Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

Tennessee House Bill HB0539 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1
2	2	SENATE BILL 402
3	3	By Lamar
4	4
5	5	HOUSE BILL 539
6	6	By Dixie
7	7
8	8
9	9	HB0539
10	10	000076
11	11	- 1 -
12	12
13	13	AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 9,
14	14	Chapter 8; Title 16; Title 18; Title 20; Title 21; Title
15	15	27; Title 28; Title 29; Title 45; Title 47; Title 63 and
16	16	Title 68, relative to credit data.
17	17
18	18	BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
19	19	SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 47, Chapter 18, is amended by adding
20	20	the following as a new part:
21	21	47-18-5801.
22	22	As used in this part:
23	23	(1) "Consumer report" has the same meaning as defined by 15 U.S.C. §
24	24	1681a(d);
25	25	(2) "Consumer reporting agency" has the same meaning as defined by
26	26	15 U.S.C. § 1681a(f);
27	27	(3) "Debt collections agency" means a person or entity hired to collect or
28	28	attempt to collect debts due or asserted to be due to another person or entity;
29	29	(4) "Healthcare provider" means a healthcare practitioner, person, or
30	30	facility licensed, authorized, certified, registered, or regulated under title 33, title
31	31	63, or title 68; and
32	32	(5) "Medical debt" means debt arising from the receipt of healthcare
33	33	services and related expenses.
34	34	47-18-5802.
35	35
36	36
37	37	- 2 - 000076
38	38
39	39	(a) Beginning July 1, 2025, a healthcare provider shall not report a patient's
40	40	medical debt to a consumer reporting agency. This section does not prohibit a
41	41	healthcare provider from reporting a patient's medical debt to a debt collections agency.
42	42	(b) Beginning July 1, 2025, a consumer reporting agency shall not include on a
43	43	consumer report a record of medical debt.
44	44	(c) If a consumer reporting agency includes information in a consumer report in
45	45	violation of subsection (b), then the person to whom the consumer report applies may
46	46	dispute the completeness or accuracy of such information, as provided under the federal
47	47	Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. § 1681i).
48	48	47-18-5803.
49	49	(a) A violation of this part constitutes a violation of the Tennessee Consumer
50	50	Protection Act of 1977, compiled in part 1 of this chapter. A violation of this part
51	51	constitutes an unfair or deceptive act or practice affecting trade or commerce and is
52	52	subject to the penalties and remedies as provided in the Tennessee Consumer
53	53	Protection Act of 1977, in addition to the penalties and remedies in this part.
54	54	(b) The attorney general and reporter has all of the investigative and
55	55	enforcement authority that the attorney general and reporter has under the Tennessee
56	56	Consumer Protection Act of 1977 relating to alleged violations of this part. The attorney
57	57	general and reporter may institute any proceedings involving alleged violations of this
58	58	part in Davidson County circuit or chancery court or any other venue otherwise permitted
59	59	by law.
60	60	(c) Costs of any kind or nature cannot be taxed against the attorney general and
61	61	reporter or this state in actions commenced under this part.
62	62	SECTION 2. This act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it.