The bill, sponsored by John Clemmons, aims to prevent consumer reporting agencies from including medical debt judgments on consumer credit reports in Tennessee. This means that if someone has a judgment related to medical debt, it would not affect their credit score or report. The bill is intended to help individuals who may struggle with medical bills and protect their creditworthiness.
Supporters of the bill argue that it provides much-needed relief to individuals facing financial difficulties due to medical expenses. By removing medical debt judgments from credit reports, the legislation could lead to better access to loans and housing for those affected, ultimately promoting financial stability and health equity.
Critics of the bill may argue that it could undermine the integrity of credit reporting systems, making it harder for lenders to assess risk. They could express concerns that this legislation might encourage irresponsible financial behavior regarding medical debts, potentially leading to higher costs for everyone in the long run.
The sponsor of HB0223, John Clemmons, is an attorney and partner at a law firm, with no direct financial interests in consumer credit, banking, or data privacy industries that are impacted by the bill. The bill aims to prohibit consumer reporting agencies from including medical debt judgments in consumer reports, which primarily affects credit reporting agencies and consumers rather than legal professionals. Although Clemmons is involved in the legal field, there is no direct connection between his legal practice or his role in the Tennessee Bar Association and the specific financial sectors affected by the bill. Therefore, the potential for personal financial gain from this legislation is minimal.
Unlike federal analysis based on campaign donations, state analysis examines legislators' personal financial interests — their jobs, businesses, and investments.
| Type | Description | Industry | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Occupation | Attorney | Lawyers/Law Firms | TN Legislature bio |
| Employer | Partner at Clemmons & Clemons, PLLC | Lawyers/Law Firms | AI-researched |
| Board Member | Board member of Tennessee Bar Association | — | AI-researched |
| Employer | CLEMMONS & CLEMONS, PLLC | Lawyers/Law Firms | TN Ethics Commission |
| Spouse Employer | TRUST INCOME | — | TN Ethics Commission |
| Spouse Employer | ENERGY TRANSFER LP | — | TN Ethics Commission |
| Employer | TRUST - CAPITAL GAINS | — | TN Ethics Commission |
| Business Owner | COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION OF NASHVILLE MEMBER from Jan 2009 to current | Education | TN Ethics Commission |
| Business Owner | VOLUNTEER LAWYERS & PROFESSIONALS FOR THE ARTS VOLUNTEER ATTORNEY from Jan 2009 to Apr 2018 | Lawyers/Law Firms | TN Ethics Commission |
| Business Owner | COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY ALUMNI REPRESENTATIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER from Jan 2008 to current | Education | TN Ethics Commission |
| Business Owner | HARRY PHILLIPS AMERICAN INN OF COURT BARRISTER from Aug 2015 to Apr 2019 | — | TN Ethics Commission |
| Business Owner | NASHVILLE BAR FOUNDATION FELLOW from Mar 2017 to current | — | TN Ethics Commission |
| Business Owner | TENNESSEE COLLEGE OF APPLIED TECHNOLOGY - NASHVILLE ADVISORY BOARD from Jun 2018 to Nov 2022 | Education | TN Ethics Commission |
| Business Owner | MCCABE PARK LITTLE LEAGUE VOLUNTEER COACH from Aug 2019 to current | — | TN Ethics Commission |
| Business Owner | TENNESSEE BAR ASSOCIATION MEMBER from Nov 2007 to current | — | TN Ethics Commission |
| Business Owner | NASHVILLE BAR ASSOCIATION MEMBER from Nov 2007 to current | — | TN Ethics Commission |
| Business Owner | SILENT NO LONGER TENNESSEE BOARD MEMBER from Feb 2022 to current | — | TN Ethics Commission |
| Business Owner | CORE HOOPS - MBA VOLUNTEER COACH from Jan 2022 to Feb 2023 | — | TN Ethics Commission |
| Business Owner | SILENT NO LONGER TN BOARD MEMBER from Jan 2023 to current | — | TN Ethics Commission |
| Business Owner | CLEMMONS AND CLEMONS, PLLC MEMBER from Jul 2013 to current | Lawyers/Law Firms | TN Ethics Commission |
| Business Owner | NASHVILLE RBI-BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF MIDDLE TN RBI ADVISORY RD from Jan 2014 to Apr 2017 | — | TN Ethics Commission |
| Business Owner | FRIENDS OF SEVIER PARK, INC MEMBER, BOARD OF DIRECTORS from Apr 2013 to current | — | TN Ethics Commission |
| Business Owner | BELMONT-HILLSBORO NEIGHBORS, INC. EX OFFICIO MEMBER, STEERING COMMITTEE from Jan 2014 to current | — | TN Ethics Commission |
| Asset | FIDELITY INVESTMENTS (SPOUSE & 3 MINORS)and Minor Child | Securities & Investment | TN Ethics Commission |
| Asset | FIDELITY INVESTMENTS, 401(K) | Securities & Investment | TN Ethics Commission |
| Asset | MML INVESTOR SERVICES, LLC | — | TN Ethics Commission |
| Occupation | Law, LEGAL | — | TN Ethics Commission |
| Asset | Leadership PAC: INVICTUS PAC | — | TN Ethics Commission |
Items marked "AI-researched" are generated from public sources but have not been independently verified. Verified data is sourced from official legislature websites and disclosure filings.
About This Analysis
This summary was generated using AI from the bill's official text and metadata. Data sourced from LegiScan and the Tennessee General Assembly. Conflict analysis examines the sponsor's personal financial interests for potential overlaps with the bill's subject matter.
TN HB0223