Senate Commerce and Labor advances slate of bills; multiple measures sent to calendar or other committees
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Summary
The committee advanced a range of bills including new enforcement against illegal online gambling, expanded firefighter cancer presumption, rescue squad definitions for grant eligibility, retail rounding rules, digital‑asset UCC updates and auto‑franchise law changes; votes and referrals were recorded for each item.
NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Senate Commerce and Labor Committee on Wednesday moved a series of bills forward, adopting amendments on several measures and sending most to the calendar or to subsequent committees for fiscal review.
Key actions included:
• SB2136 (illegal online gambling enforcement): Sponsor explained amendments to give the attorney general civil enforcement authority and strengthen consumer protections; amendment adopted and bill moved to the calendar.
• SB1616 (expand firefighter cancer presumption): Sponsor described extension to TBI arson investigators and county sheriff deputies; bill passed and was placed on the calendar.
• SB1110 (rescue squad definition): Adopted amendments that create a statutory definition for rescue squads to ensure only valid and active squads may apply for grant funding; bill moved to the calendar.
• SB2205 (subterranean transportation authority): Committee adopted an amendment creating a statewide authority to coordinate subterranean permitting and review; moved to Transportation Committee (see separate coverage).
• SB1626 (state employee genetic testing): Committee adopted two amendments, including an effective date change; the Department of Finance and Administration flagged a roughly $2.9 million fiscal impact and the bill was referred to Finance Committee for review.
• SB422 (prosthetics for under‑17s): After testimony from children, the committee adopted amendments and sent the bill to Finance by an 8–1 vote.
• SB1810 (Swedish rounding): Committee adopted amendment to allow retailers to use rounding to the nearest nickel for cash transactions and moved the bill to the calendar.
• SB2601, SB1859, SB608 and others: Committee considered bills on insurance retained risk limits, UCC Article 12 for digital assets, and auto‑franchise law updates; amendments were adopted where noted and measures were advanced.
Votes and formal referrals were recorded in the committee minutes for each item; several bills will next appear on the final calendar or go to committees with jurisdiction over finance, transportation or judiciary matters.
