[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6407135,"mediaKeyId","2865704-b2e81fa6f51b7184b0d16fb460a69941","parentId",2865704,"title","Votes at a glance: selected measures passed on the Tennessee House floor April 4, 2025","audioSeconds",151,"startMs",3365000,"endMs",3516000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2865704-b2e81fa6f51b7184b0d16fb460a69941&start=3365&end=3516","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2865704-b2e81fa6f51b7184b0d16fb460a69941/thumbnail_3365000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6407135/Tennessee/Votes-at-a-glance-selected-measures-passed-on-the-Tennessee-House-floor-April-4-2025","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6407135-84e917a471ecee3e950fad538bacd42c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770917168&Signature=Rn8ZKiYj5ebwLWvZp86~NFGD1ACrYhf6KJiejRPWV97jIuKmtKUUcRUMwfzE2RQwenEN2Cam~AFWWsFcw3rX24V00~qgLd-mpiR~JAzYhXvSpsUVZdzWYuctGwITnYw1~r~cYXEOaYC90NbgkXxvEqaor~T4dPQtm3cefcOubqnf1Bg8mQkTJlSYxQMEL5~t49rsH98~UecJAVbdrZWbN~icyClOpdrXbeCTwEU8QYMHtOgXsoZpEoxfPC8O1fL4QXZDc59~fH6947Vi7CcNcEdJzQJ0SCQs5eieXEfsbOUG0hxif3WDOJ6JDSnojYvuBzQMLDN~YOorVg8uNoK-1w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Tennessee Legislature","date","2025-04-03T00:00:00Z","article","Below are selected bills and resolutions the Tennessee House took up and passed during Friday's floor session. Items listed had brief floor presentation or were handled on the consent calendar.

- Senate Bill 1140 (House substitute HB 918) — Hunting licenses for disabled veterans participating in nonprofit-sponsored hunts. The House substituted and passed the Senate companion; the clerk recorded 91 ayes and zero nays on the consent calendar.

- Senate Bill 554 (House substitute HB 510) — Directs the Department of Health to compile information related to recruiting and retaining positions at the department and to provide preliminary information at the end of 2025 and a final report at the end of 2026. Sponsor: Chairman Terry. Passed on third reading; clerk recorded that the bill received the required majority.

- Senate Bill 689 (House substitute HB 408) — Administrative consolidation moving the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation (TSAC) operations under the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) for administrative purposes. Sponsor: Chairman White. House passed the measure on third reading; sponsors said the change responds to programs winding down and consolidates oversight.

- Senate Bill 440 (House substitute HB 927) — Clarifies distinctions between supplemental (\"expected benefit\") insurance products and major medical coverage; sponsor said the bill preserves supplemental insurance as an option for policyholders. Passed on third reading.

- House Joint Resolution 131 (Rep. Sparks) — A bipartisan resolution to raise awareness of male mentorship and positive male role models in schools and community programs. Adopted by the House.

- House Joint Resolution 179 (Rep. Sparks) — A resolution recognizing mental-health consequences of social media on K'0 students. Adopted by the House.

These items were recorded on the House calendar or consent calendar and were described on the floor as either routine, technical, or having already passed committee consideration. Where exact vote tallies were stated in the transcript, they are noted above; for some consent-calendar items the clerk stated the measure passed after \"no objection,\" without a numeric roll-call published in the transcript excerpt.

For measures that drew extended floor debate (for example, SB299, SB456, HB749, SB766), separate reporting covers the discussion and recorded votes.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Floor Session- 21st Legislative Day Apr 3, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","A roundup of bills and resolutions the House passed with brief discussion or on consent during the April 4 session.","taxTitle","House Floor , House of Representatives, Committees, Legislative, Tennessee","taxId",29556,"location","Tennessee","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6407141,"Bill to allow credit-card payment on insurance premium-finance loans fails after debate over fees",432,7325000,7757000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2865704-b2e81fa6f51b7184b0d16fb460a69941&start=7325&end=7757","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2865704-b2e81fa6f51b7184b0d16fb460a69941/thumbnail_7325000.jpg","/articles/6407141/Tennessee/Bill-to-allow-credit-card-payment-on-insurance-premium-finance-loans-fails-after-debate-over-fees","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6407141-65ac12efd31d2ab10e4de0eef47e9c54/orig.mp4?Expires=1770917168&Signature=H3fLsFtn48OI4~2JuEitriGDEdIYUubPizojTQvGCoYd~xlky8nZdigzVYNSqTbI2q5DeNVHV7ATsmM6caC21a2-qUEM3-7hNdMJ~qqRfxdURfZJstp-7A4o5LOpFc-pMKF9gHn1-xufgrcaAADWHyzZYYeToHeA-4rEQWOqwdQMJLHqOJ-iBASr-6cqmmYvoSs1tSQ7~HNr1WrJ7U8fMReb~BGsk26X-U9Fd-461WSbcL2dbZ2pWYsyTu1fJosADu82g6rA9m3Px3GUW1o8DCaDXkVTjHbYz7Ko4wcFAkgwtoTIBBtOe~FeNO~tRkoIl163Z5LFzGQoPMT476f~qw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Tennessee House voted down Senate Bill 766 on Friday after extended debate over fees and consumer protection. The bill would have updated law to permit electronic payment, including credit-card payments, for insurance premium-finance agreements and to allow collection or convenience fees tied to payment processing.

