TN HB0785

Bail Bonds

Passed House Dan Howell (R)
Plain English Summary

Tennessee HB0785 requires all licensed bail bondsmen to submit quarterly reports to the Department of Revenue. These reports must include details about the number of bonds issued, the counties where they operated, and the total liability in each county. Additionally, court clerks must also report on the bonds they accepted from bondsmen during the same period.

Supporters Say

Supporters of HB0785 argue that the bill enhances transparency in the bail bonding industry by ensuring accountability through regular reporting. They believe this will help the state monitor bail practices and prevent potential abuses in the system, ultimately benefiting the public.

Critics Say

Critics of HB0785 contend that the additional reporting requirements could burden bail bondsmen and court clerks with excessive paperwork. They argue that this could lead to increased costs for bondsmen, which may be passed on to individuals seeking bail, thereby making the system less accessible for those in need.

Conflict of Interest Analysis Personal Interests
1/10
Risk Level
Low
Policy Area
Crime and Law Enforcement
Industry Overlap
0%
Personal Conflicts
0 found

The analysis of Representative Dan Howell's personal financial interests reveals no direct conflicts with the subject matter of HB0785. The bill focuses on the regulation and reporting requirements for bail bondsmen, which primarily affects the bail bond industry and related legal and financial auditing processes. Representative Howell's financial interests, as documented, are primarily in broadcasting, consulting, and various retirement and insurance investments, none of which have a direct connection to the bail bond industry. His ownership of a small business consulting firm and investments in insurance and retirement accounts do not align with the specific regulatory changes proposed in the bill. Therefore, there is no indication that Representative Howell would derive any personal financial gain from the enactment of this legislation.

Sponsor's Personal Financial Interests

Unlike federal analysis based on campaign donations, state analysis examines legislators' personal financial interests — their jobs, businesses, and investments.

Type Description Industry Source
Occupation Former television and radio broadcaster AI-researched
Employer Tennessee House of Representatives TN Legislature bio
Business Owner Owner of a small business consulting firm AI-researched
Employer SOCIAL SECURITY TN Ethics Commission
Employer RETIREMENT INVESTMENTS TN Ethics Commission
Spouse Employer TEACHER'S RETIREMENT TN Ethics Commission
Employer BRIGHTHOUSE RETIREMENT ACCOUNT TN Ethics Commission
Employer TCRS TN Ethics Commission
Asset BRIGHTHOUSE INSURANCE COMPANY TN Ethics Commission
Asset GRIFFIN CAPITAL TN Ethics Commission
Asset SEI PRIVATE TRUST COMPANY 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.

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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.