes, there is no evidence of organized support or opposition, and no particular group is identified as objecting.