# Tennessee HB 0743: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 47, Chapter 18, relative to debt resolution services. Tennessee HB 0743, AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 47, Chapter 18, relative to debt resolution services., is a 114th General Assembly (2025-2026) House bill sponsored by no sponsor on record; status signed, last action 2025-04-28 (Effective date(s) 07/01/2025, 01/01/2026) (as of 2026-11-01). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TN-HB0743-2025-2026 - As of: 2026-11-01 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Tennessee HB 0743 - State: Tennessee - Session: 114th General Assembly (2025-2026) - Title: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 47, Chapter 18, relative to debt resolution services. - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2025-02-03 - Last action: 2025-04-28, Effective date(s) 07/01/2025, 01/01/2026 - Sponsors: no sponsor on record - Cosponsors: 1 - Subjects: Consumer Protection - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 5 (153 yes, 1 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 8 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Safer accounts for debt resolution customers: benefit, medium. Beginning January 1, 2026, required debt resolution savings accounts must be at FDIC-insured banks. You own the money and interest. The account company must be independent of the debt resolution provider, with no paid referrals between them. Ownership above 20% of voting shares counts as control. P… - Debt customers get statements and records: benefit, low. Beginning January 1, 2026, providers must give active debt resolution customers monthly account statements. Requested statements and final statements are due within five business days; requested statements are limited to one per month. Statements must show deposits, withdrawals, balances, resolved… - Debt resolution fees require real progress: benefit, low. Beginning January 1, 2026, Tennessee debt resolution providers cannot request or collect fees until three steps are complete. You must sign a compliant agreement, a creditor must agree to change at least one debt, and you must make a payment under that resolution or another valid creditor agreement… - Stronger protections against debt service abuse: benefit, low. Beginning January 1, 2026, covered debt resolution providers and marketers cannot take power of attorney to resolve debts. They cannot redirect creditor messages, send stop-contact notices for customers, act after agreements end, or improperly access bank accounts. They generally cannot receive or… - Existing debt agreements keep earlier rules: benefit, low. The law took effect for rulemaking on July 1, 2025, and for other purposes on January 1, 2026. The new rules apply to conduct and licenses on or after January 1, 2026. Transactions and licenses under the earlier law from before that date can be completed, ended, or enforced under earlier rules. Rig… - Some debt providers remain outside protections: cost, low. Beginning January 1, 2026, this law exempts banks and their employees, qualifying tax-exempt groups, and creditors acting as creditors. Tennessee-licensed lawyers and accountants are exempt when acting within professional client relationships. Judicial officials and government workers acting offici… - Debt providers face licensing and penalties: cost, low. Beginning January 1, 2026, covered providers need a Tennessee Commerce and Insurance license before offering or marketing debt resolution services. Licenses last two years, cannot be transferred, and are tied to the primary business address. Providers must maintain a state-set surety bond of no mor… - Debt customers can leave without penalties: mixed, medium. Beginning January 1, 2026, you can end a debt resolution agreement anytime without penalty by writing, electronically, or through a recorded phone call. Within two business days, the provider must explain effects on negotiated installment plans and pending talks. It must notify the account company… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Cosponsor: Johnny Garrett (Republican), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2025-04-10 | Senate | FLOOR VOTE: Third Consideration 4/10/2025 | pass | 31 | 1 | | | 2025-03-31 | House | FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 3/31/2025 | pass | 93 | 0 | | | 2025-03-31 | House | HOUSE CALENDAR & RULES COMMITTEE | fail | 0 | 0 | | | 2025-03-26 | House | HOUSE COMMERCE COMMITTEE | pass | 22 | 0 | | | 2025-03-19 | House | HOUSE BANKING AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS SUBCOMMITTEE | pass | 7 | 0 | | ## Bill text - HA0187 (Substitute), 2025-03-31: [PDF](https://capitol.tn.gov/Bills/114/Amend/HA0187.pdf) - HA0188, 2025-03-31: [PDF](https://capitol.tn.gov/Bills/114/Amend/HA0188.pdf) - Enrolled / Public Chapter: [PDF](https://publications.tnsosfiles.com/acts/114/pub/pc0287.pdf) - Fiscal Note: [PDF](https://capitol.tn.gov/Bills/114/Fiscal/HB0743.pdf) - Introduced: [PDF](https://capitol.tn.gov/Bills/114/Bill/HB0743.pdf) - SA0232: [PDF](https://capitol.tn.gov/Bills/114/Amend/SA0232.pdf) ## Related bills - HB 0489: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 38; Title 39; Title 40 and Title 55, relative to criminal law. (failed) - HB 0162: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 67, relative to taxes. (failed) - SB 2733: AN ACT to amend Chapter 33 of the Private Acts of 1985; as amended by Chapter 85 of the Private Acts of 2004; and any other acts amendatory thereto, relative t… (failed) - SB 2690: AN ACT to make appropriations for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the state government for the fiscal years beginning July 1, 2025, and July 1, 2026,… (signed) - SB 2702: AN ACT to amend Chapter 154 of the Private Acts of 1955; as amended by Chapter 158 of the Private Acts of 1988; Chapter 204 of the Private Acts of 1990; and an… (failed) - SB 2716: AN ACT to amend Chapter 325 of the Private Acts of 1945; as amended by Chapter 335 of the Private Acts of 1968; Chapter 282 of the Private Acts of 1972; Chapte… (failed) ## Sources - [HA0187 (Substitute) (PDF)](https://capitol.tn.gov/Bills/114/Amend/HA0187.pdf) - [HA0188 (PDF)](https://capitol.tn.gov/Bills/114/Amend/HA0188.pdf) - [Enrolled / Public Chapter (PDF)](https://publications.tnsosfiles.com/acts/114/pub/pc0287.pdf) - [Fiscal Note (PDF)](https://capitol.tn.gov/Bills/114/Fiscal/HB0743.pdf) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://capitol.tn.gov/Bills/114/Bill/HB0743.pdf) - [SA0232 (PDF)](https://capitol.tn.gov/Bills/114/Amend/SA0232.pdf) ## Related - [HB 0489: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 38; Title 39; Title 40 and Titl…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TN-HB0489-2025-2026) - [HB 0162: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 67, relative to taxes.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TN-HB0162-2025-2026) - [SB 2733: AN ACT to amend Chapter 33 of the Private Acts of 1985; as amended by Chapter 8…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TN-SB2733-2025-2026) - [SB 2690: AN ACT to make appropriations for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TN-SB2690-2025-2026) - [SB 2702: AN ACT to amend Chapter 154 of the Private Acts of 1955; as amended by Chapter…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TN-SB2702-2025-2026) - [SB 2716: AN ACT to amend Chapter 325 of the Private Acts of 1945; as amended by Chapter…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TN-SB2716-2025-2026) - [Tennessee bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/tennessee/bills) - [Tennessee state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/tennessee) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TN-HB0743-2025-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).