Sponsor Rep. Powers said the change was largely permissive and intended to modernize payment options for people who finance large insurance premiums: \"It's just allowing a credit card to be used rather than check or cash,\" Powers said, noting convenience fees are intended to cover processing costs and would be limited to actual incurred costs.

Opponents expressed concern the proposal would layer additional charges on top of already expensive premium-finance arrangements. Representative McKenzie argued that the bill allowed convenience and application fees (including a cited 4% convenience fee and a $15 application charge) and that collection terms allowing attorney fees and a 15% charge on outstanding indebtedness could create a predatory stack of fees on struggling consumers. \"This is another hole that's that you're never gonna get dug out of,\" McKenzie said.

The House moved to previous question, and the bill failed to receive a constitutional majority. The clerk recorded the vote as 48 ayes, 27 nays and 14 present not voting on final disposition; the presiding officer declared the bill failed to receive the required majority.

Sponsor Powers said the bill was permissive and would not increase interest rates, only allow alternative payment methods and pass processing costs to the third-party processor. Opponents remained unconvinced and framed the package of allowable fees and default charges as potentially harmful for low-income consumers.

Outcome: Senate Bill 766 failed to receive the constitutional majority and was referred back under the rules.

Implementation: Because the measure failed on the floor, no policy or regulatory change will take effect. Debate raised topics that consumer-protection advocates and insurers may revisit in future legislation.","A proposal to allow insurance premium-finance loans to be paid by credit card and to permit certain convenience and collection fees failed on the House floor after members warned it could burden consumers with higher fees.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6407148,"House approves bill barring recognition of out-of-state licenses issued only to undocumented immigrants",752,7776000,8528000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2865704-b2e81fa6f51b7184b0d16fb460a69941&start=7776&end=8528","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2865704-b2e81fa6f51b7184b0d16fb460a69941/thumbnail_7776000.jpg","/articles/6407148/Tennessee/House-approves-bill-barring-recognition-of-out-of-state-licenses-issued-only-to-undocumented-immigrants","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6407148-2ec2ad895e8c111981836e85908dcb81/orig.mp4?Expires=1770917168&Signature=dA6ENWRTscTkkgfwtgZ6ZhkclXuMp3bO~08c7ta1w3ul5zH1k57B8Q9kXcMPOnD7T8WW-z~GGsIXzFyRBWgA4FlQHDLCk4Yo-iXxQN2d7UZi7b57YEwZysmyYQjDwFxXneIVHIyQBFJv~x6FG4yo6jhiFF9tH31QU23rKUrNj59UT3wv3AE~GZ~i9Zluox3uvaxNXwc3xabT6CdBslphLDRLeL5T7WNxJ3OgHkZSGC1Nga3-iCVG9diigg-Y~Cq0x1hTTv5U0ZQFMeLIaAsQ5Uk26J08X8rhMEnsr0wPycpZVfOP2UvrTu2872WdhYaUW-pzFV0Gd3ZOoTjlb9yP~g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Tennessee House on Friday approved House Bill 749, which prohibits the state from recognizing out-of-state driver's licenses that are issued specifically to individuals who are not lawfully present in the United States and that bear a marking to indicate that status.

Sponsor Rep. Reeves said the bill targets \"special purpose\" licenses that certain states issue solely to undocumented immigrants and asked the Department of Safety to maintain a public list of those licenses so law enforcement would have guidance. \"Tennessee will not recognize driver's licenses from other states that are issued exclusively to individuals without legal status and have a marking to indicate that,\" Reeves said.

Opponents argued the bill will criminalize lawful travel and create enforcement and civil-rights risks. Rep. Behn invoked historical analogies and said the measure \"criminalizes people not based on their conduct, but the kind of driver's license they carry,\" warning of profiling and administrative punishment. Representative Clemens raised constitutional questions about interstate travel and commerce, asking whether Tennessee troopers would ticket motorists lawfully licensed elsewhere who simply drive through the state.

