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Senate adopts conference report amid objections over expanded Attorney General investigatory tools
Summary
The Senate adopted a conference committee report that standardizes the attorney general’s authority to issue requests for information across laws the AG enforces; several senators argued the change broadened investigatory power beyond the bill's stated gambling focus and said the fiscal note did not capture the expansion.
The Senate adopted a conference committee report on a bill that, sponsors said, "standardizes the attorney general's authority to issue requests for information beyond the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act and Tennessee Human Rights Act" and creates uniform investigatory tools across statutes the attorney general enforces.
Sponsor remarks described the change as a standardization of existing investigatory tools and argued it did not expand the AG’s legal authority. "This bill does not expand the scope of the Attorney General's authority," the sponsor said on the floor, adding the intent was to provide uniform investigatory tools the office needs to enforce state law.
Several senators raised sharp concerns. Senator Yarbrough said the change was "snuck into" the bill and warned it created a "massive expansion of power" beyond the bill’s apparent focus on illegal gambling. He pointed to the fiscal note and floor discussion, saying the fiscal note indicated a narrow gambling focus while the drafted language reaches "a huge chunk of Tennessee law." In his remarks Yarbrough noted the potential committee and budget implications if the change were handled through the proper referral process.
Senator Roberts asked for clarification about specific language in the conference report and whether members were aware of the broader effect. Sponsor responses reiterated the stated intent to standardize investigatory tools, and the Senate ultimately tabled a minority report and later adopted the majority conference committee report by recorded vote.
The Senate’s action makes the conference committee report the final action of the Senate for that bill. Opponents urged additional committee review and closer fiscal analysis, arguing the change warranted fuller public and committee scrutiny before final adoption.
The Senate proceeded to other calendar items after the vote and moved toward recess to allow remaining conference committees to meet.
