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!!
One of the great mistakes is to judge policies and programs by their intentions rather than their results.
Milton Friedman
FOR YOUR PRAYER LIST:
Sen. Todd Gardenhire was out this week. Let’s remember him and remember Lt. Gov. Randy McNally as he continues to recover from his ankle surgery.
Also, Tennessee currently leads U.S. in flu activity, ranked at the highest level by CDC.. With all the close contact at the Legislature, the opportunity to catch this stuff is greatly increased.
I can’t remember the last time I even had a cold, and I was diagnosed with Flu A on the 14th, which I am confident I caught the opening week of the legislature.
JOEL’S CORNER:
Have you ever seriously considered the impact that term limits on congressmen would have? Moreover, the impact of changing the constitution? I hadn’t until this week’s legislative session. This Tuesday we spent most of the morning working to defeat a bill that would call a constitutional convention for the purpose of placing term limits of congressmen. I got to sit in on a senate committee meeting in which they debated the benefits and advantages of term limits. Finally, Senator Yager explained that changing the constitution should not be taken lightly and should be much more thought out. He made a motion to push the bill to a later calendar which was passed.
NICK’S CORNER:
During my time at the Tennessee state capitol this week, I had the privilege of meeting with a diverse group of legislators that had many different backgrounds. I enjoyed witnessing some of the legislators’ faith, while we (Ms. Bobbie Patray and I) were busy taking on varying complex issues that affect the lives of everyone in the great state of Tennessee. I look forward to observing how the solutions for these issues unfold in the upcoming months.
UNCONDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL
HJR 0688 by *Todd
General Assembly, Statement of Intent or Position – Affirms support for Israel and condemns Hamas.
HJR 688 this upcoming Tuesday, January 30th at 4:30 in the House Public Service Committee.
PLEASE CONTACT THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND URGE THEM TO VOTE YES ON THIS IMPORTANT RESOLUTION:
Hat-tip: Joanne Bregman:
When you contact them, you can mention the FACT that in 1997, the US State Dept. designated HAMAS as a foreign terrorist organization, a designation which was renewed in 2022. Other countries, including Canada, Australia, Paraguay, Japan, Israel, the European Union (comprising 27 nations), the Organization of American States, an international coalition of 35 countries in North and South America, have also designated HAMAS a terrorist organization. Switzerland is currently considering designating HAMAS as a terrorist organization. Jordan banned Hamas in 1999.
Rep. Iris Rudder- (615) 741-8695; rep.iris.rudder@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Rebecca- (615) 741-2251; rep.rebecca.alexander@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Vincent Dixie- (615) 741-1997; rep.vincent.dixie@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Rick Eldridge- (615) 741-6877; rep.rick.eldridge@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Curtis Johnson- (615) 741-4341; rep.curtis.johnson@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Kelly Keisling- (615) 741-6852; rep.kelly.keisling@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Dennis Powers- (615) 741-3335; rep.dennis.powers@capitol.tn.gov
US CONSTITUTION REQUIRING TERM LIMITS
HJR 0005 by *Todd , Sparks, Warner, Zachary, Bricken, Hawk, Lynn, Richey, Garrett, Powers, Capley, Carr, Vital
Constitutional Conventions – Makes application to Congress for the purpose of calling an Article V convention to propose an amendment to the United States Constitution to set a limit on the number of terms to which a person may be elected as a member of the Congress of the United States.
BACKGROUND: Last year HJR0005 passed the House floor 66-27-3.
HJR0005 was heard in the State and Local Government Committee on Tuesday morning. The video is available HERE.
Frankly, I was a bit surprised and encouraged at the discussion that took place. Clearly, a number of the committee members had done some background research to better understand this important issue. Some of the Senators used similar points as the ones that we have used – getting rid of the good along with the not-so-good, loss of institutional memory, the bureaucrats and lobbyists having more influence, controlled by Congress, etc. Aaron Dukette, from U.S. Term Limits was there to testify in favor of HJR0005. Some of the senators recognized the seriousness of this decision and, in particular, Sen. Yarbro spoke about the constitutional language in ARTICLE V and the control of the event that the Congress could have. In the end, Senator Yager made a motion to move the resolution until the final committee meeting and that motion passed unanimously.
We will certainly be keeping a close eye on this very important issue.
HUMAN TRAFFICKING VICTIM
SB 0181 by *Walley – HB 1384 by *Ragan
Criminal Offenses – As introduced, deletes the criminal offense of aggravated prostitution and permits a person to have a prior conviction for aggravated prostitution that was the result of the person’s status as a human trafficking victim expunged if the person meets certain conditions
STATUS: SB181 was amended and passed Senate Judiciary 8-0.
HB1384 is in the *Criminal Justice Subcommittee on Tuesday.
ACTION: please contact the members below and urge them to support this bill:
Rep. John Gillespie rep.john.gillespie@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. GA Hardaway rep.ga.hardaway@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Gloria Johnson rep.gloria.johnson@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Joe Towns rep.joe.towns@capitol.tn.gov
DISPLAYING FLAGS AT SCHOOLS
SB 1722 by *Hensley – HB 1605 by *Bulso
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. – Amends TCA Section 5-5-114; Section 6-54-144 and Title 49.
This was brought by parents who thought that classrooms should be neutral.
STATUS: HB1605 is in K-12 Subcommittee on Tuesday.
ACTION: Please contact the members urging them to vote YES.
Rep. Kirk Haston– rep.kirk.haston@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Chris Hurt rep.chris.hurt@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Bryan Richey rep.bryan.richey@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. William Slater rep.william.slater@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Robert Stevens rep.robert.stevens@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.Todd Warner rep.todd.warner@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Mark White rep.mark.white@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Sam McKenzie rep.sam.mckenzie@capitol.tn.gov
OTHER BILLS OF INTEREST THAT HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED:
SB 1971 by *Rose – HB 1895 by *Zachary FAISON, GRILLS, LAMBERTH
Abortion – As introduced, creates the criminal offense of abortion trafficking of a minor; provides for a civil action against a person committing the offense of abortion trafficking of a minor for the wrongful death of an unborn child that was aborted. – Amends TCA Title 8, Chapter 6; Title 29; Title 37 and Title 39.
SB 1802 by *Johnson
Attorney General and Reporter – As introduced, authorizes the attorney general and reporter to investigate human trafficking offenses, organized crime offenses, and related criminal activity; authorizes the attorney general and reporter to prosecute such offenses either with consent of the district attorney general or after appointment as district attorney general pro tempore by the supreme court; requires the Tennessee bureau of investigation to provide assistance to the attorney general and reporter as needed. – Amends TCA Title 8, Chapter 6 and Title 38, Chapter 6
HJR 0038 by *Reedy , Todd, Sparks, Doggett, Slater, Barrett, Capley, Moody, Grills, Fritts, Cepicky, Martin B, Russell
Constitutional Amendments – Proposes an amendment to Article I, Section 26 of the Constitution of Tennessee to remove the provision that authorizes the legislature to regulate the wearing of arms with a view to prevent crime and to clarify that citizens have a right to keep and bear arms for their defense, and not just for common defense. HJR0038 is awaiting action in the Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee to Constitutional Amendment Calendar.
SB 1506 by *Campbell – HB 1474 by *Jones
Holidays and Days of Special Observance – As introduced, renames Columbus Day as Indigenous Peoples’ Day. – Amends TCA Title 4; Title 15 and Title 47
