Potty Police: Republican bill criminalizes transgender people using public restrooms

• 9 a.m. Judiciary – SB 2781 by Sen. Janice Bowling makes it a criminal offense for “a person to knowingly enter into and remain in a public restroom that does not correspond with the person's biological sex.” 
• This legislation targets transgender people and attempts to make it impossible for them to use restrooms or changing rooms without fear.
• This is another clear example of government overreach where the consequences are false accusations, discrimination and unnecessary lawsuits (paid for by taxpayers).

 

GOP bill shields businesses that steal wages from workers

• 9 a.m. Judiciary – SB 2017 by Sen. Shane Reeves would reduce the amount of time that workers have to bring a lawsuit against an employer who stole compensation from them.
• The legislation requires a worker to file a lawsuit within three years of the wage theft, down from six years under current law.
• Wage theft cases are complex and difficult to prove. Reducing the amount of time a worker has to bring a claim only benefits businesses that steal from their employees.

 

Republican bill would eliminate right to restrict guns on private property

• 9 a.m. Judiciary – SB 2180 by Sen. Joey Hensley would eliminate the right of every person and business owner to prohibit firearms on their private property when a gun owner has a state permit.
• Any Tennessean can get a handgun carry permit by passing an online test and paying a $65 fee.
• Under the bill, gun owners, whose only training may have been the online permit test, could freely ignore property signs prohibiting weapons unless they are confronted by the property manager. 

 

GOP amendment says legislature can’t regulate guns for crime prevention

• 3 p.m. Judiciary — SJR 0904 would rewrite Article 1, Section 26 of the Tennessee Constitution to eliminate the legislature’s power to regulate firearms for the purpose of crime prevention. 
• This amendment deletes this provision, “the Legislature shall have power, by law, to regulate the wearing of arms with a view to prevent crime.”
• Tennessee’s firearm homicide rate is seventh highest in the nation. 

 

Free the plant: Give Tennesseans a vote on marijuana reform

• 12:30 p.m. State & Local Government – There are two bills that, if approved, would have ballot questions put to Tennesseans in the upcoming November General Election: 
• SB  2786 *Bowling – Do you support the legalization of medical marijuana? 
• SB  2726 *Akbari – Do you support decriminalization of small amounts? Do you support legalization for recreational marijuana? 

 

DEAR LORD NO: How does a SEPTEMBER legislative session sound every two years?

• 12:30 p.m. State & Local Government – SB 1962 *Hensley establishes parameters for biennial September sessions. The estimated cost is over $600,000.

 

Oliver bill would establish automatic voter restoration for people who finished their sentences

• 12:30 p.m. State & Local Government – SB  2867 by Sen. Charlane Oliver would implement automatic restoration of voting rights for people who complete their sentence. 
• Tennessee has one of the worst, if not the worst, voter restoration process in the nation. 
• Tennessee denies the right to vote to more than 470,000 citizens because of felony convictions and leads the nation in disenfranchisement of Black citizens at a “staggering rate of just over 21%,” according to The Sentencing Project.

 

Lawsuits for banned books

• 2 p.m. Education — SB 1858, by Sen. Ferrell Haile, gives parents and staff the right to sue a school district if school officials fail to act on banned materials. 
• Republicans have pushed a variety of laws attacking the freedom to read.
• To Republican lawmakers, ideas are more dangerous to children than: gunshot wounds, which are the leading cause of death for kids; lead poisoning, which is prevalent and undercounted; hunger, which is on the rise; or disease, with immunizations rates declining… 

 

Bill allows public school funding to flow to privately-run boarding schools 

• 2 p.m. Education — SB 2820 by Sen. Ferrell Haile would authorizes the formation of publicly funded, privately run boarding schools called “opportunity public charters.” 
• The bill would divert funds from local school districts to fund any approved boarding schools, which could only serve grades six through twelve with at least 75 percent of the students classified as at-risk. 

 

GOP bill further relaxes teaching permit requirements

• 2 p.m. Education —  SB  2674 by Sen. Dawn White attempts to address Tennessee’s teacher shortage by relaxing the standards to get a temporary teaching permit. 
• Instead of undermining the profession, lawmakers should try making the profession more attractive with investments in compensation, benefits and respect for educators.

 

THOUGHT POLICE: GOP would bolsters enforcement of anti-speech law targeting ‘divisive concepts’ at colleges

• 2 p.m. Education — SB 2501 *Hensley requires public colleges to complete an investigation into student and staff complaints related to their exposure to a “divisive concept, specific ideology, or political viewpoint.” 
• Colleges could also be slapped with a financial penalty when they fail to conduct timely investigations.

 

Bill removes ‘bullet resistant’ glass requirements. What was all that “safe schools” talk last year? 

• 2 p.m. Education — SB 0191 by Sen. Jon Lundberg would remove “bullet-resistant” as a specification for entry-resistant film that is required on the glass panel of each exterior entry and doors for schools constructed or remodeled after July 1, 2023.
• The bullet-resistance provision was put into law by do-nothing Republicans after The Covenant School shooting. Now it’ll be gone. 

 

Bill requires anti-abortion propaganda in public schools

• 2 p.m. Education — SB  2767 by Sen. Janice Bowling would require Tennessee school children to view a three-minute propaganda video produced by an anti-abortion group that even opposes IVF.

 

Republican legislation would steal university schools from Memphis Shelby County Schools

• 2 p.m. Education — The University of Memphis, which operates three high-performing schools for K-12 students on its campus, could become its own school district under new legislation from two Republican lawmakers from Shelby County.
• SB  2557 by Sen. Brent Taylor would shift the three schools on the university campus out of the Memphis-Shelby County Schools district.
• Chalkbeat has the details.

 

8:30 a.m. Government Operations

 

1. SB 1693 *Akbari (HB  2824 by *Camper)

Safety, Dept. of- As introduced, creates an office of gun violence prevention within the department of safety with the goal of collecting and analyzing gun violence data in this state to develop and implement strategies to prevent gun violence and mass shootings; places the office in sunset review in 2027. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 38; Title 39; Title 47 and Title 68.

 

2. SB  0070 *Roberts (HB  0236 by *Ragan)

Administrative Procedure (UAPA)- As introduced, requires each state agency head to complete periodic training for purposes of complying with the requirements of the "Regulatory Flexibility Act of 2007." - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 5.

 

3. SB  1640 *Roberts (HB  1783 by *Ragan)

Administrative Procedure (UAPA)- As introduced, continues permanent rules filed with the secretary of state between January 1, 2023, and December 31, 2023, that are in effect on the effective date of this act until repealed or amended by subsequent rule of the appropriate rulemaking agency or until otherwise superseded by legislative enactment. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 5.

 

9 a.m. Judiciary

 

1. HJR 0798 *McCalmon, Davis, Capley, Parkinson, Lynn, Littleton, Todd, Vaughan, Moon, Hardaway, Helton-Haynes, Barrett, Martin B, Terry, White, Doggett, Burkhart, Hicks G, Garrett, Cepicky, Hazlewood, Boyd, Howell, Alexander, Crawford 

Memorials, Government Officials- Urges Governor Lee to work with neighboring states and law enforcement officials to identify and prosecute child and human traffickers. - 

 

2. SB  2913 *Bailey (HB  2380 by *Parkinson)

Criminal Procedure- As introduced, authorizes a court to waive the costs to a petitioner who files a petition for restoration of the full rights of citizenship.  - Amends TCA Title 2, Chapter 19 and Title 40, Chapter 29.

 

3. SB  2770 *Bowling (HB  1872 by *Fritts, Barrett, Keisling, Todd, White, Russell, Hurt, Capley, Butler, Warner, Lamberth, Stevens)

Criminal Offenses- As introduced, authorizes the enhancement of criminal penalties up to life in prison without parole upon conviction of violent crimes by illegal aliens; conviction of possession of a firearm or deadly weapon by an illegal alien; or conviction of a violent crime on the property of a school by any person. 

 

Anti-immigrant

 

4. SB 2773 *Bowling (HB  1622 by *Hale, Sherrell)

Law Enforcement- As introduced, requires an annual training pay bonus supplement for eligible campus police officers and public safety officers in the amount of $800. 

 

5. SB 2781 *Bowling (HB  1949 by *Ragan)

Criminal Offenses- As introduced, expands the offense of observation without consent to include a person or entity that adopts rules or enforces a policy or other work-related guidance for employees or contractors to promote or assist in the commission of observation without consent in a place where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy, including a restroom, locker room, dressing room, or shower, designated for multi-person, single-sex use; creates a civil action for invasion of privacy based on a violation of observation without consent. - Amends TCA Section 39-13-607.

