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!!
“Every right is married to a duty, every freedom owes a corresponding responsibility.” Redeeming the Time (1996)
FOR YOUR PRAYER LIST:
Rep. Michael Hale is still ill and needs our prayers. Rep. Jeremy Faison’s father-in-law died this week. Let’s remember to pray for that family and their great loss. It was wonderful to have my Tuesday intern, Joel, back with me this week. It looks as if the General Assembly will probably adjourn next week. That means that there will be a lot of very important decisions made which will impact all of our lives. Please pray for thoughtfulness, understanding, patience, and clarity as each bill is considered.
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Most of the committees are now closed and most of the action is in the respective Finance committees and on the respective chamber floors. The “FlowMotion” has been activated — meaning that a bill could be in the subcommittee at 9:00am, in the full committee at 11:00am, if it has a fiscal note, in Finance sub at 1:00pm, full Finance at 3:00pm, in Calendar and Rules at 5:00 and on the floor the next morning!!
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JOEL’S CORNER:
After missing a few weeks, I was definitely surprised by how close we are to the end of the session. I was struck by how fast the legislation is being pushed through in an attempt to get everything wrapped up quickly. These last days are so important for the legislature. Legislation regarding the budget and other important issues that will affect 7 million Tennesseans are still being debated even to the end.
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NICK’S CORNER:
This week at the Tennessee State Legislature, I got to witness what a state legislature does as it comes closer to an end — watching the formalities that must take place and bills that attempt to gain success before looming deadlines. As my time at the TN State Capitol comes to a close, one thing that I am reminded of is just how vital each legislator is and the work that they dedicate themselves to every day. They represent people from all different backgrounds and have the incredible opportunity to fully pursue Kingdom work with a selfless and attentive heart on a public platform despite opposition. They get to be a voice for healthy change and a stronger America. I am beyond blessed to be a resident of this beautiful state and forever grateful for this experience to soak in everything there is to learn in an important place like this.
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“EDUCATION FREEDOM SCHOLARSHIP ACT”
SB 0503 by *Johnson, Lundberg, McNally, Watson, Haile, Pody, Powers, Gardenhire, Stevens, Lowe, Roberts, White, Reeves, Taylor, Bailey, Rose, Massey, Jackson
HB 1183 by *Lamberth,WHITE, CEPICKY, MOODY, SLATER, GARRETT, HASTON
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
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STATUS: ONE MAJOR CHANGE IS THAT THE SENATE BILL, AS AMENDED, NOW HAS 18 co-sponsors, which would be enough votes to pass the bill on the Senate Floor (see names above). However, six of those co-sponsors are also among the 11 members of Senate Finance Ways and Means. That means the bill could easily be moved from the committee to the Floor for a vote.
On Tuesday, Senate Finance Ways and Means is scheduled to begin at 9:00am. Including SB503, they have 171 bills on their calendar!!
ACTION: If you want to be heard, now is the time!! You can find your Senator HERE.
STATUS: HB1183, AS AMENDED, has been scheduled inHouse Finance Ways & Means Sub three times. The website indicates it is still placed on the calendar for April 16th. House FW&M sub meets on Tuesday and only has one bill on the calendar, not HB1183. So….who knows??
ACTION: You still have time to contact your house member HERE.
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RIGHTS FOR PARENTS?
SB 2749 by *Haile – HB 2936 by *Faison
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. After traveling through the House committees with NO RECORDED votes, it was placed on the House floor Calendar for Thursday. Surprisingly, Rep. Faison simply stood up and said: “I move to hold that on the Desk.”
UPDATED STATUS: Things remain the same, which means you still have the opportunity to make your voice heard with your state representative HERE.
Tennessee lawmakers pass state budget with $1B for two key bills yet to win approval.
Tennessee Lawmakers Approve $52.8B Spending Plan as Hopes of School Voucher Agreement Flounder
ant to see what $52.8 billion looks like??
BUDGET:
SB 2940 by *Johnson – HB2971 Lamberth, Cochran, Hazlewood, Hicks G, Williams
Budget Procedures – As introduced, deletes the Tennessee job skills program and fund. – Amends TCA Title 3; Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 8; Title 9; Title 10; Title 11; Title 12; Title 13; Title 16; Title 17; Title 18; Title 29; Title 33; Title 36; Title 37; Title 38; Title 39; Title 40; Title 41; Title 43; Title 44; Title 45; Title 47; Title 48; Title 49; Title 50; Title 53; Title 54; Title 55; Title 56; Title 57; Title 58; Title 59; Title 60; Title 61; Title 62; Title 63; Title 64; Title 65; Title 66; Title 67; Title 68; Title 69; Title 70 and Title 71.
