TN SB0041

Consumer Billing

Passed Senate Ferrell Haile (R)
Plain English Summary

This bill makes it illegal for service providers to charge consumers for an additional billing cycle if they cancel their service within the first half of a billing cycle. It aims to protect consumers from unfair charges when they decide to terminate their agreements early.

Supporters Say

Supporters of the bill argue that it strengthens consumer rights by preventing service providers from imposing unfair charges on customers who choose to end their contracts early. They believe this legislation promotes fair business practices and enhances transparency in consumer billing.

Critics Say

Critics of the bill may argue that it could lead to increased costs for service providers, which might ultimately be passed on to consumers. They might also contend that the legislation could limit the flexibility of service agreements, making it harder for companies to manage their billing processes.

Conflict of Interest Analysis Personal Interests
2/10
Risk Level
Low
Policy Area
Commerce
Industry Overlap
0%
Personal Conflicts
0 found

The analysis of SB0041, which addresses consumer billing practices, reveals no direct overlaps between the personal financial interests of sponsor Ferrell Haile and the bill's subject matter. Haile's primary occupation as a pharmacist and business ownership of Perkins Drugs & Gift Shoppe do not intersect with the consumer billing practices outlined in this legislation. The bill aims to protect consumers from unfair billing practices, which does not appear to impact Haile's financial interests in the pharmaceutical or retail sectors directly.

Furthermore, Haile's involvement with various properties and organizations, such as Georgian Manor Apartments and Sumner Regional Medical Center, does not suggest any potential for personal financial gain from the provisions of this bill. The absence of direct alignment between the sponsor's financial interests and the bill's implications indicates a low risk of conflict of interest.

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 Pharmacist Pharmaceuticals/Health Products TN Legislature bio
Business Owner Owner of Perkins Drugs & Gift Shoppe AI-researched
Board Member Board Member of Sumner Regional Medical Center TN Legislature bio
Employer HAILE FARMS TN Ethics Commission
Employer GEORGIAN MANOR APTS. TN Ethics Commission
Employer STEVE FREEMAN FARMS TN Ethics Commission
Employer 2005 CAIRO RENTAL TN Ethics Commission
Business Owner GEORGIAN MANOR APTS. CO-OWNER from Jan 1992 to Apr 2026 TN Ethics Commission
Business Owner SUMNER COUNTY ANTIDRUG COALITION ADVISOR from Jan 2014 to Dec 2014 TN Ethics Commission
Business Owner WORLD CHRISTIAN BROADCASTING BOARD MEMBER from Jan 2006 to Jul 2014 TN Ethics Commission
Business Owner STATION CAMP CHURCH ELDER from Jan 2010 to Jan 2017 TN Ethics Commission
Business Owner STATION CAMP CHURCH BOARD OF TRUSTEES CHAIRMAN from Jan 2017 to Apr 2022 TN Ethics Commission
Business Owner APCI BOARD MEMBER from Jan 1992 to Apr 2016 TN Ethics Commission
Business Owner SOUTHEAST COMMUNITY FIRE DEPT. PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD from Jan 1991 to Apr 2022 TN Ethics Commission
Business Owner CHRISTIAN TOWERS BOARD MEMBER from Jan 1992 to Jan 2014 TN Ethics Commission
Asset GEORGIAN MANOR APTS.; TN Ethics Commission
Asset RAYMOND JAMES FINANCIAL SERVICES TN Ethics Commission
Asset Leadership PAC: HAILEPAC 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.

TheBillRoom is free and independent. No ads, no subscriptions, no political funding. If this analysis was useful, reader support keeps it running.
Support Us

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.