 

            Bathroom bill

 

6. SB  2415 *Swann (HB  2471 by *Raper)

Juvenile Offenders- As introduced, permits a juvenile court to transfer a child to criminal court to be tried as an adult at any age if the child is charged with a second or subsequent criminal gang offense. - Amends TCA Title 37; Title 39 and Title 40.

 

7. SB  2418 *Swann (HB  2673 by *Farmer)

Law Enforcement- As introduced, opens eligibility for being employed as a police officer to persons discharged from the armed forces of the United States to those with an entry-level separation, medical discharge, or a separation for the convenience of the government. - Amends TCA Title 38, Chapter 8.

 

8. SB  2017 *Reeves (HB  2113 by *Powers, Lamberth, Todd)

Statutes of Limitations and Repose- As introduced, requires causes of action for unpaid wages for hours worked, overtime, minimum wage, salary, bonuses, commissions, or other compensation owed to an employee or independent contractor, including ones for breach of contract, unjust enrichment, or quantum merit for unpaid wages for hours worked, overtime, minimum wage, salary, bonuses, commissions, or other compensation, to be commenced within three years from the accruing of the cause of action.   - Amends TCA Title 28.

 

9. SB  2028 *Reeves (HB  1643 by *Lamberth, Hardaway, Russell, Davis)

Mental Illness- As introduced, requires the state to pay the cost of a court-ordered mental health evaluation and treatment for criminal defendants who have been charged with a misdemeanor and are believed to be incompetent to stand trial or for whom there is a question about mental capacity at the time of the offense. - Amends TCA Title 33; Title 39 and Title 40.

 

10. SB  0163 *Walley (HB  0441 by *Shaw)

District Attorneys- As introduced, authorizes a district attorney general investigating a report of abuse, neglect, or exploitation made pursuant to the Tennessee Adult Protection Act to seek all remedies made available under the Act or another criminal provision; authorizes a district attorney general to convene a special grand jury to review a death or allegation of sexual abuse of, or felony theft from, an adult who is protected under the Act. - Amends TCA Title 71, Chapter 6.

 

11. SB  2257 *Walley (HB  2209 by *Capley)

County Officers- As introduced, requires a court to place a constable on administrative leave pending a preliminary hearing, instead of until the conclusion of the criminal prosecution, if the constable is indicted or formally charged with a misdemeanor involving gambling or moral turpitude or a felony; requires a court to place the constable on administrative leave until the conclusion of the criminal prosecution if the court finds probable cause that the constable committed the crime. - Amends TCA Title 8, Chapter 10.

 

12. SB  1646 *Massey (HB  2047 by *Carringer)

Liens- As introduced, adds former public officials to the list of officials who may contest liens on real property believed to lack any legal basis.  - Amends TCA Section 47-9-513 and Title 66, Chapter 21, Part 1.

 

13. SB  2277 *Massey (HB  2898 by *Kumar)

Tennessee Bureau of Investigation- As introduced, creates a registry of persons convicted of the criminal offense of domestic assault; requires the bureau to maintain the registry. - Amends TCA Title 18; Section 38-6-103; Title 39 and Title 40.

 

14. SB  2699 *Southerland (HB  2282 by *Hawk)

Statutes of Limitations and Repose- As introduced, requires a person with a court-ordered fiduciary responsibility toward a person who lacks capacity and a person holding a valid power of attorney for a person who lacks capacity to bring an action within the statute of limitations; clarifies an incapacitated person who regained capacity can still bring a suit; clarifies an agent or conservator is not shielded from liability if the agent or conservator commits a tort against the incapacitated person.  - Amends TCA Title 28.

 

15. SB 1715 *Hensley (HB  1664 by *Warner)

Law Enforcement- As introduced, authorizes a law enforcement agency to assign a law enforcement officer to serve as a school resource officer at a school within a local board of education's control that has not entered into a memorandum of understanding with a law enforcement agency to assign a school resource officer to the school. - Amends TCA Title 8; Title 37; Title 38; Title 49 and Title 62.

 

Preemption of local government

 

16. SB  2178 *Hensley, Swann (HB  2908 by *Kumar, Faison, Mitchell)

Firearms and Ammunition- As introduced, requires the Tennessee bureau of investigation to establish a program in which a person may enroll to voluntarily waive the right to purchase firearms. - Amends TCA Title 33 and Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13.

 

17. SB 2180 *Hensley (HB  1904 by *Fritts, Barrett, Grills, Richey, Capley, Butler, Reedy)

Criminal Offenses- As introduced, exempts persons who are authorized to carry a firearm pursuant to an enhanced handgun carry permit or a concealed handgun carry permit from the criminal offense of possessing a firearm in a concealed manner at a meeting conducted by, or on property owned, operated, or managed or under the control of the individual, corporation, business entity, or government entity that is properly posted. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13.

 

18. SB 2477 *Hensley (HB  2695 by *Doggett)

Firearms and Ammunition- As introduced, authorizes an attorney to carry a handgun in a building and room in which judicial proceedings are in progress if the attorney is present in furtherance of the attorney’s representation of a party with business before the court, is an enhanced handgun carry permit holder, and keeps the handgun concealed at all times. - Amends TCA Title 39.

 

19. SB 0908 *Niceley, Rose, Powers, Lowe, Bowling (HB  0994 by *Keisling, Warner, Capley, Fritts, Richey, Reedy, Lynn, Barrett, Bricken, Doggett, Ragan, Eldridge, Grills, Moody, Todd, Davis, Powers, Vital, Hulsey, Carr, McCalmon, Hardaway, Chism, Carringer)

Criminal Offenses- As introduced, clarifies that a threat to use deadly force by a private citizen making an arrest is not in itself considered a use of deadly force; prohibits a private citizen from threatening to use deadly force during the course of a citizen's arrest unless the arrest is for a crime committed or threatened against the citizen making the arrest or for a violent crime committed or threatened in the presence of the citizen making the arrest. 

 

20. SB  2516 *Niceley, Bailey, Bowling (HB  2689 by *Doggett, Capley)

Remedies and Special Proceedings- As introduced, creates a civil action against any person or government entity that infringes upon a person's right to bear arms under the Tennessee or United States Constitutions; requires the person or entity to be liable for actual or statutory damages, punitive damages, attorney's fees, and court costs. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 54.

 

21. SB  1929 *Akbari (HB  2223 by *Love)

Tennessee Bureau of Investigation- As introduced, creates an Amber+ Alert system for the purpose of issuing alerts with respect to certain youth who are reported missing under unexplained or suspicious circumstances, reported missing and at risk of harm, or reported missing and developmentally disabled or cognitively impaired. - Amends TCA Title 38, Chapter 6, Part 1.

 

22. SB  1695 *Yarbro (HB  1667 by *Hemmer)

Firearms and Ammunition- As introduced, authorizes local governments to regulate the storage of a firearm in a motor vehicle when the motor vehicle is unoccupied; applies in counties having a population greater than 98,800, according to the 2020 or a subsequent federal census. - Amends TCA Title 39.

 

23. SB  1869 *Yarbro (HB  2872 by *Hemmer)

Firearms and Ammunition- As introduced, requires clerks of court to collect and report a finding that a person is incompetent to stand trial in a criminal proceeding to the federal bureau of investigation and department of safety; prohibits the purchase or possession of a firearm by a person who has been adjudicated as a mental defective, including a person who has been found incompetent to stand trial in a criminal proceeding. - Amends TCA Title 16; Title 39 and Title 40.

 

24. SB  1917 *Yarbro (HB  2041 by *Jernigan)

Marriage- As introduced, prohibits marriage between first cousins.  - Amends TCA Title 36, Chapter 3.

 

25. SB  1785 *Campbell (HB  2199 by *Mitchell)

Criminal Offenses- As introduced, enacts "MaKayla's Law," which expands the offense of reckless endangerment to include a person's reckless failure to render inoperable or safely secure or lock a firearm, resulting in a child under 13 gaining possession of the firearm and injuring or killing the child or another. - Amends TCA Section 39-13-103.

 

26. SB  2123 *Campbell (HB  2735 by *Hemmer)

Firearms and Ammunition- As introduced, creates a Class E felony that is committed when a person provides to a gun dealer or private seller of firearms what the person knows to be materially false information with intent to deceive the dealer or seller about the legality of a transfer of a firearm; creates a Class E felony that is committed when a person knowingly obtains a firearm for the purposes of transferring the firearm to another who is prohibited from receiving or possessing a firearm by state or federal law. - Amends TCA Title 39.

