Committee clears several bills, rolls one to next meeting; registry, license plates, veterans resolution advance

The Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee on April 16 considered a slate of bills and resolutions and took the following actions: several measures were recommended for passage to the calendar, one bill was rolled to a future finance meeting for further work, and one technical higher-education bill was advanced.

Senate Bill 203 (annual specialty license plate bill): The committee recommended SB 203 as amended for passage to the calendar. The sponsor described the measure as the annual specialty license plate bill; the committee voted to recommend the bill without recorded opposition.

Senate Bill 324 ("Savannah's Law"): The committee recommended SB 324 as amended for passage to the calendar. The measure, as explained in committee, would create a persistent domestic violence offender registry: if a person is convicted of an offense against a domestic abuse victim and has at least one prior domestic-violence conviction (convictions listed to include domestic abuse, financial abuse, assault, stalking and related offenses under TCA 36-3-601 as described in committee), the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation would create and maintain an online registry. The registry would include the offender's name, date of birth, conviction date, county of conviction and a current photograph; it would not include addresses, Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers or other state/federal identification. Court clerks would forward convictions to TBI within seven days, per the bill explanation. The committee recommended the bill for passage.

House Joint Resolution 0001 (veterans: traumatic brain injury and PTSD treatment): The committee recommended the resolution urging Congress to expand and improve treatment for traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder among veterans. Committee discussion noted the resolution references access to hyperbaric oxygen therapy as an example of treatment included in the resolving clause; some members raised concern about specifying a single therapy while supporting the resolution's overall goal.

Senate Bill 918 (personal watercraft liability insurance, in honor of Roy Herron): The committee heard extended debate on SB 918, which as amended would require owners of personal watercraft (jet skis, wave runners and similar watercraft) to carry personal liability insurance. Sponsor Senator Jeff Campbell (appearing as sponsor in committee) cited Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency data that boating incidents have risen 28% since the pandemic (roughly 600 incidents in the last four years) and said personal watercraft accounted for a large share of serious injuries and deaths in recent years. Members questioned whether singling out personal watercraft was appropriate when other watercraft also cause accidents, whether the bill imposes motor-vehicle–style liability mandates on watercraft, and how the bill would interact with House proposals that focus on minimum operating ages. Given those concerns the sponsor asked for more time; the committee voted to roll the bill to the next finance meeting to allow additional work with the House sponsor.

Senate Bill 1085 (HOPE scholarship participation for institutions with candidacy accreditation): The committee recommended SB 1085 for passage to the calendar. Sponsor Senator Johnson explained the bill would allow private institutions that have been granted candidacy for accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to participate in the HOPE Scholarship program while completing full accreditation steps.

Several votes were recorded in open committee roll-call; the transcript shows typical aye/no tallies and, where recorded, a small number of no votes on a few items. The committee chair said members had ample opportunity for discussion before votes were taken and moved to adjourn after completing the day's business.