Reeves said the bill applies only to licenses that are marked as issued exclusively to people without lawful presence and does not affect DACA recipients or green-card holders. He also noted the state would follow the example of Florida, which passed a similar law in 2023, and told colleagues that to his knowledge Florida's law has not been successfully challenged.

Floor action: The House voted to pass the measure after debate. The final tally as recorded on the floor was 68 yeas and 21 nays.

Effect and limitations: The bill does not change federal immigration law; it declines to recognize certain out-of-state documents and creates a class B misdemeanor for driving with such a license in Tennessee, the sponsor said. The text as discussed applies only to licenses \"issued exclusively\" for those without lawful presence and those marked accordingly; sponsors said lawfully present immigrants and standard out-of-state IDs remain valid for Tennessee.

Supporters framed the bill as a tool to uphold the integrity of the state's driver-licensing system; opponents called it unnecessary, constitutionally suspect and likely to cause profiling and legal challenges. The measure will return for final processing under normal legislative procedure.","House passed HB 749, prohibiting recognition of out-of-state driver's licenses that are issued exclusively to individuals without lawful presence and marked as such. Supporters called it an enforcement tool; opponents raised constitutional and civil-rights concerns.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6407155,"House adds robbery to \"crime of violence\" definition, advancing stiffer penalties for repeat offenders",2113,9153000,7040000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2865704-b2e81fa6f51b7184b0d16fb460a69941&start=9153&end=7040","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2865704-b2e81fa6f51b7184b0d16fb460a69941/thumbnail_9153000.jpg","/articles/6407155/Tennessee/House-adds-robbery-to-crime-of-violence-definition-advancing-stiffer-penalties-for-repeat-offenders","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6407155-a3eff3c1e532196bb8feab4cd7db5420/orig.mp4?Expires=1770917168&Signature=Ra-99zrK7ffOhkkDMkrI8k5mt49haY4iizwx1ihNPDKNEmVn8vTOgbpyUiU~3Rr5UQRjBOSu7601f-FUvFxihc80FHHKb8fw8nkePCp~vJpZZXG7YZGucFe4DRqZdlEWP5RxaNEYJ3Y1dxhxWqLKXuhZrJP8B9ZwtzO1W7DbdomIbG7x7wPuluWIyoOQlxc7ynaUfyXL-hxcBTWdIhMobmTMR56K2wKmql8omYxPiwdTdPJFcsy5QIYhRMmNAGMw3QssqDsnsMeGbYoppds-Rd0xcr0WsyMaJPKbdNEqnczuyHpLwz5FBeepJL~6FwdJIpVxVITsKMZJNsBliWRXBQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Tennessee House on Friday approved Senate Bill 456, a measure that adds robbery to the statutory definition of a \"crime of violence,\" a change supporters said will permit stiffer sentencing when robbery is committed by someone with a prior qualifying violent-crime conviction.

Sponsor Rep. Doggett described robbery under existing law as \"the intentional or knowing theft of property from the person of another by violence or putting the person in fear,\" and said the bill simply puts robbery explicitly into the list of offenses defined as violent. \"We're just simply adding violence or robbery to the definition of crime of violence,\" Doggett said.

The measure drew sharp floor debate about the social and historical context of criminal law. Rep. Jones (Davidson) warned the chamber about unequal application and used the floor to describe how he sees economic and political structures enabling large-scale theft by powerful actors: \"What we are seeing right now at the top levels of this government is robbery,\" Jones said, contrasting large-scale financial harms with street-level violence. He asked whether the bill's language would apply to acts he described as \"robbery\" perpetrated by officials; Doggett replied that criminal statutes apply when the elements of the offense are met.

Other members spoke in support of the bill as a commonsense recognition of the violent nature of robbery. Representative Blair Lambert, who described personal experience with victims, said: \"When a person shoves a gun in the face of another person ... that's very different from some sort of process to a democratic process ... It's a sad day in Tennessee that there are some that are so far gone that they don't understand just how violent and horrible that is to be victimized in that way.\" (Blair Lambert)

The House adopted a previous-question motion, and later passed the bill on third and final consideration. Members raised the point that robbery as defined already requires violence; the sponsor and supporters said the bill clarifies statutory lists and aligns sentencing treatment for robbery with other listed violent crimes. The bill was declared passed; the clerk stated the bill had received a constitutional majority.

The debate included questions about statutory elements and how the additional listing would interact with enhanced penalties for offenders with prior violent-crime convictions. Rep. Barrett read the statutory elements into the record and emphasized that robbery already contains a violence element.

Outcome: The bill passed the House on third reading and was declared passed by the presiding officer. The transcript records a successful passage; exact final tally was announced as having achieved the constitutional majority.

