Alcoholic Beverage Commission - As enacted, allows a judge, hearing officer, or administrative judge to award a person or entity that prevails in an administrative or civil action brought against the person or entity attorneys' fees and costs incurred as a result of the administrative or civil action. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 5; Title 27, Chapter 1 and Title 57, Chapter 1.
SB 835 amends Tennessee law to allow judges, hearing officers, or administrative judges to award attorney fees and costs to a person or entity that wins a lawsuit against the Alcoholic Beverage Commission (ABC). It directly affects individuals or businesses challenging the ABC’s actions in administrative or civil court. The key provision requires courts to grant legal fees to prevailing parties in cases involving the ABC, whether the suit was filed by the ABC or against it. This change shifts the financial burden of legal costs to the losing party in ABC-related disputes.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
House Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
Apr 2025
Introduced Feb 10, 2025
Signed Apr 21, 2025
Floor votes · Senate Mar 10, 2025 · House Apr 7, 2025
How they voted
34–0
Passed
Total votes 34
Mar 10, 2025
D
Democratic4
100% Yea
R
Republican30
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
21
Key actions
8
Committee
3
Amendments
1
Apr 21, 2025
Signed into law
Signed by Governor.
lower
Apr 10, 2025
Lower · Passed
Signed by H. Speaker
lower
Apr 9, 2025
Upper · Passed
Signed by Senate Speaker
upper
Apr 7, 2025
Amended
Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - HA0276)
lower
Apr 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed H., Ayes 96, Nays 0, PNV 0
lower
Mar 10, 2025
Lower · Passed
Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0048)
lower
Mar 10, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 29, Nays 0
upper
Mar 5, 2025
Upper · Passed
Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 9, Nays 0 PNV 0
upper
Feb 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/4/2025
lower
Feb 12, 2025
Committee
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee
upper
Feb 10, 2025
Introduced
Introduced, Passed on First Consideration
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Todd Gardenhire
RRepublican
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