 

27. SJR 0922 *Campbell 

Constitutional Amendments- Proposes an amendment to Article VI, Section 14 of the Tennessee Constitution to authorize municipal courts to impose civil penalties up to $3,000 for violations of municipal ordinances. - 

 

28. SB  1482 *Oliver (HB  0688 by *Hardaway, Lamberth)

Criminal Offenses- As introduced, creates a Class C felony of reckless endangerment committed against a population within a geographic territory by members of a criminal gang and the commission of the offense is gang-related; authorizes a court to revoke or prohibit the issuance of a driver license to individuals convicted of such offenses for a five-year period. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 13 and Title 40, Chapter 35.

 

29. SB  1898 *Oliver (HB  2023 by *Clemmons)

Criminal Procedure- As introduced, requires the arrest or search warrant being issued to include the contact information or telephone number of the law enforcement agency that issued the warrant. - Amends TCA Title 39; Title 40 and Title 68.

 

30. SB  1686 *Lamar (HB  2825 by *Camper)

Firearms and Ammunition- As introduced, authorizes a county legislative body to elect not to permit persons within the county to lawfully carry a handgun without a handgun carry permit by passage of a resolution; requires a county that has passed such a resolution to provide notice to persons present within the county by posting notice of the resolution in conspicuous public locations throughout the county. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13.

 

31. SB 1501 *Stevens (HB  1016 by *Grills, Lamberth, Sherrell, Doggett, Howell, Zachary, Cochran, Ragan, Littleton, Terry, Slater, Moody, Whitson, Boyd, Hurt, Warner, Barrett, Helton-Haynes, Reedy, Powers, Cepicky)

Education, Dept. of- As introduced, changes the date, from February 1 to January 15, by which the commissioner must annually report to the governor and the general assembly on the implementation of and compliance with the Schools Against Violence in Education Act.

 

32. SJR 0904 *Stevens, Bailey, Bowling, Hensley, Jackson, Pody, Haile, Yager 

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 state that citizens have a right to keep, bear, and wear arms for their defense, and not just for common defense. 

 

33. HJR 0131 *Garrett, Reedy, Todd, Faison, Lamberth, Richey, Sherrell, Powers, Towns, Hawk, McCalmon, Ragan, Lynn, Moody, Vital, Doggett, Leatherwood, Zachary, Williams, Barrett, Capley, Slater, Terry, Howell, Martin B, Warner, Hicks T, Cepicky, Keisling, Carr, Moon, Grills (HJR 0131 Stevens)

General Assembly, Statement of Intent or Position- Addresses and establishes the declared public policy of the State of Tennessee relative to the right of the citizens and those within the boundaries of this State to keep, bear, and wear arms. - 

 

34. SB 1802 *Taylor, Johnson, Yager, Haile, Stevens (HB  2611 by *Zachary, Davis, Faison, McCalmon, Todd)

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.

 

35. SB  2186 *Taylor, Johnson, Yager (HB  1716 by *Gillespie)

Courts, General Sessions- As introduced, specifies that in a county with more than one general sessions judge, the management and supervision of any appointed judicial commissioners must rotate between the general sessions judges in the county on an annual basis. - Amends TCA Title 16; Title 17 and Title 40.

 

36. SB  2563 *Taylor, Rose (HB  1641 by *Lamberth, Hardaway, Russell, Davis, Howell)

Criminal Offenses- As introduced, creates a Class A misdemeanor of violating a condition of release on bail; authorizes a law enforcement officer to arrest a person without a warrant based on probable cause to believe that the person has violated a condition of release. - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 40.

 

37. SB  2564 *Taylor, Rose (HB  2696 by *Doggett)

Bail, Bail Bonds- As introduced, creates a Class A misdemeanor offense of violation of a condition of release; allows arrest without a warrant of a person committing the offense of violation of a condition of release; requires the violation of a condition of release to be punished as a misdemeanor criminal offense. - Amends TCA Title 40.

 

38. SB  2565 *Taylor, Rose, Johnson, Yager (HB  1719 by *Gillespie, Vaughan, White, Moody, Gant, Slater, Eldridge)

Bail, Bail Bonds- As introduced, removes the defendant's financial condition as a consideration for the magistrate in determining the amount of bail necessary to reasonably assure the appearance of the defendant at trial and protect the safety of the public. - Amends TCA Title 40.

 

39. SB  2566 *Taylor, Rose, Johnson, Yager (HB  1718 by *Gillespie, Vaughan, White, Moody, Gant)

Bail, Bail Bonds- As introduced, requires any conditions of release imposed on a defendant to include a requirement that the defendant submit to pretrial monitoring to ensure compliance with the conditions; requires the court to order bail to be forfeited and an arrest warrant issued if the defendant does not comply with conditions of release; limits, to criminal or circuit court judges, those who may release a defendant who has been arrested for failure to comply with the conditions of release. - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 40.

 

40. SB 2567 *Taylor, Rose, Johnson, Yager (HB  1933 by *Gillespie)

Bail, Bail Bonds- As introduced, prohibits the release of a person charged with a Class A or B felony on their own recognizance; requires a magistrate to set bail for a person charged with a Class A felony at $20,000 or more and for a person charged with a Class B felony at $10,000 or more. - Amends TCA Title 40.

 

41. SB  2570 *Taylor, Rose, Johnson, Yager, Bowling (HB  2031 by *Barrett, Sexton, Cepicky, Todd, Martin B, Vaughan, Sparks, Moon, Warner, Sherrell, Capley, Hale, Grills, Johnson C, Zachary, Faison, Lamberth, Richey, Garrett, McCalmon, Hicks T, Powers, Fritts, Keisling, Lafferty, Carringer, Whitson, Davis, Doggett, Farmer, Russell)

Criminal Offenses- As introduced, increases the penalty for intentionally obstructing a highway, street, or other place used for the passage of vehicles or conveyances from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class D felony; allows a person who suffers loss or injury as a result of such an offense to bring a cause of action against the offender to recover compensatory damages from the loss or injury. - Amends TCA Title 39.

 

42. SB 2573 *Taylor, Rose (HB  1932 by *Gillespie)

Criminal Offenses- As introduced, specifies that punishment for organized retail theft or shoplifting should not be less than a Class E felony.  - Amends TCA Title 38; Title 39; Title 40 and Title 68.

 

43. SB  2574 *Taylor, Rose, Johnson, Yager (HB  1720 by *Gillespie)

Criminal Offenses- As introduced, increases from Class E and Class D to a Class C felony the classification of theft of a firearm valued at less than $60,000 and related offenses; specifies that it is a Class C felony to receive, possess, store, barter, sell, transfer, or dispose of a stolen firearm or firearm ammunition. 

 

44. SB  2599 *Taylor (HB  2386 by *Gant, Grills, Lamberth)

Search & Seizure- As introduced, authorizes a law enforcement officer to execute a search warrant for medical records or a test to determine the alcohol or drug content, or both, of a person's blood anywhere in the state, rather than in the county in which the warrant was issued. - Amends TCA Title 40 and Title 55.

 

45. SB  2710 *Taylor (HB  2814 by *Gillespie)

Criminal Offenses- As introduced, raises the penalty for the offense of drag racing from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony. - Amends TCA Title 40, Chapter 33 and Title 55, Chapter 10, Part 5.

 

46. SB  0500 *Stevens (HB  1349 by *Farmer)

Civil Procedure- As introduced, increases from $4,000 to $25,000 the total amount of medical, hospital, and doctor bills that may be itemized with copies and attached as an exhibit to a complaint or civil warrant as prima facie evidence that the bills paid or incurred were necessary and reasonable. - Amends TCA Title 20, Chapter 1; Title 24, Chapter 5; Title 55, Chapter 12 and Title 56, Chapter 7.

 

47. SB  2048 *Stevens (HB  1825 by *Farmer)

Controlled Substances- As introduced, increases the limit on the amount of products containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine base, or their salts, isomers, or salts of isomers that a pharmacy may sell or a person may purchase in a 30-day period from 5.76 grams to 7.2 grams; removes the limit on the amount of such products that may be purchased or sold within a one-year period. 

 

Breaking Bad? Pseudoephedrine is the primary ingredient of meth. 

 

48. SB  2049 *Stevens (HB  2099 by *Cochran)

District Attorneys- As introduced, requires the clerk of every court having jurisdiction of criminal offenses to include a $12.50 charge in every cost bill, to be remitted to the county government to provide support services for the purpose of promoting public safety at the sole discretion of the district attorney general; takes effect upon two-thirds vote of the county legislative body or, if the county is imposing a similar fee to benefit the public defender’s office, upon written request and notice by the district attorney general to the county executive and the circuit court clerk of such county. - Amends TCA Title 40.

 

49. SB  2860 *Roberts, Campbell (HB  2647 by *Ragan)

Children's Services, Dept. of- As introduced, removes an outdated provision that required the department to report to the chairs of the government operations committees of the senate and the house of representatives, and appear before the education, health, and general welfare joint evaluation committee, in 2023 relative to the December 2022 performance audit report issued by the division of state audit. - Amends TCA Title 4 and Title 37.

