Insurance, Health, Accident - As enacted, enacts the "Voluntary Portable Benefit Plan Act"; makes related changes. - Amends TCA Title 50 and Title 65, Chapter 15, Part 3.
SB 1377, the Voluntary Portable Benefit Plan Act, allows businesses to voluntarily contribute to portable benefit plans for independent contractors. These plans, administered by third-party providers chosen by the contractor, cover health, disability, unemployment, life insurance, and retirement benefits. Contributions can be made directly by the business or by withholding a portion of the contractor’s pay, but only with a clear written opt-in agreement and the ability to opt out at any time. The bill amends Tennessee law to ensure these contributions cannot be used to determine a worker’s employment classification as an employee or independent contractor.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Mar 2025
House Passage
Mar 2025
Signed into Law
Apr 2025
Introduced Feb 10, 2025
Signed Apr 3, 2025
Floor votes · Senate Mar 20, 2025 · House Mar 20, 2025
How they voted
32–3
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 37
Mar 20, 2025
D
Democratic6
50% Nay
R
Republican31
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
24
Key actions
10
Committee
5
Amendments
1
Apr 3, 2025
Signed into law
Signed by Governor.
lower
Mar 24, 2025
Upper · Passed
Signed by Senate Speaker
upper
Mar 24, 2025
Lower · Passed
Signed by H. Speaker
lower
Mar 20, 2025
Lower · Passed
Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0084)
lower
Mar 20, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 27, Nays 3, PNV 2
upper
Mar 20, 2025
Amended
Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - HA0054)
lower
Mar 20, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed H., Ayes 82, Nays 13, PNV 0
lower
Mar 11, 2025
Upper · Passed
Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 8, Nays 1 PNV 0
upper
Mar 5, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on Senate Commerce and Labor Committee calendar for 3/11/2025
lower
Mar 4, 2025
Lower · Passed
Action deferred in Senate Commerce and Labor Committee to 3/11/2025
lower
Feb 25, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on Senate Commerce and Labor Committee calendar for 3/4/2025
lower
Feb 12, 2025
Committee
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Commerce and Labor Committee
upper
Feb 10, 2025
Introduced
Introduced, Passed on First Consideration
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Bo Watson
RRepublican
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