District 71 Capitol Hill Update with Representative David Byrd

COVID-19 liability protection / Public Chapter 1117 — Extends for one year the Tennessee Recovery and Safe Harbor Act of 2020 – which provides COVID-19 liability protection to businesses, schools, churches and other entities – Effective June 2022 to July 1, 2023.

Consumer protection for subscription services / Public Chapter 803 — To ensure consumers are able to cancel online subscription services, a new law requires businesses that allow someone to sign up for a service or subscription online to provide a clear way to end or cancel the subscription without any additional steps. If a company violates the act, then the individual who suffered a loss may bring civil action for damages. Effective January 2023.

Residential blasting / Public Chapter 871 — To address neighborhood concerns about residential blasting, this law updates blasting requirements, including adding safety processes and protocols. The new law will lower vibrations, increase communications with the public, clean up and remove standards that have been on the books since 1975. Effective July 1, 2022.

Employee eligibility through E-verify /Public Chapter 832 - updated state law regarding the use of the E-Verify system to confirm employment eligibility of individuals. The legislation reduces the threshold for employers to use the system from 50 employees to 35, prohibits the rehiring of illegal aliens and adds protections for employers if E-Verify fails or is not operational. Effective May 2022.

Travel Insurance / Public Chapter 703 - A new law clarifies existing regulation for travel insurance. It includes provisions offering savings to the consumer, and prohibits the automatic addition of travel insurance to a booking. Effective July 2022.

Cemetery Trust / Public Chapter 705 - Allows cemeteries with small trust funds to share banking and trustee costs with other cemetery trust funds, and also provides cemeteries with a more stable way to determine the amount allowed for dispersing earnings for maintenance expenses. Effective January 1, 2023.

As always, I am truly humbled and honored to be your voice on Capitol Hill. If there is ever any issue I can assist with, please reach out to my office by calling 615-741-2190 or emailing me at [email protected]