Tennessee General Assembly information, click HERE. For information on State Senators, including phone numbers and email addresses, click HERE; for House members, click HERE. For information on legislation, click HERE.
Don’t forget that you can now watch the Senate committee meetings and floor sessions online by going HERE;
House committee meetings and floor sessions online HERE.
Phone calls can go to the legislative Switchboard at 615-741-3011 or to the Toll Free number 1-800-449-8366+1 last four digits of office phone number (available online).
DON’T KNOW WHO YOUR SENATOR OR REPRESENTATIVE IS?
Just go HERE and you can find out!!
| “Our government rests upon religion: It is from that source that we derive our reverence for truth and justice, for equality and liberty… 1924, President Calvin Coolidge |
Interesting facts: There is a rhythm to a legislative session. The first weeks are spent getting the bills filed and moving toward the committees for action. The committees start meeting and hearing those first few bills. That picks up as committee calendars get longer and activity picks up. Then you meet the apex before things start toward a conclusion. The three bill calendars (senate, house, and house sub) for next week total 223 pages. At the same time, one senate committee and six house subcommittees marked their calendars FINAL CALENDAR. Now everything gets more demanding, hectic, and challenging as the members look toward adjournment in this election year.
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JOEL’S CORNER:
This week was a roller coaster. A crazy amount of things to do, lots of successes, many disappointments, and several surprises. In the world of legislation, I think it’s important that lobbyists and legislators alike should be careful not to take anything for granted. This is a complicated process and things can change in the blink of an eye.
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NICK’S CORNER
This week at the capitol, I had the privilege of witnessing the process a bill must take as it attempts to become a law (“the sausage making process”). Through watching this process, I have a deep appreciation for our TN legislators — they work long hours and ask the difficult questions. Some bills are complicated to comprehend and have many deep aspects about them that these men and women must seek to understand. These bills matter and can either positively or negatively affect TN lives. Therefore, I admire the effort these legislators put in every single week to make TN a state that can hopefully be a light in a dark world.
“EDUCATION FREEDOM SCHOLARSHIP ACT”
SB 0503 by *Johnson – Lamberth- HB 1183
by *Lamberth , WHITE, CEPICKY, MOODY, SLATER, GARRETT
Education – As introduced, extends from October to November, the time within which a public institution of higher education that receives funds from the distribution of credit cards to students or any percentage from the use of cards bearing the college or university name or logo must report the amount of such funds or percentage received as well as how the funds were expended during the previous fiscal year to the education committee of the senate and the education administration committee of the house of representatives. – Amends TCA Title 4; Title 8 and Title 49
STATUS: SB503, as amended, and after over two hours’ discussion, was voted out Senate Education 7-1-1:
Sens. voting aye were: Crowe, Gardenhire, Haile, Lundberg, Pody, Powers, White — 7.
Sens. voting no were: Akbari — 1.
Sens. present and not voting were: Hensley — 1.
And has been referred to Finance Ways and Means.
STATUS: HB1183, as amended, and after over four hours of discussion, was voted out of House Education Administration 12-7:
Reps. voting aye were: Baum, Bulso, Butler, Cepicky, Gant, Gillespie, Haston, Lafferty, Ragan, Slater, Stevens, White — 12.
Reps. voting no were: Fritts, Hurt, Love, McKenzie, Parkinson, Richey, Warner — 7.
And has been referred to House Government Operations.
Tennessee universal school voucher bill clears two more legislative hurdles after contentious debate
Education savings account legislation advances
THESE ARE SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN VOICED FOR NOW AND FOR THE FUTURE:
Government Program
Cost Public Money
Public Program require accountability from those involved
Schools held accountable for outcome measurement
Measurements require standardization for comparison
Standardized tests like TCAP will eventually be required?
For those taking money?
Then for every child in private school?
Universal accountability through universal measurement logically flows from putting public money in private institutions.
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As both bills await being heard in the next committees, if you have concerns or questions, NOW is the time to be in touch with your SENATOR and HOUSE MEMBER. Click on the links and call and/or email.
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LIMITING GOVERNMENT AUTHORITY:
SB 1641 by *Pody, Haile, Hensley – HB 1883 by *Capley
Hospitals and Health Care Facilities – As introduced, creates the right of an attorney in fact designated to make healthcare decisions under a durable power of attorney for health care to conduct at least one in-person visitation with the principal for each day the principal is in a hospital; permits the hospital to require the attorney in fact to submit to non-invasive health and safety protocols; prohibits the visitation right from being terminated, suspended, waived, or otherwise limited during a declared disaster or state of emergency. – Amends TCA Title 34; Title 63 and Title 68
Sen. Pody: “I don’t want to have to take a shot to visit someone in the hospital’.
STATUS: As AMENDED, SB1641 has passed the Senate floor 29-3-1:
Senators voting aye were: Bailey, Bowling, Briggs, Crowe, Gardenhire, Haile, Hensley, Jackson, Johnson, Kyle, Lamar, Lowe, Lundberg, Massey, Niceley, Pody, Powers, Reeves, Roberts, Rose, Southerland, Stevens, Swann, Taylor, Walley, Watson, White, Yager, Mr. Speaker McNally — 29.
Senators voting no were: Akbari, Campbell, Yarbro — 3.
Senators present and not voting were: Oliver — 1.
