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SB0739 • 2026

Consumer Protection

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 9 and Title 47, relative to consumer protection.

Labor
Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Harshbarger, Jones R
Last action
2026-03-10
Official status
Deferred to Summer Study
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide specific details on what happens if a cancellation period is missed or how businesses will be affected.

Consumer Protection Act

This bill changes the cancellation period for consumers who negotiate unsolicited negotiable instruments from 30 days to 45 days.

What This Bill Does

  • Extends the cancellation period from 30 days to 45 days for consumers who negotiate an unsolicited negotiable instrument.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Consumers who purchase products or services through unsolicited negotiable instruments
  • Businesses that sell products or offer services via unsolicited negotiable instruments

Terms To Know

unsolicited negotiable instrument
A document, such as a check or draft, given to someone without their request and which can be exchanged for money.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens if the cancellation period is missed.
  • It is unclear how this change will affect businesses that rely on timely cancellations from consumers.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

Amendment 1-0 to SB0739

Plain English: This amendment adds new rules to Tennessee law that require businesses with six or more employees to accept cash for in-person transactions and not charge extra fees for using cash.

  • Businesses must accept cash as payment for goods or services during in-person transactions if they have at least six employees.
  • Businesses cannot charge a fee or surcharge when customers pay with cash, nor can they offer higher prices to those who use cash instead of electronic payments.
  • There are exceptions for certain types of businesses and events where these rules do not apply.
  • The amendment text is quite detailed and includes many specific conditions that may be hard to summarize fully without additional context.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Taken off notice for cal in s/c Banking and Consumer Affairs Subcommittee of Commerce Committee

  2. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  3. 2026-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Deferred to Summer Study

  4. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Commerce and Labor Committee calendar for 3/10/2026

  5. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Banking & Consumer Affairs Subcommittee for 3/11/2026

  6. 2026-03-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate Commerce and Labor Committee to 3/10/2026

  7. 2026-02-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Commerce and Labor Committee calendar for 3/3/2026

  8. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  9. 2026-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  10. 2025-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Commerce and Labor Committee

  11. 2025-03-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Commerce and Labor Committee calendar for 3/18/2025

  12. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  13. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Taken off notice for cal in s/c Banking and Consumer Affairs Subcommittee of Commerce Committee

  14. 2025-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Commerce and Labor Committee calendar for 3/18/2025

  15. 2025-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  16. 2025-03-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  17. 2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Banking & Consumer Affairs Subcommittee for 3/12/2025

  18. 2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Banking & Consumer Affairs Subcommittee

  19. 2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Ref. to Commerce Committee

  20. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  21. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  22. 2025-02-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, caption bill, held on desk - pending amdt.

  23. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  24. 2025-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  25. 2025-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HOUSE BILL 668
By Jones R

SENATE BILL 739
By Harshbarger

SB0739
002733
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 9 and
Title 47, relative to consumer protection.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 47-18-123(a), is amended by
deleting "thirty (30) days" and substituting "forty-five (45) days".
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.