SB 1435, which went into effect March 12, 2014, requires the Board of Licensing Contractors to reject license applications that have a name (under which the applicant will be trading) identical, or very similar, to an existing licensee due to the confusion it may cause. Please review the Senate Bill language here.
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/108/Bill/SB1435.pdf
Tennessee – License Rejections