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TennesseeSB 0286114th General Assembly (2025-2026)SenateWALLET

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 56, Chapter 26, relative to multiple employer welfare arrangements.

Sponsored By: Paul Bailey (Republican)

Became Law

Insurance Companies, Agents, Brokers, Policies

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Commissioner can waive some plan rules

The insurance commissioner can waive parts of Tennessee’s multiple‑employer health plan rules and related policyholder‑protection rules. This is allowed only when the plan’s home‑state regulator provides reasonable and adequate oversight. Waivers are discretionary and decided case by case.

State rules and taxes for health pools

The insurance commissioner sets rules to ensure solvency, administration, exams, and enforcement for health pooling agreements. Rules cannot block an out‑of‑state association from offering coverage in Tennessee when the coverage follows federal law. Employer members of an approved group may be treated as self‑insurers. Pools created or treated as domestic owe state taxes, must file for approval, and must follow policyholder protection laws.

More health plan options for bank employees

Bank trade groups can sponsor one health plan for member banks and their workers. The group must be at least five years old and have a real purpose besides benefits. It cannot base membership on health, and coverage must be open to all members and offered only through the association. A bank-only plan from a neighboring state can operate in Tennessee if it is licensed there, enrolls no more than 2,500 Tennessee employees, has strong home‑state oversight, and gets a Tennessee certificate of authority.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Paul Bailey

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 39 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/3/2025

FLOOR VOTE: Motion to Adopt 3/3/2025

Yes: 32 • No: 0

Senate vote • 2/25/2025

SENATE COMMERCE AND LABOR COMMITTEE

Yes: 7 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Pub. Ch. 161

    5/2/2025

  2. Effective date(s) 04/11/2025

    5/2/2025

  3. Signed by Governor.

    4/11/2025Senate

  4. Transmitted to Governor for action.

    4/3/2025Senate

  5. Signed by Senate Speaker

    4/2/2025Senate

  6. Signed by H. Speaker

    4/2/2025House

  7. Enrolled and ready for signatures

    4/1/2025Senate

  8. Subst. for comp. HB.

    3/31/2025House

  9. Passed H., Ayes 93, Nays 0, PNV 2

    3/31/2025House

  10. Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.

    3/6/2025House

  11. Passed Senate, Ayes 32, Nays 0

    3/3/2025Senate

  12. Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

    3/3/2025Senate

  13. Placed on Senate Consent Calendar 2 for 3/3/2025

    2/27/2025Senate

  14. Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee

    2/25/2025Senate

  15. Placed on Senate Commerce and Labor Committee calendar for 2/25/2025

    2/18/2025Senate

  16. Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Commerce and Labor Committee

    2/10/2025Senate

  17. Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

    1/27/2025Senate

  18. Filed for introduction

    1/24/2025Senate

Bill Text

  • Enrolled / Public Chapter

    PDF

  • Fiscal Note

    PDF

  • Introduced

    PDF

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