House Government Operations committee advances package of bills; debates drone use for deer recovery and a conservatorship task force

The House Government Operations Committee advanced a package of bills April 16, sending measures to finance, calendar and other committees while debating privacy and oversight provisions for a drone-for-deer-recovery proposal and a proposed conservatorship management task force.

Representative Hill, sponsor of House Bill 1280, told the committee the bill would "create the medical expense relief fund" to help families of TennCare enrollees avoid postmortem recoupment actions: "it's to keep TennCare from going after these families 1 last time." The committee approved the bill by voice vote, 9 ayes, 0 nos, and referred it to Finance, Ways and Means.

Why it matters: the committee moved dozens of measures that, if approved by the full House, would change how state agencies write rules (including licenses and permits), how some state grants are distributed, and how certain consumer and patient protections are implemented. Two items drew extended questions: a bill allowing limited drone use to recover wounded deer on private land, and a task force to review conservatorship oversight.

Top items and discussion

Drones to recover wounded deer (House Bill 175): Representative Darby said the bill would allow the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission to promulgate rules or issue proclamations authorizing an individual or business to use a drone on private land "solely to recover deer that has been wounded while a person was lawfully engaged in hunting." The sponsor and several members discussed who would operate drones, data retention and commercial reuse of footage. Representative Renau asked if drones would be operated by hunters, state agents or contractors; Darby said they would be operated by private individuals or businesses and that "the TWRA will not be in the business of using drones." When asked whether recorded video or data could be retained or used later, Darby said states that have adopted similar programs "will promulgate the rules, and they will the data that will be used for that, I'm sure, will not be used for the next time that they fly the drones." The committee approved the measure 13 ayes, 0 nos and sent it to Calendar and Rules.

Conservatorship management task force (House Bill 634): Chairman Clemens described the bill as creating "a conservatorship management task force" to review care and management provided by conservators, evaluate requirements and resources, and propose improvements such as an intercounty notification system for when a conservatorship is removed in one county. Clemens said conservatorships are typically used when someone "is unable to manage their own affairs due to mental illness, physical illness, disability, developmental disability" and that the task force could recommend safeguards and processes to restore rights when appropriate. The committee approved the bill 13 ayes, 0 nos and sent it forward for further consideration.

Other notable measures advanced

- House Bill 1278 (Representative Field): A targeted grant program for local governments in Upper East Tennessee impacted by hurricanes; sponsor said amendments likely will narrow it to grants to local governments. Approved 11 ayes, 0 nos; referred to Finance, Ways and Means.

- House Bill 799 (Representative Grylls): Directs the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) to consider a commercial licensing category for operators at Reelfoot Lake. Approved 11 ayes, 0 nos; referred to Finance, Ways and Means.

- A measure establishing licensure/labeling rules for lab or cell-cultured meat (sponsor discussion with an amendment traveling with the bill): sponsor said a permit from the Department of Agriculture would be required and the product could not be labeled as "meat," with a civil fine for mislabeling; approved 11 ayes, 0 nos; next stop: counting/calendar rules (bill number not specified in transcript).

- House Bill 865 (Representative Hicks): A program to allow qualified high-school students in Northeast Tennessee to begin hands-on nursing training so they can enter the workforce at graduation; Department of Health would promulgate rules. Sponsor said the act takes effect July 1, 2025. Approved 15 ayes, 0 nos; sent to Calendar and Rules.

- House Bill 867 (Representative Hicks): A pilot program to monitor 300 pregnancies across the state; sponsor said TennCare will administer the pilot and the director of TennCare will promulgate rules. Members confirmed the program would be voluntary. Approved 15 ayes, 0 nos; referred to Finance, Ways and Means.

- House Bill 1244 (Representative Martin): Reforms to hold pharmacy benefit managers accountable for prompt payments and to adjust penalty limits; approved 12 ayes, 0 nos; referred to Calendar and Rules.

- House Bill 919 (Chairman Spicke): Changes to boards of public institutions of higher education, adjusting board sizes and appointments; approved 11 ayes, 2 nos; referred to Finance, Ways and Means.

- House Bill 686 (Chairlady Camper): Creates the African American Cultural Historical Grants Fund to support capital projects tied to African American culture and history; approved 13 ayes, 0 nos; referred to Finance, Ways and Means.

- House Bill 576 (Chairman Doggett): Creates a Board of Professional Bail Bondsmen; approved 10 ayes, 1 no; referred to Finance, Ways and Means.

- House Bill 456 (Chairman Rudd): Amends campaign finance code to close a perceived corporate disclosure loophole by adding the words "advocating" and "elected official" in selected sections; approved 14 ayes, 0 nos; referred to Calendar and Rules.

- House Bill 638 / 6 38 (Representative Karringer): Prohibits TennCare/Cover Kids providers from denying care to patients who refuse immunizations for religious or moral reasons; sponsor said amendments restored exemptions for transplant services, oncology and immunocompromised patients. Approved 11 ayes, 4 nos; referred to Calendar and Rules.

Votes at a glance (bill — short description — committee vote — referral)

House Bill 1280 — medical expense relief fund to assist next of kin of deceased TennCare enrollees with outstanding bills; 9-0 — to Finance, Ways and Means. House Bill 1278 — direct grants to local governments in Upper East Tennessee for hurricane damage; 11-0 — to Finance, Ways and Means. House Bill 799 — TWRA to create a commercial licensing category for Reelfoot Lake; 11-0 — to Finance, Ways and Means. House bill (cell-cultured meat licensing/labeling) — permit by Department of Agriculture; product cannot be labeled "meat"; 11-0 — to counting/calendar rules (bill number not specified in transcript). House Bill 865 — high-school nursing pipeline program (Northeast/ Ballad Health focus); 15-0 — to Calendar and Rules; effective date noted July 1, 2025. House Bill 576 — board of professional bail bondsmen; 10-1 — to Finance, Ways and Means. House Bill 1244 — pharmacy benefit manager accountability and penalties; 12-0 — to Calendar and Rules. House Bill 919 — changes to higher education boards and appointments; 11-2 — to Finance, Ways and Means. House Bill 175 — allows TWRA to authorize drone use on private land to recover wounded deer (rules to be promulgated); 13-0 — to Calendar and Rules. House Bill 938 — authorizes deer hunting with bait on private land with a bait privilege license; 13-0 — to Finance, Ways and Means. House Bill 686 — African American Cultural Historical Grants Act; 13-0 — to Finance, Ways and Means. House Bill 634 — conservatorship management task force; 13-0 — to Calendar/Rules for further work. House Bill 456 — clarifies corporate/advocacy campaign-finance disclosure; 14-0 — to Calendar and Rules. House Bill 867 — pregnancy-monitoring pilot (300 pregnancies); 15-0 — to Finance, Ways and Means. House Bill 638 — prohibits TennCare providers from denying care to those refusing immunizations for religious or moral reasons (with exemptions); 11-4 — to Calendar and Rules.

What’s next: most measures will go to Finance, Ways and Means or Calendar and Rules for additional review and possible amendment before a full House vote. Several items that require agency rules will be subject to future rulemaking if the bills become law.

Sources and provenance: Excerpts and vote tallies are taken verbatim from the April 16, 2025 House Government Operations Committee transcript provided to the committee clerk; key sponsor remarks and member questions are quoted from meeting remarks recorded during the session.