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SB 31

Motor Vehicles - As introduced, changes from January 15 to January 1, the beginning date of each year at which time the department of transportation may reduce the maximum weight of vehicle loads if necessary to protect the streets, roads, highways, or other public thoroughfares from unnecessary injury or damage. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 47; Title 54; Title 55; Title 56; Title 65; Title 66 and Title 67.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Paul Bailey

Mandates a Legislative Library audit of all active state boards/commissions; 120-day responses and 12-month meeting test flag inactive ones for repeal in 2026, trimming clutter.

Recalled from Senate State & Local Government Committee
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Bill Summary · SB 31

SB 31 — "The Wells Act"

Status: Withdrawn from Committee
Introduced: August 15, 2025
Subjects: Authorities; Boards; Commissions; Committees; General Assembly; Legislative Library; Public Reports; Studies; Task Forces

Main purpose

To identify and accelerate repeal of inactive, nonresponsive, or obsolete state-level boards, committees, and commissions by requiring the Legislative Library to audit their activity and send a compiled list to the Joint Legislative Administrative Procedure Oversight Committee for repeal recommendations.

Key provisions

  • Directs the Legislative Library to send a standardized request for documentation and confirmation of activity to all state boards, committees, and commissions that remain on the books and have not already expired or been repealed.
  • Specifies the documentation to be requested:
    • Current membership roster
    • Most recent meeting minutes
    • Current bylaws
    • List of entities to which the board/committee/commission reports
  • Sets a 120‑day response window.
  • If an entity (a) fails to respond within 120 days, or (b) responds but has not met in the prior 12 months, the Legislative Library will add it to a compiled list of nonresponsive/inactive entities.
  • Directs the Joint Legislative Administrative Procedure Oversight Committee to receive that list and prepare legislation to repeal the listed entities; that legislation is to be recommended to the next Regular Session of the General Assembly (the bill directs recommendation for the 2026 session).
  • Effective date: upon becoming law (no delayed implementation language in the bill text).

Who would be affected

  • All non-expired state boards, commissions, task forces and committees that are required to report to the legislature or state agencies.
  • The Legislative Library (responsible for outreach and compiling responses).
  • The Joint Legislative Administrative Procedure Oversight Committee (charged with reviewing the list and preparing repeal bills).
  • Potentially affected boards/commissions that fail to respond or have not met in 12 months — they would be subject to legislative repeal.

Procedural/timeline notes & likely impacts

  • The 120‑day response deadline and the 12‑month meeting test create a clear administrative pathway to identify inactive bodies.
  • Administrative workload will increase for the Legislative Library (issuing requests, tracking replies, compiling the list); the bill does not specify funding or staffing changes.
  • Financial impact is likely minimal but could require modest staff time.
  • Policy impact: streamlines government oversight by removing dormant entities, increases transparency, and reduces statutory clutter; critics may note risk of inadvertent repeal of low‑activity but still necessary bodies if outreach or review is incomplete.
  • Current status (per bill metadata provided): Withdrawn from committee after introduction on August 15, 2025.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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