 

50. SB  2654 *White (HB  2790 by *Littleton)

Criminal Offenses- As introduced, creates a Class B misdemeanor that is committed when a person knowingly tampers with, removes, or vandalizes a monitoring device that the person is required to use as a condition of bond, probation, or parole; requires an entity monitoring such a device to notify the court with jurisdiction over the person's bond, board of parole, or probation officer upon becoming aware that there has been an attempt to either tamper with, disable, remove, or otherwise make the device ineffective. - Amends TCA Title 40.

 

51. SB  2662 *White (HB  1817 by *Littleton, Lamberth, Faison, Eldridge, Lafferty, Bricken, Russell, Grills, Todd, Vaughan)

Criminal Offenses- As introduced, increases the penalty from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class D felony for the offense of child endangerment by a parent or custodian of a child eight years of age or less if the parent or guardian knowingly exposes the child to, or knowingly fails to protect the child from, abuse or neglect resulting in physical injury or imminent danger to the child; increases the penalty from a Class D felony to a Class B felony for a person who negligently, by act or omission, engages in conduct that places a child eight years of age or less in imminent danger of death, bodily injury, or physical or mental impairment. - Amends TCA Title 39.

 

52. SB  2669 *White, Bowling (HB  1911 by *Bulso)

Criminal Offenses- As introduced, increases the penalties for certain violations of the offense of unlawful photography; requires the court, rather than allowing the court discretion, to order a person convicted of certain unlawful photography offenses to register as a sexual offender; makes various other changes to the offense of unlawful photography. - Amends TCA Section 39-13-605 and Title 40, Chapter 39, Part 2.

 

53. SB  2304 *Gardenhire (HB  2684 by *Doggett)

Bail, Bail Bonds- As introduced, requires a defendant for whom a bench warrant is issued due to failure to appear on a felony or a Class A or Class B misdemeanor that is violent or sexual in nature as determined by the court, or who is charged with a failure to appear, to be placed on any available state or federal list or database as a fugitive from justice, without limitation, within 10 days after the bench warrant is received by law enforcement. - Amends TCA Section 40-11-139 and Section 40-11-142.

 

54. SB  2551 *Lundberg (HB  2780 by *Parkinson)

Children- caption related to restitution in cases of parentage fraud. You are not the father.

 

55. SB  2827 *Crowe (HB  2859 by *Ragan)

Parks, Natural Areas Preservation- As introduced, authorizes the operation of a golf cart on gravel roads within the campgrounds of state parks in addition to paved roads if such gravel roads are marked suitable for a golf cart. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 7; Title 8; Title 11; Title 68; Title 69 and Title 70.

 

12:30 p.m. State & Local Government

 

1. SB  2635 *Rose (HB  2787 by *Barrett, Hill, White)

Codes- As introduced, authorizes a local government to amend adopted building codes to include three-family dwellings and four-family dwellings within the scope of the residential code. - Amends TCA Title 68, Chapter 120.

 

2. SB  2245 *Lundberg (HB  2382 by *Crawford)

Campaigns and Campaign Finance- As introduced, authorizes the county administrator of elections to email assessment letters to candidates and political campaign committees for local public office when the administrator discovers that a campaign finance report has not been filed by the candidate or political campaign committee. - Amends TCA Title 2, Chapter 10.

 

3. SB  1784 *Lundberg (HB  1874 by *Crawford)

Emergency Communications Districts- As introduced, requires the board of directors of an emergency communications district to ensure that all calls coming from a blue-light emergency telephone are recorded. 

 

4. SB  2182 *Lundberg (HB  2797 by *Hulsey)

Regional Authorities and Special Districts- As introduced, specifies that the required notice of a public meeting by an industrial development corporation related to the approval of a payment in lieu of taxes for a lessee of the corporation must be published on the website of the corporation.  - Amends TCA Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 13 and Title 48.

 

5. SB 1536 *Bowling (HB  1535 by *Bricken)

Taxes, Real Property- As introduced, provides that whenever Coffee County acquires property at a tax sale, any non-governmental entity holding a vested and duly recorded contractual right to the payment of fees or assessments secured by the property retains such right; further provides that Coffee County will be liable for the payment of such fees and assessments if the county makes actual use of the property purchased at the tax sale. 

 

6. SB  2769 *Bowling (HB  2055 by *Eldridge)

Taxes, Ad Valorem- As introduced, deletes a reference to a repealed statute from the present law governing the deadline by which an action by the county board of equalization during its regular session must be completed and notice of its decision and appeal procedure must be sent. - Amends TCA Title 67.

 

7. SB  2786 *Bowling (HB  2654 by *Chism)

Election Laws- As introduced, requires county election commissions to include on the ballot for the November 2024 election a non-binding question related to the legalization of the sale, possession, and use of medical marijuana; requires the secretary of state to compile the results of the public policy opinion poll and forward the results to the members of the general assembly. 

 

8. SB  2901 *Bailey (HB  2682 by *Doggett, Eldridge)

Pensions and Retirement Benefits- It allows law enforcement retirees to return to work as an SRO. It allows the retiree to receive 100% of their salary and 100% of their retirement if reemployed as an SRO. It sunsets on June 30, 2026. This legislation received a positive recommendation from the Council on Pensions.

 

9. SB  2902 *Bailey (HB  2683 by *Doggett)

Pensions and Retirement Benefits-  It creates a hazardous duty supplemental retirement benefit for local law enforcement, correctional officers, and firefighters. A political subdivision must pass a resolution authorizing an actuary study to determine the liability associated with providing the benefit. They must then pass a subsequent resolution authorizing the benefit and accepting the liability. The benefit applies to current and future retirees upon adoption.

 

10. SB  2897 *Bailey (HB  2677 by *White)

County Officers- As introduced, increases the annual continuing education requirement for county commissioners from seven to eight hours; requires that the training be obtained by CTAS meetings; extends a $600 stipend to county commissioners for completion of annual training requirements. - Amends TCA Title 2; Title 5 and Title 7.

 

11. SB  2926 *Bailey (HB  2950 by *Travis)

Alcoholic Beverage Commission- Requires each holder of a license for consumption of alcoholic beverages on the premises to post a minimum bond of $10,000 with the Department of Revenue (DOR).

 

12. SB  2898 *Bailey (HB  2642 by *Lamberth)

State Government- Prohibits a governmental entity that regulates entertainment transportation from: (1) refusing to renew a permit to a business that provides entertainment transportation if the permit was issued prior to the effective date of the act, or (2) revoking a permit except for good cause shown in an administrative hearing. 

 

13. SB  2904 *Bailey (HB  2636 by *Sherrell)

Public Records- caption

 

14. SB  2172 *Hensley (HB  2312 by *Baum)

Taxes, Ad Valorem- As introduced, authorizes municipal tax collectors and taxing entities to also accept partial payments of delinquent property taxes in the same manner as county trustees; requires such officials to include in their plan for accepting partial payments a description of the accounting system technology or manual processes to be used to record partial payments of delinquent property taxes and a statement indicating that funds received as partial payments on delinquent property taxes will reduce the amount of delinquent property tax, interest, statutory fees, and court costs, by relative amounts on a pro-rata basis. - Amends TCA Section 67-5-2001.

 

15. SB  1142 *Hensley (HB  1375 by *Ragan)

Historical Commission- As introduced, vacates the commission and reconstitutes the commission; changes the size and appointing authorities for the commission from 24 gubernatorial appointees to 20 total members with five each being appointed by the governor, the speaker of the senate, and the speaker of the house of representatives and five ex officio non-voting members. 

 

16. SB 1962 *Hensley (HB  1791 by *Hawk, Lamberth, Faison)

General Assembly- As introduced, establishes parameters for biennial September sessions.

 

17. SB 1706 *Hensley (HB  1799 by *Rudd)

Election Laws- Requires that a county election commission member or employee, or an administrator of elections receive approval from the Secretary of State (SOS) prior to attending any training, seminar, conference, or any other educational event related to elections, unless the training is provided by the SOS, Coordinator of Elections, their designee, or another government agency. 

 

18. SB 1705 *Hensley (HB  1798 by *Rudd)

Election Laws- Requires the coordinator of elections to develop and maintain uniform standards and requirements for county election commission facilities ensure the proper administration of elections in each county. Empower Mark Goins Act, no thanks.

 

19. SB  2174 *Hensley (HB  2250 by *Cepicky)

Taxes, Privilege- 

 

20. SB  2448 *Akbari (HB  2215 by *Parkinson)

Real Property- As introduced, enacts the Real Estate Fraud Reduction Act, which requires county registers of deeds and notaries public to verify the identity of a person recording or notarizing a document relating to certain real estate transactions, as applicable, using a government-issued identification card; requires such registers and notaries to document and maintain as a permanent record certain personally identifying information of a person recording or notarizing such a document; specifies penalties for violations by a notary public. 

