Committee advances 10 bills to calendar and rules; votes at a glance
March 12, 2026 | 2026 Legislature TN, Tennessee
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The Tennessee House Finance, Ways and Means Committee on March 17 advanced 10 measures to calendar and rules. Most passed with broad support; several were unanimous. Key outcomes:
- House Bill 3-57 (Rescue Squad Recognition Act): Amendment adopted; committee vote 25–0. The bill requires rescue squads to be duly recognized and authorized by the state fire marshal’s office.
- House Bill 15-55 (Driving while holding an electronic device): Removes a $10 court-cost cap and sets court costs at 50% of normal moving-violation litigation taxes; committee vote 15–8–1 (aye–no–not voting). Sponsors noted example fines (a $50 fine plus roughly $35–$70 in court costs depending on jurisdiction).
- House Bill 18-05 (Social studies standards — history of communism): Committee advanced 23–2 after sponsor’s description.
- House Bill 16-72 (Comptroller authority — emergency loans/grant anticipation loans): Committee advanced 26–0; bill lets the comptroller approve emergency operating loans without waiting for FEMA and allows use of other revenues to repay grant-anticipation loans when reimbursements are late.
- House Bill 15-26 (Name a Blount County National Guard armory for Commander Sgt. Maj. William O. Gregory): Committee advanced 26–0.
- House Bill 8-78 (Treasurer: Criminal Injury Compensation Fund review): Committee advanced 26–0; bill authorizes certain county-level investigation into falling fund revenues and potential collection issues.
- House Bill 16-30 (Bureau of Workers’ Comp computer system): Committee advanced 25–0; the bill authorizes using excess fund balances (no new appropriation) to purchase a new computer system.
- House Bill 16-31 (Department of Agriculture — replace Tennessee State Fair and Exposition Commission references): Committee advanced 26–0 to modernize state aid references and replace the commission name with the Tennessee Agriculture Fair and Livestock Show Act.
- House Bill 7-54 (detransition coverage requirement): Advanced 20–7; see separate coverage for details.
- House Bill 19-78 (sales/use tax exemption extension): Advanced 17–9 after debate; see separate coverage for details.
House Bill 25-10 was rolled to the final calendar without objection. The committee adjourned after completing the calendar.
- House Bill 3-57 (Rescue Squad Recognition Act): Amendment adopted; committee vote 25–0. The bill requires rescue squads to be duly recognized and authorized by the state fire marshal’s office.
- House Bill 15-55 (Driving while holding an electronic device): Removes a $10 court-cost cap and sets court costs at 50% of normal moving-violation litigation taxes; committee vote 15–8–1 (aye–no–not voting). Sponsors noted example fines (a $50 fine plus roughly $35–$70 in court costs depending on jurisdiction).
- House Bill 18-05 (Social studies standards — history of communism): Committee advanced 23–2 after sponsor’s description.
- House Bill 16-72 (Comptroller authority — emergency loans/grant anticipation loans): Committee advanced 26–0; bill lets the comptroller approve emergency operating loans without waiting for FEMA and allows use of other revenues to repay grant-anticipation loans when reimbursements are late.
- House Bill 15-26 (Name a Blount County National Guard armory for Commander Sgt. Maj. William O. Gregory): Committee advanced 26–0.
- House Bill 8-78 (Treasurer: Criminal Injury Compensation Fund review): Committee advanced 26–0; bill authorizes certain county-level investigation into falling fund revenues and potential collection issues.
- House Bill 16-30 (Bureau of Workers’ Comp computer system): Committee advanced 25–0; the bill authorizes using excess fund balances (no new appropriation) to purchase a new computer system.
- House Bill 16-31 (Department of Agriculture — replace Tennessee State Fair and Exposition Commission references): Committee advanced 26–0 to modernize state aid references and replace the commission name with the Tennessee Agriculture Fair and Livestock Show Act.
- House Bill 7-54 (detransition coverage requirement): Advanced 20–7; see separate coverage for details.
- House Bill 19-78 (sales/use tax exemption extension): Advanced 17–9 after debate; see separate coverage for details.
House Bill 25-10 was rolled to the final calendar without objection. The committee adjourned after completing the calendar.
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