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!!
JOEL’S CORNER: Joel was out of town at a debate competition this week.
NICK’S CORNER: This week at the Tennessee State Capitol, I had the honor of getting to witness several different committee meetings that ranged in varying diverse topics. I also had the privilege of getting to work first-hand promoting an important issue that directly affects the valuable life of every Tennessean. I dove into beautiful conversation with those around me and continue to be inspired by the wisdom and endurance of all those working in Nashville to improve every Tennessean’s life.
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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: I am so please to let you know that SB1641, as AMENDED, 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: HB1883 is scheduled in Health Subcommittee on Tuesday.
ACTION: Please contact these lawmakers and urge them to support this important legislation.Rep. David Hawk rep.david.hawk@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Gary Hicks rep.gary.hicks@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Tom Leatherwood rep.tom.leatherwood@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Brock Martin rep.brock.martin@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Paul Sherrell rep.paul.sherrell@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Bryan Terry rep.bryan.terry@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Ryan Williams rep.ryan.williams@capitol.tn.gov
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REQUIREMENT OF GLOBAL POSITIONING MONITORING DEVICE
SB 1972 by *Rose – HB 2692 by *Doggett, HARDAWAY, TOWNS
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. – Amends TCA Title 39; Title 40, Chapter 11 and Title 55, Chapter 10
Lawmakers on domestic violence GPS bill: ‘This is one of the most consequential legislations we will pass’.
STATUS: HB2692 is scheduled in Criminal Justice Committee on Tuesday.
ACTION: While we believe that this VERY important bill will be supported, I would like to ask something a bit different. Would you click on the committee link, on the pictures, and either call or email two or three of the committee members and POLITELY urge them or let them know you are sure that they will support HB2692.
ESTABLISHING SOME IMMUNIZATION FREEDOM
SB 2359 by *Watson , Niceley – HB 1726 by *Gant , MOODY, VITAL, LITTLETON, GRILLS, GARRETT, TODD, FARMER, CARR
Children’s Services, Dept. of – As introduced, prohibits the department of children’s services from requiring an immunization as a condition of adopting or overseeing a child in foster care if an individual or member of an individual’s household objects to immunization on the basis of religious or moral convictions. – Amends TCA Title 4; Title 36; Title 37 and Title 71.
STATUS: SB2359 is scheduled in Senate Judiciary on Tuesday
ACTION: Please contact these members and urge them to support this bill:
Sen. Todd Gardenhire sen.todd.gardenhire@capitol.tn.gov
Sen. Dawn White sen.dawn.white@capitol.tn.gov
Sen. Paul Rose sen.paul.rose@capitol.tn.gov
Sen. Jon Lundberg sen.jon.lundberg@capitol.tn.gov
Sen. Kerry Roberts sen.kerry.roberts@capitol.tn.gov
Sen. John Stevens sen.john.stevens@capitol.tn.gov
Sen. Brent Taylor sen.brent.taylor@capitol.tn.gov
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 scheduled in Senate Transportation 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: HB2034 is scheduled in House Transportation Subcommittee on Wednesday.
ACTION: Please contact committee members to support this important bill.
Rep. Sam Whitson rep.sam.whitson@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Dale Carr rep.dale.carr@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Tandy Darby rep.tandy.darby@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Patsy Hazelwood rep.patsy.hazlewood@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Dan Howell rep.dan.howell@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Pat Marsh rep.pat.marsh@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Lowell Russell rep.lowell.russell@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Paul Sherrell rep.paul.sherrell@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Greg Vital rep.greg.vital@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Dave Wright rep.dave.wright@capitol.tn.gov
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EDUCATION FREEDOM SCHOLARSHIP ACT:
SB2787 Johnson – HB2468 Lamberth
Education – As introduced, requires the department of education to study the school choice programs available in other states and to submit a report of the department’s findings at the conclusion of the study to the Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Speaker of the Senate no later than January 1, 2025. – Amends TCA Title 49
NOTE: The actual bill language still has not been released. It is my understanding that there is a significant difference in the language that is being discussed in the House and that being discussed in the Senate. There is some expectation that we might see those amendments this coming week! And then the ‘sausage making’ process can begin!!