 

21. SB  2726 *Akbari, Campbell (HB  2657 by *Chism)

Election Laws- As introduced, requires county election commissions to include three non-binding questions related to the legalization of marijuana on the November 2024 ballot; requires the secretary of state to compile the results of the non-binding, advisory referendum, publish the results on the secretary of state's website, and forward the results to the members of the general assembly. - Amends TCA Title 2.

 

22. SB  2112 *Niceley, Campbell, Crowe (HB  2244 by *Farmer)

Local Government, General- As introduced, expresses legislative intent that the persons appointed to a charter commission for the consolidation of the functions of the county and creation of a metropolitan government be representative of both incorporated and unincorporated areas of the county.

 

23. SB  2524 *Niceley (HB  2391 by *Lafferty)

Election Laws- As introduced, changes the date by which a county election commission may begin voting at nursing homes from 29 days before the election to 27 days before the election. 

 

24. SB  2538 *Niceley (HB  2190 by *Fritts, Todd, White, Russell, Marsh, Hurt, Capley, Butler, Zachary, Barrett, Warner, Alexander)

Governor- It authorizes the governor to send a brigade sized force (2000 or more) to Texas for the purpose of defending the border.

 

25. SB  1997 *Niceley (HB  2247 by *Holsclaw)

Alcoholic Beverages- As introduced, authorizes a person 16 years of age or older to transport, possess, sell, and dispense alcoholic beverages, wine, and beer in the course of such person’s employment. - Amends TCA Title 1 and Title 57.

 

26. SB  2743 *Niceley (HB  2117 by *Powers)

Local Government, General- As introduced, requires a political subdivision to provide a written attestation with the political subdivision's annual audit to the comptroller of the treasury certifying that the political subdivision has not sought or received a grant in intentional pursuit of certain prohibited policies. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 20; Title 21; Title 27; Title 28 and Title 29.

 

27. SB  2544 *Niceley (HB  2802 by *Hulsey)

Public Contracts- As introduced, prescribes certain contractual and reporting requirements to protect the integrity of financial transactions in this state.  - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 12; Title 45 and Title 47.

 

28. SB  2868 *Niceley (HB  2401 by *Lynn)

Election Laws- As introduced, creates a process for the majority and minority party caucuses of the general assembly to nominate candidates for United States senator; provides that such process becomes operable for each respective senatorial seat when the respective incumbent declines to run for re-election, loses a re-election bid, or a vacancy is created in the office. - Amends TCA Title 2, Chapter 13.

 

29. SB  1761 *Niceley (HB  1850 by *Reedy)

Zoning- As introduced, prohibits counties and municipalities from adopting and enforcing regulations to prohibit gardening and raising limited numbers of chickens or rabbits at single-family residences. - Amends TCA Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 13 and Title 43.

 

30. SB  1137 *Oliver (HB  1229 by *Hemmer)

Housing- As introduced, requires a county having a metropolitan form of government that creates a special escrow account earmarked for the sole purpose of generating revenue to provide low income persons with safe and affordable housing to notify the Tennessee housing development agency and the chairs of the local government committee of the house of representatives and the state and local government committee of the senate. - Amends TCA Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 13, Chapter 23; Title 48, Chapter 101, Part 9; Title 67, Chapter 5 and Section 67-4-409.

 

31. SB  2867 *Oliver (HB  2415 by *Dixie, Behn)

Election Laws- As introduced, establishes automatic restoration of voting rights for people who complete their sentence; adds seditious conspiracy to list of offenses that make a person ineligible to register and vote. - Amends TCA Title 2; Title 40 and Title 41.

 

32. SB  1900 *Oliver (HB  1715 by *Freeman)

Taxes, Ad Valorem- As introduced, requires the state to reimburse veterans with permanent and total disabilities for 100 percent of the local property taxes paid on their residences; removes the limitations that such reimbursement be a partial payment and that it be paid on the first $175,000 of the full market value of the residence. - Amends TCA Section 67-5-704.

 

33. SB  2724 *Jackson (HB  2873 by *Wright)

State Government- Authorizes the governor, the speaker of the senate, and the speaker of the house to remove a member of the inmate disciplinary oversight board, whom they appointed, for cause.

 

34. SB  2427 *Jackson (HB  2607 by *Carringer)

Alcoholic Beverages- As introduced, authorizes retail package store licensees and beer permittees to sell hemp-based products; prohibits retail package store licensees from charging certain fees. - Amends TCA Title 57, Chapter 3 and Title 57, Chapter 5.

 

35. SB  2352 *Jackson (HB  2523 by *Grills)

Utilities, Utility Districts- As introduced, increases, from $200 to $400, the monthly compensation for the board of directors of the Reelfoot Lake regional utility and planning district; authorizes the board of directors to participate in the group medical and life insurance plan provided to district employees, to be reimbursed for premiums paid for equivalent or similar medical and life insurance coverage, and to be reimbursed for premiums paid for medical insurance coverage by medicare. - Amends Chapter 222 of the Public Acts of 1983, as amended by Chapter 488 of the Public Acts of 2021.

 

36. SB  2184 *Walley (HB  2345 by *Bricken)

Emergency Communications Districts- As introduced, transfers the state emergency communications board to the department of safety from the department of commerce and insurance.  - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 29 and Title 7, Chapter 86.

 

37. SB 0129 *Walley (HB  0526 by *Haston, Gant, Moody)

Utilities, Utility Districts- As introduced, removes requirement for receipt of certain grants and loans for water and wastewater treatment infrastructure projects that a municipality includes depreciation in its calculation of fees or rates. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 9; Title 65; Title 67 and Title 68.

 

38. SB  2643 *Walley (HB  2639 by *Gant, Vaughan)

County Boundaries- It alters the boundary line between Fayette County and Shelby County and becomes effective January 1, 2025.

 

39. SB  0145 *Walley (HB  0133 by *Lamberth, Leatherwood, Harris)

Election Laws- It requires candidates to file nominating petitions by the second Tuesday in March for: any office to be filled at the regular November election for which a primary is required to be held at the regular August election; any office to be filled in a regular August general election for which a May primary has not been called; any municipal election held in conjunction with the regular August election; and for any office to be filled in a regular August election for which a March or May primary is not held. This bill takes effect after the November 2024 election.

 

40. SB  2315 *Pody (HB  2368 by *Carr, White, Hicks T, Vaughan)

Local Government, General- As introduced, establishes the "Residential Infrastructure Development Act of 2024."

 

41. SB  0574 *Pody (HB  0694 by *Fritts, Butler, Capley, Reedy)

State Government- prohibits a political subdivision or public official to declare any workers non-essential during a state of emergency. It creates legal standing to bring civil action against a political subdivision or public official who violate this act. 

 

42. SB  2631 *Pody (HB  1616 by *Richey)

Election Laws- As introduced, prescribes a process by which a person must declare a statewide political party or recognized minor party affiliation before voting in a primary election; designates persons who choose not to affiliate with a political party as "Unaffiliated"; authorizes unaffiliated voters to vote in primary elections. - Amends TCA Title 2.

 

43. HJR 0803 *Fritts, Raper, Love, Davis, Lamberth, Todd, McCalmon, Sherrell, Carringer, Hulsey, Slater, Grills, Capley, Barrett, Richey, White, Faison, Hill, Warner, Butler, Hicks G, Martin B, Zachary, Burkhart, Alexander, Boyd, Williams, Sparks, McKenzie (HJR 0803 Pody)

General Assembly, Statement of Intent or Position- Designates the period of July 1, 2024, through July 31, 2024, as a time of prayer and fasting in Tennessee and seeks God’s hand of mercy healing on Tennessee. - 

 

44. SB  1798 *Yarbro, Campbell (HB  1870 by *Freeman, Behn)

Alcoholic Beverage Commission- As introduced, requires the training curriculum for a program of alcohol awareness that applicants for a server permit must complete to include training to recognize signs indicating that a person may be under the influence of a date rape drug and signs indicating that a person may be the victim of sex trafficking or labor trafficking. - Amends TCA Title 57.

 

45. SB  1800 *Yarbro (HB  1672 by *Freeman, Behn)

Alcoholic Beverages- As introduced, authorizes certain legislative bodies, by a two-thirds majority vote, to expand the hours for the sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption on premises and beer on Sundays consistent with the hours for sale on weekdays.  - Amends TCA Title 57, Chapter 3; Title 57, Chapter 4 and Title 57, Chapter 5.

