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!!
Instead of sitting down satisfied with the efforts we have already made, which is the wish of our enemies, the necessity of the times, more than ever, calls for our utmost circumspection, deliberation, fortitude and perseverance. Let us remember, that “if we suffer tamely a lawless attack upon our liberty, we encourage it, and involve others in our doom.”
Samuel Adams
Let us not forget the importance and sanctity of this weekend!!
NOTE: Both of my wonderful interns were enjoying some time away this week, and they were missed!!. Joel and Nick will return next week.
“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: HB1183 has been assigned to, but not yet scheduled in the House Finance Ways and Means Subcommittee.
STATUS: On Tuesday SB503, as AMENDED, will be heard in Senate Finance Ways and Means.
To say that there are still MANY questions and CONCERNS about this legislation is a real understatement. Review the amendment above and be prepared to contact the members of this committee on this still very controversial and important piece of legislation.
Sponsor: Sen. Jack Johnson – (615) 741-2495 sen.jack.johnson@capitol.tn.gov
Sen. Bo Watson – (615) 741-3227- sen.bo.watson@capitol.tn.gov
Sen. John Stevens – (615) 741-4576 – sen.john.stevens@capitol.tn.gov
Sen. Joey Hensley – (615) 741-3100 – sen.joey.hensley@capitol.tn.gov
Sen. Ferrell Haile – (615) 741-1999 – sen.ferrell.haile@capitol.tn.gov
Sen. Bill Powers – (615) 741-2374 – sen.bill.powers@capitol.tn.gov
Sen. Page Walley – (615) 741-2368 – sen.page.walley@capitol.tn.gov
Sen. Dawn White (615) 741-6853 sen.dawn.white@capitol.tn.gov
Sen. Ken Yager – (615) 741-1449 – sen.ken.yager@capitol.tn.gov
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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 Thursday, SB2749 as AMENDED, passed the Senate floor 24-5.
STATUS: HB2936, as AMENDED, is scheduled in the House Civil Justice Committee for Wednesday!
I REPEAT: This is a bill that has generated a number of questions from various people. I have three test rules that I have found helpful in judging legislation:
1. Who gets to define the terms?
2. What could be the unexpected consequences?
3. How could my worst enemy use this against me?
I am told that there is concern about bringing the federal Constitution into this proposal because it means that this law is not being established strictly by TN laws, and in the future that may prove to be problematic. One wonders what happens if it is discovered that something has been left off the ‘protected’ list and is left open to state or federal control? Nevertheless, you can review the language above and make your voice heard.
Rep. William Lamberth rep.william.lamberth@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Ron Gant rep.ron.gant@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. William Lamberth rep.william.lamberth@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Chris Todd rep.chris.todd@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Gino Bulso rep.gino.bulso@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Rush Bricken rep.rush.bricken@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Rusty Grills rep.rusty.grills@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Kip Capley rep.kip.capley@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Mary Littleton rep.mary.littleton@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Johnny Garrett rep.johnny.garrett@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Rick Eldridge rep.rick.eldridge@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Lowell Russell rep.lowell.russell@capitol.tn.gov
Rep. Robert Stevens rep.robert.stevens@capitol.tn.gov
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STOPPING BIDEN ADMINISTRATION & WHO
SJR 1135 by *Pody
General Assembly, Statement of Intent or Position – Opposes the United States’ participation in the World Health Organization Pandemic Prevention Preparedness and Response Accord
STATUS: SJR1135 is scheduled in Senate Finance Ways and Means on Tuesday. You will want to read the resolution carefully and contact the members (see links below the education bill) and voice your support for this important resolution.
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PROTECTING OUR ENVIRONMENT:
SB 2691by *Southerland Crowe, Bowling, Haile, Pody, Walley – HB 2063 by *Fritts , ALEXANDER, BUTLER, HURT, HICKS T, RICHEY, LYNN
Environmental Preservation – As introduced, decreases, from 180 days to 150 days, the time that the air pollution control board can have more than one vacancy after an appointing authority of the board receives sufficient information to fill the appropriate vacancy before the board is required to report to the government operations committees.
STATUS: I am pleased to report that, as AMENDED,SB2691 passed the Senate 25-6 and is on the House floor Monday.
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RESCUING AND SAVING LIVES:
SB 2663 by *White , Akbari, Kyle, Walley – HB 1848 by *Parkinson , LAMBERTH, MCCALMON, RUSSELL
Human Rights – As introduced, requires adult cabarets and adult-oriented establishments to post a notice on the inside and outside of each bathroom door and door used by customers or patrons to enter or exit the facility that provides the contact information for the Tennessee Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline established and maintained by the Tennessee bureau of investigation.
STATUS: I am very pleased to tell you that this potentially life-saving bill is on the way to the Governor, after a unanimous vote in other chambers.
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Budget becomes central focus in final weeks of 113th General Assembly
Members of the House Finance, Ways and Means Committee this week were briefed by Finance and Administration Commissioner Jim Bryson on Gov. Bill Lee’s amended budget proposal for the 2024-25 fiscal year.
“We’ve been really managing our expenses to stay significantly under our revenues,” Bryson told members of the committee. “That is just good conservative management.”
“Our challenge is to take care of problems this year and deal with things now and try to set ourselves up to have a… more normal (budget next year),” he added, highlighting the state’s stabilizing tax revenue collections following several years of dramatic growth.
The budget amendment includes funding for several key pieces of legislation that aim to increase public safety in Tennessee.
