Panel backs statewide bondsman licensing board; SB 1245 moves to finance

The Senate Government Operations Committee on Wednesday gave a positive recommendation to SB 1245, a bill to create a statewide board to license and discipline professional bondsmen, sending the measure to the Finance Committee.

Sponsor Senator Hale told the committee the bill "creates a centralized, lasting, and disciplinary framework by creating a new statewide board of professional bondsman while maintaining judicial approval of which bondsmen can operate in their jurisdiction." He said the proposal would shift licensing, complaints, background checks and disciplinary action to a dedicated board while preserving judges' ability to impose localized restrictions.

Supporters told the committee the change is meant to improve oversight and information-sharing across judicial districts. Steven Crump, executive director of the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference, said the proposal would help track bondsmen who do not "live up to their obligations and oaths across judicial districts." Jimmy Musick, representing the sheriffs' and chiefs' associations, said the measure would let jurisdictions share reprimand information when a bonding company operates across districts.

Doug Garrett of the Office of Legal Services and other witnesses described how the bill treats continuing education: the bill "says, the board shall establish procedures for the approval of the continuing education programs," meaning a provider would submit materials to the board for approval, while an association could continue to administer courses.

Opponents including Nathan Ridley of the Tennessee Association of Professional Bail Agents warned the board could create a dual-regulatory regime that complicates local relationships with judges. Ridley said, "I think this bill will limit the discretion of the judges," and that the proposal places agents in the position of answering to both local courts and a new state board.

Committee members adopted an amendment to the bill that, among other changes discussed in committee, altered one board seat so the clerk would serve instead of the chief of police. Senator Hale described the planned board composition as seven members including three bondsmen, a sheriff, a clerk (recorder), and a judge, with appointments made by the governor and legislative leaders.

The committee took a roll-call vote. Recorded votes read in committee were: Senator Bolling — No; Senator Crow — No; Senator Hatcher — Aye; Senator Kyle — No; Senator Oliver — Aye; Senator Rose — Aye; Senator Seale — Aye; Senator Sutherland — No; Chairman Jackson — Aye. The tally was five ayes and four noes; the measure advances to Finance.

The bill’s supporters said judges would retain authority to discipline locally and to remove a bondsman from that judge's approved list, while the statewide board could review and, where appropriate, take statewide action or provide a centralized disciplinary record. Opponents stressed the risk of conflicting outcomes when a judge and a statewide board reach different conclusions and questioned some mechanics of board membership and term lengths.

SB 1245 now heads to the Finance Committee for further consideration.