 

46. SB  2238 *Yarbro (HB  2467 by *Stevens)

Taxes, Real Property- As introduced, authorizes a county to create a program by which an owner of real property in the county may apply for a classification of the property as zoning-exempt property, which values the property based on the zoning classification that existed at the time the owner came into possession of the property and its current use. - Amends TCA Title 67, Chapter 5.

 

47. SB  2239 *Yarbro, Campbell (HB  2439 by *Sparks)

Local Government, General- As introduced, authorizes any local government in this state to create a land bank; authorizes a local government to post on its website, if available, a link to a state website or publication identifying surplus real property for sale or conveyance.  - Amends TCA Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 12, Chapter 2 and Title 13.

 

48. SB  2270 *Yarbro (HB  2674 by *Shaw)

Purchasing and Procurement- As introduced, authorizes the chief procurement officer to develop regulations, policies, procedures, templates, or other guidance related to the acquisition of information systems and software, in coordination with the division of strategic technology solutions and the information systems council. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 56.

 

49. SB  2347 *Yarbro (HB  2414 by *Dixie)

Election Laws- As introduced, changes the deadline for a person to register to vote from 30 days before an election to 15 days before an election. - Amends TCA Title 2.

 

50. SB  2345 *Yarbro (HB  2634 by *McKenzie)

Election Laws- As introduced, removes the requirement that a registered voter be a bona fide member of, affiliated with, or declare allegiance to a political party in order to vote in a political party's primary election; removes the requirement that the officer of elections at each polling place post a sign stating that it is a crime to vote in a political party's primary election without being a bona fide member of, or affiliated with, that political party, or to declare allegiance to that party without the intent to affiliate with that party. - Amends TCA Title 2, Chapter 7.

 

51. SB  2237 *Yarbro (HB  2423 by *Shaw)

Housing- As introduced, entitles each county and municipality that adopts certain zoning reform strategies that support housing development to receive from the department of revenue up to 20 percent of the revenue collected from the recordation tax based on transactions in the respective jurisdiction. - Amends TCA Title 13, Chapter 7 and Title 67.

 

52. SB  2879 *Kyle (HB  2959 by *Hardaway)

Correctional Programs- As introduced, creates a committee to study the establishment of incarcerated parenting plans to facilitate the ongoing relationships between incarcerated parents and their children within this state; requires the committee to report its findings and recommendations to the civil justice committee of the house of representatives and the judiciary committee of the senate by December 1, 2024, including any model incarcerated parenting plan and any proposed legislation. - Amends TCA Title 36; Title 37 and Title 41.

 

53. SB  1676 *Briggs, Bowling (HB  2240 by *Cochran, Hawk, White)

Taxes, Hotel Motel- As introduced, requires a municipality levying the hotel-motel tax under general law to submit a report annually detailing how the revenue earned from the tax is used by the municipality; requires the comptroller of the treasury to audit the reports of the municipality; requires a municipality found to have used the funds improperly to appropriate general funds in the same amount for promotion of tourism and tourism development; prohibits a municipality, on and after July 1, 2025, from levying or increasing the hotel-motel tax if the aggregate total tax would exceed 8 percent. 

 

54. SB 2355 *Briggs (HB  2658 by *Holsclaw)

Alcoholic Beverage Commission- As introduced, requires the commission to levy certain fines and suspend the server permit of a person for certain violations, including the sale of alcohol or beer to a person who is under 21 years of age. - Amends TCA Section 57-4-203.

 

55. SB  2281 *Briggs (HB  2850 by *Hill)

Real Property- Prohibits a local governing body (LGB) from prohibiting, effectively prohibiting, or otherwise limiting the ability of a person to use commercial property or owner-occupied or renter-occupied property (OP) as a short-term rental unit (STRU). Authorizes an LGB to regulate such STRUs, upon approval by the LGB or by referendum. 

 

56. SB  1675 *Briggs (HB  2241 by *Cochran)

Taxes, Hotel Motel- Prohibits a municipality from levying or increasing a privilege tax on occupancy in a hotel in an amount that results in the aggregate total tax on the privilege of occupancy in a hotel within the jurisdiction exceeding eight percent.

 

According to the Municipal Technical Advisory Service, 32 cities currently exceed the proposed eight percent cap. These cities would be required to reduce their occupancy taxes, resulting in an unknown decrease in local revenue

 

57. SB  1723 *Lowe (HB  1794 by *Rudd)

Election Laws- As introduced, enacts the "Uniform Faithful Presidential Electors Act." - Amends TCA Title 2.

 

58. SB  2058 *Lowe, Stevens (HB  2694 by *Doggett, Fritts)

State Government- As introduced, enacts the "Tennessee State Sovereignty Act of 2024." - Amends TCA Title 3.

 

59. SB  2203 *Lowe (HB  2208 by *Fritts)

Economic and Community Development- As introduced, expresses the intent of the general assembly that the membership of joint economic and community development boards be representative of the populations of the cities and counties for which the boards are formed. - Amends TCA Title 6, Chapter 58.

 

60. SB 2129 *Lowe (HB  2200 by *McCalmon)

Wine & Wineries- caption

 

61. SB 1580 *Lowe (HB  1818 by *Butler)

Public Officials- As introduced, creates a recall process for elected non-constitutional public officials. - Amends TCA Title 2 and Title 8.

 

62. SB 0793 *Stevens (HB  1450 by *Faison)

Housing- Establish the process for assessment and valuation of low-income housing properties for property tax purposes. Applies to residential property and projects developed on or after January 1, 2025.

 

Assessors of properties are opposed. 

 

63. SB 2834 *Stevens (HB  2925 by *Sexton)

Utilities, Utility Districts- caption

 

64. SB  2313 *Johnson (HB  2271 by *Slater)

Registers of Deeds- caption

 

65. SB  2711 *Taylor (HB  2868 by *Vaughan)

Taxes, Hotel Motel- As introduced, authorizes a municipality to change the allocation of revenue, but not its designated use, of a privilege tax upon the privilege of occupancy in a hotel if the tax preexisted July 1, 2021.

 

66. SB 2586 *Taylor (HB  1955 by *Rudd, McCalmon)

Election Laws- As introduced, requires a third-party voter registration organization to register and provide certain information to the coordinator of elections before engaging in a voter registration event or program; prohibits persons and organizations collecting voter registrations from taking certain actions with regard to the voter registrations and provides civil penalties for violations. - Amends TCA Title 2.

 

67. SB 2813 *Reeves (HB  2373 by *Terry)

Open Meetings- As introduced, authorizes a governing body to provide a period of public comment for each item on an agenda for a public meeting or at the end of the agenda for comment collectively on matters germane to the items on the agenda.  - Amends TCA Title 8, Chapter 44.

 

68. SB 2020 *Reeves (HB  1695 by *Alexander, Lamberth, McCalmon, Hicks T, Eldridge, Crawford, Williams)

Autopsies- As introduced, specifies that reports of county medical examiners and autopsy reports of victims of violent crime who are minors are not public documents; allows a parent or legal guardian of a minor victim of a violent crime to consent to the release of the report of the county medical examiner or autopsy report of the minor victim if the parent or legal guardian is not a suspect in the circumstances of the minor's death. 

 

Covenant death records. 

 

69. SB  2261 *Reeves, Hensley, White (HB  2426 by *Hicks T, Cepicky, Rudd, Stevens, Jernigan)

County Government- It increases the initial tax rate cap, from $1.00 per square foot to $1.50 per square foot, on residential property, and authorizes counties to impose such tax rate on commercial properties as well. It authorizes a county to levy a tax if it experiences growth rate of 20 percent or more in population from the 2010 federal census to the 2020 federal census, or between any subsequent federal decennial census or a nine percent growth in population over four consecutive years.

 

County Facilities Privilege Tax for fast-growing counties and no one else. 

 

70. SB 2900 *Bailey (HB  2719 by *Garrett)

Tennessee Housing Development Agency- As introduced, reduces the number of members of the board of directors of the agency required to approve the operation of the financial assistance programs under the Tennessee Housing Development Agency Act from nine to eight. - Amends TCA Title 7, Chapter 53; Title 13; Title 48, Chapter 101, Part 3; Title 56 and Title 67.

 

71. SB 2158 *Haile, Yager (HB  2774 by *McCalmon, Bulso, Rudd, Davis, Capley, Carr, Littleton, Alexander, Carringer, Doggett, Cochran, Fritts, Hulsey, Sherrell, Williams, Martin B, Rudder, Boyd, Zachary, Garrett)

Immigration- As introduced, requires the review of executive branch agency policies and spending as it relates to illegal immigration; requires a report to be compiled and delivered to the governor and the speakers of the senate and house of representatives regarding such review.  - Amends TCA Title 4.

