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).
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”
― Theodore Roosevelt
FOR YOUR PRAYER LIST:
This is a VERY IMPORTANT election cycle coming up. If EVER there was a time that we needed to pray, this is it!! The Presidential election, the US Senate and Congress, all 99 TN House seats and the even numbered Senate seats. Remember: it matters who is elected. Let’s be very attentive to and ACTIVE in this opportunity.
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Let me just say that I have been SO BLESSED this year to have these two fine young men with me for this difficult legislative session. They are smart, committed, eager to learn, fun to be with, and they are seeking the Lord’s will for their lives. As they go to college this fall, please remember them in your prayers. I can hardly wait to see where the Lord will take them.
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JOEL’S FINAL CORNER:
I am incredibly blessed to have been able to see a lot of the second half of the 113th General Assembly. I learned a lot of valuable information on how our state government operates, but I have one main takeaway. The process is very complicated. The complexity of the process is not unlike the game of Risk or Chess where there are lots of details and rules to learn before you can get anything accomplished. However, once you get a good handle on the game, strategies and tactics become clear. This complexity is good and bad. It is good because it provides a good check for the legislators, forcing them to work hard to pass their legislation. It also has the potential to be bad, both hindering the passage of important legislation and making it difficult for the public to understand what is happening. The later problem became very clear to me several times throughout the session, especially in the chaotic events this Tuesday when protesters publicly declared their displeasure at the passage of a bill that they may not have understood the full context of. I am incredibly grateful to have gotten a chance to see it up close this year.
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NICK’S FINAL CORNER:
As I reflect on my time at the Tennessee State Legislature and the things that most impacted me, I am reminded about what an honor it was to get to see legislators and their hearts — their hearts for the Lord and their constituents. It was also incredibly beneficial for me to see the political process outside of the mainstream media and outside of a textbook — to witness first-hand the events and hard work that it must take to pass a law. However, one of the greatest reminders I was given through this remarkable opportunity was just how far kindness and respect for humanity can take a person. I will forever look upon this blessing in my life with a grateful heart.
Gov. Lee Marks the Close of the 2024 Legislative Session
BIG ISSUE NO. 1:
As you know, Tennessee’s universal school voucher plan is dead for now, governor acknowledges.
BIG ISSUE NO. 2:
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RIGHTS FOR PARENTS?
SB 2749 by *Haile – HB 2936 by *Faison, White, Raper
Children – As introduced, enacts the “Families’ Rights and Responsibilities Act.” – Amends TCA Title 33; Title 36; Title 37; Title 49; Title 63 and Title 68.
STATUS: On March 28, AS AMENDED, SB2749 passed the Senate 24-5. As you know, HB2936 was “Held on desk” on April 11th. We thought that might be the end of that too. However, it was placed on the floor calendar for Tuesday, where AMENDMENT 4 and AMENDENT 5 were adopted. Those actions did improve the basic bill to some degree.
Amendment 4, among other things, includes: (5) The enumeration of parental rights in this chapter must not be construed to abridge any additional parental rights codified or recognized under current law or to prohibit the codification or recognition of additional parental rights.
Amendment 5 removed the reference to the federal constitution.
However, left unaddressed was the concern about parents giving ‘blanket consent’ for various activities and knowing whether or not there is any conflict with the Mature Minor Doctrine, Tennessee. I guess time will tell.
PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/23/2024
Passed
Ayes………………………………………..61
Noes………………………………………..30
Present and not voting……………….4
Representatives voting aye were: Alexander, Barrett, Baum, Boyd, Burkhart, Capley, Carr, Carringer, Cochran, Crawford, Darby, Davis, Doggett, Eldridge, Faison, Farmer, Fritts, Garrett, Gillespie, Grills, Haston, Hawk, Hazlewood, Helton-Haynes, Hicks G, Hicks T, Hill, Holsclaw, Howell, Hulsey, Hurt, Johnson C, Kumar, Lafferty, Lamberth, Lynn, Marsh, Martin B, McCalmon, Moon, Powers, Ragan, Raper, Reedy, Richey, Rudd, Rudder, Russell, Slater, Sparks, Stevens, Terry, Todd, Towns, Travis, Vital, White, Whitson, Williams, Wright, Zachary — 61.
Representatives voting no were: Behn, Bricken, Bulso, Camper, Cepicky, Chism, Clemmons, Dixie, Freeman, Glynn, Hakeem, Hardaway, Harris, Hemmer, Jernigan, Johnson G, Keisling, Leatherwood, Love, Martin G, McKenzie, Miller, Mitchell, Moody, Parkinson, Powell, Shaw, Thompson, Warner, Mr. Speaker Sexton — 30.
Representatives present and not voting were: Butler, Gant, Hale, Sherrell — 4
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PROVIDING PROTECTION AT SCHOOL:
SB 1325 by *Bailey , Hensley, Stevens – HB 1202 by *Williams , CAPLEY, WRIGHT, REEDY, BUTLER, TODD, CEPICKY, BULSO, HICKS T, ELDRIDGE, KEISLING, COCHRAN, POWERS
Teachers, Principals and School Personnel – As introduced, authorizes a faculty or staff member of a school to carry a concealed handgun on school grounds subject to certain conditions, including obtaining an enhanced handgun carry permit and completing annual training.