Implementation and effect: Sponsors said the change is intended to allow courts to treat robbery in the same enhanced-penalty framework that applies to other enumerated violent crimes when prior violent convictions are present. The change does not itself alter statutory penalties beyond the effect of the reclassification; the bill will proceed for final processing.","The House approved Senate Bill 456 to include robbery in the state definition of \"crime of violence,\" expanding circumstances that can trigger enhanced penalties for offenders with prior violent-crime convictions.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6407161,"Tennessee House approves bill to broaden membership, ease quorum for medical cannabis commission",400,5902000,6302000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2865704-b2e81fa6f51b7184b0d16fb460a69941&start=5902&end=6302","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2865704-b2e81fa6f51b7184b0d16fb460a69941/thumbnail_5902000.jpg","/articles/6407161/Tennessee/Tennessee-House-approves-bill-to-broaden-membership-ease-quorum-for-medical-cannabis-commission","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6407161-c1ee3a9ba4023a2990201dcf20e7c3bf/orig.mp4?Expires=1770917168&Signature=OGoV42dzXUTnX17wAY3lzCstfHNUgoVGIO9q6F~VSMRL3OGb6y2YczDcGyY7b0s09cjE6CiMUgjBgXaDI5BTFy4IKJpupE~r2Uhgy1UWENkCSldTRM1zzr3cnfSB9aSm9E2DuiTNIr8579GeIa4B4zjMTOYDKnrK3M8-B9mMXTQ1~oWdIfOFEDQtrNl3XsVZ1wTHG2yWCJdEp1LpK-Lktvlc~3mAKpiPkhgt59je3o~KR83gf3D39neQdDUXLNbg4S~iOatjGgvbkUVsDxW-ULYhn9a-IjN9-DExJ4Mk8BEdlglpv8TH5ujYDcGp0eMOHbjSINCjpByGeyK70lVv8A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Tennessee House on Friday approved Senate Bill 299, a measure that expands eligibility to serve on the Medical Cannabis Commission, removes a statutory requirement that appointees represent each of the state's three grand divisions and clarifies that the commission may make policy recommendations if federal cannabis rescheduling occurs.

Supporters said the changes are aimed at resolving chronic quorum problems that have prevented the commission from meeting and from advising state agencies. \"He has not been able to get each grand division,\" sponsor Rep. Jeremy Terry said, describing difficulties the governor has faced filling the panel and assembling a quorum. \"When we're removing that, that's gonna be able for him to better, get appointments in there.\" (Rep. Jeremy Terry, Chair, Health Committee)

The bill also adds caregivers and patient representatives to the pool of people eligible to serve and explicitly authorizes the commission to issue policy recommendations to the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse should the federal government reschedule cannabis. \"With the ongoing discussions at the federal level of rescheduling cannabis, this bill has two actions,\" Terry told the House. He said the commission's ability to recommend policy would let the state prepare legislation or administrative adjustments so research and program rules could align with any federal changes.

Opponents questioned the removal of the grand-division requirement, saying it risks underrepresenting parts of the state. \"So it doesn't seem like it's a well, to me that doesn't rise to a point where we need to get rid of each grand division,\" said Leader Camper, who pressed the sponsor on whether the change might concentrate appointees by geography rather than expertise. Terry replied the move was intended to \"decrease the barriers in order to get people on the commission\" and to prioritize caregivers, patients and subject-matter experts so meetings can occur.

Rep. Clements asked whether the bill would limit Tennessee's ability to change its own laws if federal rescheduling occurs; Terry said it would not: \"Oh, that's correct.\" (Rep. Clements)

The measure cleared the House by recorded vote (82-2). The bill returns to the Senate as amended.

The change is purely procedural and advisory: it does not itself legalize adult use cannabis in Tennessee and does not alter criminal statutes governing possession or distribution. Sponsors said the aim is to make the commission functional and able to provide actionable recommendations if federal rules shift.

Votes and next steps: Senator-filed companion language was conformed to in the House; the bill passed third and final consideration and will proceed under normal legislative processing to the Senate for concurrence on amendments.

Meeting context: The debate occupied several exchanges on committee representation and quorum issues and included questions about federal rescheduling and research authority. No implementation timeline was specified in floor remarks.","The state House passed Senate Bill 299 to expand who can serve on the Medical Cannabis Commission, remove the requirement that appointees represent each grand division and allow the panel to make policy recommendations should federal scheduling change.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: selected measures passed on the Tennessee House floor April 4, 2025

Bill to allow credit-card payment on insurance premium-finance loans fails after debate over fees

House approves bill barring recognition of out-of-state licenses issued only to undocumented immigrants

House adds robbery to "crime of violence" definition, advancing stiffer penalties for repeat offenders

Tennessee House approves bill to broaden membership, ease quorum for medical cannabis commission