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TennesseeHB 1136114th General Assembly (2025-2026)HouseWALLET

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 7 and Title 65, relative to broadband enabled services.

Sponsored By: Clark Boyd (Republican)

Became Law

Public Utility Commission

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Consumer protections and 911 fees preserved

The law keeps core protections in place for internet and VoIP customers. State consumer protection and fair‑competition laws still apply to broadband. Agencies can still run federal broadband grant programs. VoIP service can still be charged fair fees for 911, relay, and universal service.

Broadband not treated as utilities

The law says broadband internet access is not a telecommunications service. Broadband companies are not public utilities under state law. They also are not “telecommunications service providers” for state rules. Another statute is updated to make clear it does not cover broadband.

Limits on state and local broadband rules

The law stops Tennessee agencies, cities, and counties from regulating broadband or interconnected VoIP. They cannot control who enters the market, prices, terms, or conditions for these services. They also cannot treat these providers as carriers, except for specific exceptions kept in this law. The act also deletes an older subsection of state telecom law.

Clear definitions for broadband and VoIP

The law uses the federal meaning for broadband internet access and interconnected VoIP. It excludes any intrastate service that had a state tariff on May 15, 2006. Those legacy services cannot be reclassified or bundled to avoid state inspection fees. This sets common terms for providers and regulators.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Clark Boyd

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Dan Howell

    Republican • House

  • Greg Vital

    Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 129 • No: 21

Senate vote • 3/10/2025

FLOOR VOTE: Third Consideration 3/10/2025

Yes: 26 • No: 3

House vote • 3/3/2025

FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 3/3/2025

Yes: 71 • No: 18

House vote • 3/3/2025

HOUSE CALENDAR & RULES COMMITTEE

Yes: 0 • No: 0

House vote • 2/26/2025

HOUSE COMMERCE COMMITTEE

Yes: 22 • No: 0

House vote • 2/19/2025

HOUSE BUSINESS AND UTILITIES SUBCOMMITTEE

Yes: 10 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Pub. Ch. 107

    4/4/2025

  2. Effective date(s) 03/28/2025

    4/4/2025

  3. Signed by Governor.

    3/28/2025

  4. Transmitted to Governor for his action.

    3/20/2025House

  5. Signed by H. Speaker

    3/19/2025House

  6. Signed by Senate Speaker

    3/19/2025Senate

  7. Enrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker.

    3/11/2025House

  8. Senate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.

    3/10/2025Senate

  9. Amendment withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - SA0071)

    3/10/2025Senate

  10. Passed Senate, Ayes 26, Nays 3

    3/10/2025Senate

  11. Received from House, Passed on First Consideration

    3/6/2025Senate

  12. Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.

    3/4/2025House

  13. Sponsor(s) Added.

    3/3/2025House

  14. H. adopted am. (Amendment 1 - HA0020)

    3/3/2025House

  15. Passed H., as am., Ayes 71, Nays 18, PNV 0

    3/3/2025House

  16. H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 3/3/2025

    2/27/2025House

  17. Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules Committee

    2/26/2025House

  18. Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 2/27/2025

    2/26/2025House

  19. Sponsor(s) Added.

    2/19/2025House

  20. Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Commerce Committee

    2/19/2025House

  21. Placed on cal. Commerce Committee for 2/26/2025

    2/19/2025House

  22. P2C, ref. to Commerce Committee

    2/12/2025House

  23. Assigned to s/c Business & Utilities Subcommittee

    2/12/2025House

  24. Placed on s/c cal Business & Utilities Subcommittee for 2/19/2025

    2/12/2025House

  25. Intro., P1C.

    2/10/2025House

Bill Text

  • HA0020 (Substitute)

    3/3/2025

    PDF

  • Enrolled / Public Chapter

    PDF

  • Fiscal Note

    PDF

  • Introduced

    PDF

  • SA0071

    PDF

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