STATUS: Signed by the Governor April 26, 2024
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FLAGS IN PERMITTED SCHOOLS:
SB 1722 by *Hensley – HB 1605 by *Bulso , MCCALMON, POWERS, TODD, WARNER, BARRETT, HILL, RICHEY, GRILLS, CAPLEY, LYNN, LITTLETON, CEPICKY
Flags – As introduced, prohibits LEAs and public charter schools from displaying in public schools flags other than the official United States flag and the official Tennessee state flag.
STATUS: HB1605, as AMENDED 1, AMENDED 2, passed in the House 70-24-1; SB1722 FAILED 13-6.
HB1605 by Bulso – FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 2/26/2024
Passed
Representatives voting aye were: Alexander, Barrett, Baum, Boyd, Bricken, Bulso, Burkhart, Butler, Capley, Carr, Carringer, Cepicky, Cochran, Crawford, Darby, Davis, Doggett, Eldridge, Faison, Farmer, Fritts, Gant, Garrett, Grills, Hale, Haston, Hawk, Hazlewood, Helton-Haynes, Hicks G, Hicks T, Hill, Holsclaw, Howell, Hulsey, Hurt, Johnson C, Kumar, Lafferty, Lamberth, Leatherwood, Littleton, Lynn, Marsh, Martin B, Martin G, McCalmon, Moody, Moon, Powers, Ragan, Raper, Reedy, Richey, Rudd, Rudder, Russell, Sherrell, Slater, Sparks, Stevens, Terry, Todd, Vaughan, Vital, Warner, Williams, Wright, Zachary, Mr. Speaker Sexton — 70.
Representatives voting no were: Behn, Camper, Chism, Clemmons, Dixie, Freeman, Gillespie, Glynn, Hakeem, Hardaway, Harris, Hemmer, Jernigan, Johnson G, Jones, McKenzie, Miller, Mitchell, Parkinson, Pearson, Powell, Shaw, Thompson, Whitson — 24.
Representatives present and not voting were: White — 1.
Senate Consideration 4/23/2024
Failed
Senators voting aye were: Crowe, Hensley, Jackson, Johnson, Lowe, Lundberg, Niceley, Roberts, Rose, Southerland, Swann, Taylor, White — 13.
Senators voting no were: Akbari, Campbell, Lamar, Oliver, Yarbro, Mr. Speaker McNally — 6.
Senators present and not voting were: Briggs, Gardenhire, Yager — 3.
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For 37 years, Tennessee Eagle Forum has represented you, your family, and other Tennesseans at the TN General Assembly. It has been our pleasure and honor to do what we can do to ‘make a difference’ and have been blessed to create a good ‘track record’. However, we cannot do that without the necessary financial support.
As the 113th Tennessee General Assembly winds down, would you PLEASE make a DONATION to our work? We need your help and would be VERY GRATEFUL.
COMBATING FENTANYL DEATHS TENNESSEE
SB 2229 by *Lowe Rose, Bowling – HB 2301 by *Howell, HARDAWAY
Criminal Offenses – As introduced, requires the sheriff’s department’s and municipal law enforcement department’s annual audit report of the disposition of goods seized and forfeited and fines imposed in relation to offenses involving controlled substances to be posted on the website of the sheriff’s department or municipal law enforcement department
STATUS: SB2229, as AMENDED, passed the Senate 28-0!! HB2301 passed the House 92-0-1 and has been sent to the Governor for his signature.
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“THE DEBBIE AND MARIE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROTECTION ACT”
SB 1972 by *Rose , Stevens, Massey – HB 2692 by *Doggett , HARDAWAY, TOWNS, LAMBERTH, MOODY, RUSSELL, GILLESPIE, DAVIS, HOWELL, HULSEY, JOHNSON G, FARMER, CARRINGER, FRITTS, HEMMER, LITTLETON, VITAL, MCCALMON, ALEXANDER, CAPLEY, MARTIN B, BURKHART, ELDRIDGE, BULSO, GRILLS, MOON, HAKEEM, SHERRELL, WILLIAMS, HICKS
Domestic Violence – As introduced, requires the court to order an offender to wear a global positioning monitoring system device under certain circumstances unless the court finds the offender no longer poses a threat to the alleged victim or public safety; specifies that a cellular device application or electronic receptor device provided to the victim must be capable of notifying the victim if the offender is within a prescribed proximity of the victim’s cellular device or electronic receptor device; requires a county or municipality utilizing global positioning monitoring system devices to enter into a written agreement with a qualified contract service provider; removes civil and criminal liability under certain circumstances
STATUS: SB1972-HB2692, as AMENDED 1, AMENDED 2, passed the House 91-1; passed the Senate 31-0.
Tennessee bill requiring parental consent for child’s social media use heads to governor
Hensley: TN Senate passes penalties for abortion trafficking
Tennessee House kills bill that would have banned local officials from studying, funding reparations
Sex education curriculum kept out of K-5 classes with Tennessee bill.
Tennessee House passes ‘Back The Blue Act,’ toughening penalties for assaulting an officer.