 

72. SB 2634 *Haile (HB  2716 by *Garrett, Crawford, Howell, Todd, Littleton, Alexander, Lynn, Powers)

General Assembly- As introduced, prohibits a local legislative body from electing a member, who was expelled for disorderly behavior, to fill a vacancy in the general assembly that was created because of the member's expulsion. - 

 

Ban Rep. Jones / Pearson bill.

 

73. SB 2658 *White (HB  2608 by *Stevens)

Taxes, Privilege- As introduced, requires the TACIR to conduct a study of the County Powers Relief Act and report its findings to the state and local government committee of the senate and the local government committee of the house of representatives. - Amends TCA Title 5; Title 6; Title 7 and Title 67, Chapter 4, Part 29.

 

74. SB  2007 *Campbell (HB  1960 by *Powell, Behn, Jernigan)

Hospitals and Health Care Facilities- As introduced, authorizes public hospitals, upon approval of the hospital's governing body, to establish a state employee and retiree healthcare incentive program that will allow for the waiver of applicable out-of-pocket expenses associated with medical care at the public hospital for state employees and retirees and their covered dependents participating in the state group insurance plan. - Amends TCA Title 8, Chapter 27.

 

75. SB 2052 *Lamar (HB  2202 by *Miller)

General Assembly- As introduced, increases the monthly home office allowance for members of the general assembly from $1,250 per month to $2,250 per month. - Amends TCA Title 3, Chapter 1.

 

76. SB  2317 *Yager (HB  2114 by *Powers)

Open Meetings- As introduced, requires, beginning July 1, 2024, public notices that are required to be published in a newspaper of general circulation to also be published on a free-to-access news and information website in the county if the website meets certain requirements. - Amends TCA Title 1 and Title 8, Chapter 44.

 

77. SB  2329 *Yager (HB  2354 by *Zachary)

Public Health- As introduced, prohibits a state or local government entity, school, or local education agency from implementing a mask mandate related to COVID-19. - Amends TCA Title 14.

 

78. SB  2515 *Yager (HB  2304 by *Fritts, Alexander, Capley, Butler, Hurt)

Safety, Dept. of- Creates a reporting format for local law enforcement to use monthly for the reporting of interaction with undocumented persons.

 

2 p.m.        Education

 

1. SB  1858 *Haile, Rose (HB  1632 by *Bulso, Barrett)

Education- As introduced, gives a parent of a child who attends, or who is eligible to attend, a school operated by a local education agency or a public charter school standing to file a civil action against the LEA or public charter school in a chancery court of competent jurisdiction to enforce the Age-Appropriate Materials Act of 2022. - Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 6, Part 38.

 

2. SB  2820 *Haile (HB  2922 by *Sexton)

Education- Authorizes the formation of opportunity public charter schools, which are public charter schools that serve any of the grades six through twelve (6-12) for which at least 75 percent of the students enrolled are at-risk and which may operate a residential program. 

 

3. SB  2183 *White, Crowe (HB  2326 by *Hicks G)

Education- As introduced, changes, from 10 days to 10 business days, the maximum amount of time the commissioner of education can suspend schools in a year when the commissioner requires all teachers to attend county institutes or educational meetings. - Amends TCA Title 49.

 

4. SB  2674 *White (HB  2285 by *Haston)

Teachers, Principals and School Personnel- As introduced, authorizes the issuance of temporary teaching permits for courses for which an end-of-course examination is required. - Amends TCA Title 49.

 

5. SB  2682 *White (HB  2472 by *Raper)

Local Education Agencies- As introduced, requires LEAs and public charter schools to advise an employee who is assaulted by a student of the employee's rights as a result of the assault; requires, instead of authorizes, the suspension of a student who commits an assault against an employee of the LEA or public charter school in which the student is enrolled from attendance at school and from attendance at all school-sponsored events for at least one calendar year. - Amends TCA Title 37; Title 39 and Title 49.

 

6. SB  2296 *Crowe, Yager (HB  2248 by *Holsclaw)

Health, Dept. of- As introduced, authorizes the department to contract with a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that maintains a principal office in this state and that is affiliated with a nonprofit membership organization composed of family physicians, family medicine residents, and medical students in this state for the nonprofit organization to administer some or all portions of the family medicine student loan repayment program. - Amends TCA Title 49 and Title 63.

 

Feels like a privatization scheme. 

 

7. SB  2095 *Gardenhire (HB  1855 by *Ragan)

Education, Higher- As introduced, requires each public institution of higher education to establish a policy framework to promote the security of academic research conducted at the institution to mitigate against the risk of foreign influence. - Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 7.

 

8. SB  2213 *Powers (HB  2181 by *White, Behn, Doggett, Carringer)

Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement (TISA)- As introduced, adds pre-kindergarten students with special education needs and peer models to the categories of students who generate education funding through the TISA. - Amends TCA Title 49.

 

9. SB 2214 *Powers (HB  2242 by *White)

Education, Curriculum- As introduced, specifies that only middle school students enrolled in the lowest grade level at a middle school are required to take one course in computer science; authorizes the board to promulgate rules to effectuate the act. 

 

10. SB  2215 *Powers (HB  2283 by *Haston)

Education- Removes the provision in current law that states on July 1 each LEA and public charter school must provide their floor plans for all school buildings to each local law enforcement agency within jurisdiction, the department of education and the department of safety. Instead states each LEA and public charter school shall provide, in an electronic or digital format, school mapping data for each school building in an LEA or public charter school buildings to the aforementioned parties in order to assist first responder agencies that serve the same geographical areas in responding to an emergency. School Safety grant funds may be used to meet the requirements.

 

11. SB  2930 *Powers (HB  2488 by *Hurt)

Teachers, Principals and School Personnel- As introduced, provides a 25 percent tuition discount to a full-time certified teacher employed in a public school in this state for courses taken at a public institution of higher education in this state that are related to the person's employment as a teacher.

 

12. SB 2931 *Powers (HB  2487 by *Hurt)

Local Education Agencies- As introduced, conditions the expulsion of a student for committing the zero tolerance offense of threatening mass violence on school property or at a school-related activity to threats of mass violence determined to be valid based on the results of a threat assessment; requires directors of schools and heads of public charter schools to report threats of mass violence on school property or at a school-related activity made by a student that are determined, based on the results of a threat assessment, to be valid. - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 49, Chapter 6.

 

13. SB 2932 *Powers (HB  2486 by *Hurt, Harris)

Local Education Agencies- As introduced, authorizes a director of schools to delegate one or more of the duties assigned to the director by the local board of education to another administrator or employee of the LEA, if the board has adopted a policy authorizing the respective duty to be delegated to the respective individual. - Amends TCA Title 49.

 

14. SB  2933 *Powers (HB  2494 by *Hurt, White)

Local Education Agencies- As introduced, revises certain enrollment, attendance, individualized education program, and resident requirements for certain education funding to follow a student who is admitted to a state-licensed or out-of-state mental health facility from the student's LEA to the facility. - Amends TCA Title 49.

 

15. SB  1708 *Hensley (HB  1631 by *Bulso, Capley, Eldridge, Barrett, Lynn, Littleton, Todd, Grills, McCalmon, Cepicky)

Schools, Private- As introduced, clarifies that a private school serving students in any of the grades pre-K through 12 is authorized to adopt a handgun carry policy for the private school's property. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13; Title 49, Chapter 1 and Title 49, Chapter 50.

 

16. SB 1721 *Hensley (HB  1633 by *Ragan)

Safety- As introduced, requires the department of safety to create de-escalation training for teachers, administrators, and other school personnel; requires LEAs and public charter schools to ensure that the LEA's or public charter school's teachers, administrators, and other school personnel annually receive the de-escalation training. - Amends TCA Title 49.

 

17. SB  1867 *Hensley (HB  1908 by *Bulso)

Education, Dept. of- As introduced, enacts the "Beyond Ordinary Learning Opportunities (BOLO) Act," which requires the department to establish a one-year pilot program to place a therapy dog in five public schools in the 2024-2025 school year. - Amends TCA Title 49.

 

18. SB 1902 *Hensley (HB  1928 by *Cepicky, Whitson)

School Transportation- As introduced, clarifies, for purposes of obtaining a school bus endorsement on a driver license and for other purposes, that a school bus is a vehicle designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver; makes other related revisions. - Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 6, Part 21 and Title 55, Chapter 50.

 

19. SB  2032 *Hensley (HB  2489 by *Hurt)

Teachers, Principals and School Personnel- As introduced, authorizes the issuance of temporary teaching permits to teach physical education classes in elementary schools. - Amends TCA Title 49.