BOND ISSUES:
SB 2941 by *Johnson – HB2972 Lamberth, Cochran, Hazlewood, Hicks G, Williams
Bond Issues – As introduced, authorizes the state to issue and sell bonds of up to $87,700,000.
APPROPRIATIONS:
SB2942 by Johnson – HB2973 Lamberth, Cochran, Hazlewood, Hicks G, Williams, Sherrell
Appropriations – As introduced, makes appropriations for the fiscal years beginning July 1, 2023, and July 1, 2024.
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MAKING SURE THE FEDERAL OFFICIALS KNOW:
SB 2576 by *Taylor – HB 2124 by *Grills
Immigration – As introduced, requires, rather than authorizes, law enforcement agencies to communicate with the appropriate federal official regarding the immigration status of any individual, including reporting knowledge that a particular alien is not lawfully present in the United States or otherwise cooperate with the appropriate federal official in the identification, apprehension, detention, or removal of aliens not lawfully present in the United States.
STATUS: SB2576-HB2124 not only passed the Senate and House, has been signed by the Governor and is now Public Chapter 716.
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SQUATTERS RIGHTS:
SB 0795 by *Gardenhire , Taylor, Bowling, Lundberg, Niceley, Pody, Powers, Stevens, Walley, White – HB 1259 by *Rudd , VITAL, CAPLEY, BULSO, GRILLS, MARTIN B, DOGGETT, CARR, BRICKEN, RAPER, BAUM, MCCALMON, HELTON-HAYNES, MOON, CRAWFORD, WHITSON, SEXTON, RAGAN, FAISON, CEPICKY, GANT, RUSSELL, DAVIS, DARBY, KUMAR, RUDDER, MARTIN G, HOWELL, CARRINGER, TERRY, LAFFERTY, ELDRIDGE, ZACHARY, HALE, REEDY, CHISM, LYNN, PARKINSON, MCKENZIE, HOLSCLAW, JOHNSON C, SLATER, LEATHERWOOD, FARMER, POWERS, KEISLING, WHITE, TOWNS, MOODY, GARRETT, MARSH, BURKHART, HICKS T, HILL, HAZLEWOOD, SHERRELL, LAMBERTH, FRITTS, TODD, BUTLER, JERNIGAN, STEVENS, WRIGHT, HAWK, BARRETT, HASTON, ALEXANDER, HARDAWAY, RICHEY, HURT, HICKS G, BOYD, TRAVIS
STATUS: First of all, I don’t think I have ever seen more cosponsors on a piece of legislation.
The House vote was 90-0-6; the Senate vote was 32-0. It is on the Senate Message Calendar for Monday, but with the votes it has received, that must be just some minor correction.
Tennessee law to further protect property owners from squatters takes effect this July
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VACCINES AND FOOD:
SB 1903 by *Hensley , Bowling, Crowe, Jackson, Pody – HB 1894 by *Cepicky , RICHEY, GRILLS, HULSEY, HILL, DAVIS, MARTIN G, RUDD, MOODY, LYNN
Food and Food Products – As introduced, defines food that contains a vaccine or vaccine material as a drug for purposes of the Tennessee Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.
STATUS: SB1903 passed the Senate floor 24-6 and HB1894 passed the House floor 73-22-1.
On April 10, it was sent to the Governor for his signature.
There has been some misinformation about this bill. Actually, the bill would require food that contains vaccines to be classified as drugs by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture. It does not ban vaccines from food.
H.B. 1894 “classifies any food that contains a vaccine or vaccine material as a drug.” When discussing the bill during a Tennessee Senate session, state Sen. Joey Hensley, R-Hohenwald, said he knew of no specific examples of vaccine-containing food in Tennessee. But he said such foods are in development. [Source: PolitiFact]
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“DEATH WITH DIGNITY”
SB 2258 by *Campbell – HB 1710 by *Freeman
Right to Die – As introduced, creates a process whereby an adult suffering from a terminal disease may request medication for the purpose of ending the adult’s life in a humane and dignified manner if certain requirements are met.
EVIDENTLY there is an unfortunate RUMOR going around that the ‘death with dignity’ bill has passed in Tennessee. Nothing could be further from the truth. It is really important to understand the legislative process and what the language means. Here is your free lesson. Just under ‘SB2258 actions’, is printed ‘Passed on First Consideration’ and ‘Passed on Second Consideration’. That is a process each bill has to go through on the chamber floor BEFORE it is sent to a committee. SB2258-HB1710 was NEVER heard in either the Senate nor the House committee. There was no presentation, no discussion and no votes. You are welcome.
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