STATUS: HB18883 is in Health Committee on Wednesday. Please contact members and urge them to support the legislation:
Rep. Bryan Terry rep.bryan.terry@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Clark Boyd rep.clark.boyd@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Michele Carringer rep.michele.carringer@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Jeremy Faison rep.jeremy.faison@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Andrew Farmer rep.andrew.farmer@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. David Hawk rep.david.hawk@capitol.tn.gov ,
Rep. Brock Martin rep.brock.martin@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Paul Sherrell rep.paul.sherrell@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Tim Hicks rep.tim.hicks@capitol.tn.gov,
Rep. Sam McKenzie rep.sam.mckenzie@capitol.tn.gov,
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REDESIGNED TEMPORARY DRIVER LICENSES
SB 2568 by *Taylor, Rose, Johnson, Yager – HB 2034 by *Barrett , RICHEY, CAPLEY, FRITTS, GRILLS, TODD, DOGGETT, FAISON, ZACHARY, COCHRAN, MARTIN B, BRICKEN, BUTLER
Driver Licenses – As introduced, requires the department of safety to redesign temporary driver licenses and permits and temporary photo identification licenses issued to qualified noncitizens so that the licenses may be easily distinguished from driver and photo identification licenses issued to residents of this state who are United States citizens; reduces from eight years to two years the maximum period of time for which a temporary license or permit may be issued. – Amends TCA Title 55, Chapter 50
STATUS: SB2568 is FINALLY in Senate Transportation Committee on Wednesday.
ACTION: Please contact committee members to support this important bill.
Sen. Becky Duncan Massey – (615) 741-1648 – sen.becky.massey@capitol.tn.gov
Sen. Mark Pody – 615) 741-2421 sen.mark.pody@capitol.tn.gov
Sen. Paul Bailey – (615) 741-3978 – sen.paul.bailey@capitol.tn.gov
Sen. Janice Bowling – (615) 741-6694 – sen.janice.bowling@capitol.tn.gov
Sen. Richard Briggs – (615) 741-1766 – sen.richard.briggs@capitol.tn.gov
Sen. Frank Niceley – (615) 741-2061 sen.frank.niceley@capitol.tn.gov
Sen. Bill Powers – (615) 741-2374 – sen.bill.powers@capitol.tn.gov
STATUS: HB2934 is in House Transportation on Tuesday.
ACTION: Please contact committee members and urge them to support this important bill.
Rep. Dan Howell rep.dan.howell@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Greg Vital rep.greg.vital@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Mark Cochran rep.mark.cochran@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Elaine Davis rep.elaine.davis@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Rusty Grills rep.rusty.grills@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Tandy Darby rep.tandy.darby@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Elaine Davis rep.elaine.davis@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Tim Rudd rep.tim.rudd@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Dennis Powers rep.dennis.powers@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Paul Sherrell rep.paul.sherrell@capitol.tn.gov
MANIPULATING AND DIMINISHING OUR CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC. Both of these are as much about the WAY they are being proposed as they are about WHAT is being proposed.
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NO NEED FOR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY:
HJR 0717 by *Hakeem , Freeman
Constitutional Amendments – Proposes amendment to allow people to propose laws by initiative petition.
We hold elections every two, four and six years to ELECT men and women to present potential laws for discussion and debate, and then a vote. Nothing keeps the public from bringing legislative ideas or needs to lawmakers right now and, in fact, that happens all the time. This process invites outside groups with a lot of money to come into TN and impact our politics and our elections. This is unneeded and has the potential to be problematic. Judging from the number of bills that are filed in any given year, I don’t think the lawmakers need any help coming up with ideas.
STATUS: . HJR717 was postponed but is in House Public Service subcommittee this Tuesday.
ACTION: Please contact these members and urge them to OPPOSE this proposal:
Rep. Iris Rudder rep.iris.rudder@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Rebecca Alexander rep.rebecca.alexander@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Rick Eldridge rep.rick.eldridge@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Curtis Johnson rep.curtis.johnson@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Kelly Keisling rep.kelly.keisling@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Dennis Powers rep.dennis.powers@capitol.tn.gov
TENNESSEE IS NOT AN INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM STATE AMD LET’S KEEP IT THAT WAY:
SB 2726 by *Akbari , Campbell – HB 2657 by *Chism
Election Laws – As introduced, requires county election commissions to include three non-binding questions related to the legalization of marijuana on the November 2024 ballot; requires the secretary of state to compile the results of the non-binding, advisory referendum, publish the results on the secretary of state’s website, and forward the results to the members of the general assembly. – Amends TCA Title 2
If you can’t pass a bill outright, just try something like this: This bill requires the secretary of state to compile the results of the non-binding, advisory referendum, publish the results on the secretary of state’s website, and forward the results to each member of the general assembly.
STATUS: HB2657 is in Elections & Campaign Finance Subcommittee on Wednesday. Please contact this members and urge them to OPPOSE the legislation.
Rep. Tim Rudd rep.tim.rudd@capitol.tn.gov
Jeff Burkett rep.jeff.burkhart@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. John Crawford rep.john.crawford@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Clay Doggett rep.clay.doggett@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Esther Helton-Haynes rep.esther.helton@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Jerome Moon rep.jerome.moon@capitol.tn.gov
Todd Warner rep.todd.warner@capitol.tn.gov.
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ERASING PRO-LIFE LAWS
SB 1590 by *Lamar , Oliver, Campbell – HB 1626 by *Behn , HEMMER
Abortion – As introduced, enacts the “Fundamental Right to Reproductive Health Care Act.” – Amends TCA Title 4; Title 20; Title 37; Title 39; Title 49; Title 53; Title 56; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71
STATUS: So glad to report that on Tuesday, HB1626 FAILED in Population Health Subcommittee