 

20. SB  2501 *Hensley (HB  2784 by *Ragan, Cepicky)

Education, Higher- As introduced, establishes deadlines for public institutions of higher education to initiate and complete an investigation into a report filed by a student or employee alleging they have been penalized, discriminated against, or received adverse treatment due to their refusal to support or otherwise assent to a divisive concept, specific ideology, or political viewpoint; establishes financial penalties for institutions that fail to timely investigate such reports or fail to timely report the results of such investigations to the comptroller of the treasury; requires the comptroller to report institutions that frequently submit reports of such investigations to the education committees of the senate and house of representatives. - Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 7.

 

21. SB  2673 *Hensley (HB  2154 by *Barrett, Moody)

Education- As introduced, reduces, from 90 to 60, the number of days following the issuance of a temporary certificate that the department of education has to determine whether an applicant to operate a child care program has complied with all regulations governing the classification of the child care program for which the application was made.  - Amends TCA Title 49.

 

22. SB  2106 *Pody (HB  2272 by *Slater)

Education- As introduced, requires the state department of education to submit the U.S department of education's interpretations and directives on the implementation of department rules providing guidance to this state to the chairs of certain legislative committees; requires such information to be submitted to each member of the joint government operations rule review committee prior to each rule review meeting. - Amends TCA Title 4 and Title 49.

 

23. SB  2312 *Pody (HB  2177 by *Lynn)

Textbooks- As introduced, requires a local board of education that provides electronic textbooks and instructional materials to provide a student reasonable access to a printed version of an electronic textbook or instructional material if the student or the student's parent or legal guardian submits a written request to the principal of the student's school for a physical or hard copy of the textbook or instructional material. - Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 6, Part 22.

 

24. SB  2596 *Pody (HB  2562 by *Slater)

Education- Adds the Classic Learning Test (CLT) to the assessments of which a student may take and attain a certain minimum score in order to be eligible for certain financial aid opportunities. Authorizes each public institution of higher education to accept student scores on the CLT for purposes of admission.

 

25. SB  0322 *Akbari (HB  0368 by *Love)

Local Education Agencies- As introduced, prohibits an LEA from suspending or expelling a student enrolled in any of the grades pre-kindergarten through two unless the student's behavior endangers the physical safety of others; authorizes an LEA to suspend such a student for such behavior for no more than three days if certain measures are taken before the student is suspended. - Amends TCA Title 49.

 

26. SB  1266 *Akbari (HB  0692 by *Parkinson)

Education, Dept. of- As introduced, changes from February 1 to February 15, the date by which the commissioner is required to annually report to the governor and the general assembly on the implementation and compliance with the Schools Against Violence in Education Act. - Amends TCA Title 49.

 

27. SB  1931 *Akbari (HB  2224 by *Love)

Education, Dept. of- As introduced, requires the department to annually notify each local education agency (LEA) in writing of all state and federal grant programs available to assist the LEA in expanding mental health services and resources in schools. - Amends TCA Title 49.

 

28. SB  1990 *Akbari (HB  2219 by *Love)

Education, Higher- As introduced, requires this state to match the federal funds appropriated to Tennessee State University at a rate that is two times the rate required by the federal government for receipt of the funds. - Amends TCA Title 9 and Title 49.

 

31. SB  2728 *Akbari (HB  2207 by *Davis, Gillespie, Helton-Haynes, Carringer, Littleton, White, Hazlewood, Parkinson, McKenzie)

Local Education Agencies- As introduced, enacts the "Menstrual Hygiene Products Accessibility Act." - Amends TCA Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 49 and Title 67.

 

33. SB  0191 *Lundberg (HB  0390 by *Cepicky)

Education- Removes “bullet-resistant” as a specification for entry-resistant film that is required on the glass panel of each exterior entry or basement level window and door for schools constructed or remodeled after July 1, 2023. 

 

34. SB  0833 *Lundberg (HB  0869 by *Lafferty)

Tennessee Higher Education Commission- Exempts the faculty members appointed by the Governor to serve on the Tennessee Board of Regents from being subject to confirmation by the Senate. 

 

35. SB  2713 *Lundberg, Powers, Johnson (HB  2676 by *Williams, Lamberth, Zachary, White, Faison, Darby, Garrett, Hicks G, Hazlewood, Vaughan, Hicks T, Baum, Alexander, Burkhart, Martin B)

Tennessee Higher Education Commission- As introduced, abolishes the governing board of directors for the Tennessee student assistance corporation and designates the corporation as a division of the commission; revises certain duties and powers of the commission; vacates and reconstitutes the commission on July 1, 2024. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 29 and Title 49.

 

36. SB  2809 *Lundberg (HB  2758 by *Alexander, Hicks T)

Local Education Agencies- As introduced, requires LEAs and public charter schools to prohibit students from displaying, using, or accessing an electronic device during instructional time unless the electronic device is authorized, or provided to the student, by the LEA or public charter school for instructional purposes; requires local boards of education and public charter school governing bodies to develop and adopt a policy to implement the prohibition. - Amends TCA Title 49.

 

37. SB 1938 *Lundberg (HB  2155 by *Moody)

Local Education Agencies- As introduced, names the law prohibiting an LEA from deducting dues from the wages of the LEA's employees for a professional employees' organization the "Michael Maren Paycheck Protection Act." - Amends TCA Section 49-2-123.

 

38. SB  2787 *Johnson, Lundberg (HB  2468 by *Lamberth)

Education- Establishes the Education Freedom Scholarship Act. Defines “eligible student” to include any Tennessee resident eligible to attend a public school or attends a homeschool registered with an umbrella organization or a church. States the scholarship amount is the TISA base funding amount and is solely state funded. States the scholarship may be used for the following: Tuition, fees, and uniforms required by the private school; Textbooks, curricula, and instructional materials required by the private school; Tutoring services; Fees for transportation to and from the private school paid to a fee-for-service transportation provider; Computer hardware, technological devices, and other technology fees that are used for the recipient's educational needs; Fees for early postsecondary opportunity courses or examinations, entrance examinations required for postsecondary admission, and industry credentials; and educational therapy services that meet the requirements established by the department.

 

39. SB  2318 *Yager (HB  2133 by *Powers)

Education, Higher- As introduced, extends a 25 percent tuition discount, provided to the children of state employees at state institutions of higher education to the children of county and municipal employees. - Amends TCA Title 8, Chapter 50 and Title 49.

 

40. SB  0709 *Stevens (HB  1059 by *Vaughan)

Education, Higher- Revises Tennessee’s Name Image Likeness law

 

41. SB  2528 *Stevens (HB  2625 by *Boyd)

Education, Higher- As introduced, requires the Tennessee higher education commission and each governing board of a public institution of higher education in this state to revise certain rules and take certain actions with respect to institutional accreditation; specifies that a public institution of higher education in this state may bring a civil cause of action against an accrediting agency or association in certain circumstances. 

 

42. SB  2703 *Southerland (HB  2158 by *Davis, Cepicky)

Local Education Agencies- As introduced, reduces, from 3,000 to 750, the number of students for which one public school nurse is considered sufficient to adequately provide services for purposes of the Tennessee public school nurse program. 

 

43. SB  2364 *Watson (HB  2028 by *Martin G)

Safety- As introduced, adds training in the use of anti-choking devices to the training that coaches of school youth athletic activities at an LEA or public charter school are required to receive. - Amends TCA Title 49 and Title 68.

 

AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS

 

44. SB  2371 *Reeves (HB  2324 by *White)

Education- caption 

 

45. SB  2924 *Bailey (HB  2891 by *Todd, Rudd)

Local Education Agencies- As introduced, aligns local school board elections with the August primary and November general elections. 

 

46. SB  2767 *Bowling (HB  2435 by *Bulso)

Education- As introduced, requires the commissioner of education to annually transmit, no later than October 1 of each year, filings submitted to the commissioner by a local board of education regarding any action or inaction taken by the board in response to an investigation conducted by the director of schools in response to a complaint filed by a parent or legal guardian of a student who received instruction in family life that the parent or legal guardian believes to violate the requirements for such instruction to the chairs of the education committees of the senate and house of representatives. 

 

Little Olivia bill

 

47. SB  2557 *Taylor (HB  2678 by *White)

Education- University of Memphis school district 

 

48. SB  2406 *Yarbro (HB  2398 by *Harris, Behn)

Local Education Agencies- As introduced, adds local law enforcement officials to those who must be appointed to each district-wide school safety team; specifies that it is each district-wide school safety team and each building-level school safety team that is required to annually review the respective district-wide or building-level school safety plan. - Amends TCA Title 49.

 

49. SB  2121 *Campbell (HB  2186 by *Hemmer)

Local Education Agencies- As introduced, makes various changes to the Voluntary Pre-K for Tennessee Act of 2005; requires, instead of authorizes, an LEA to provide a pre-kindergarten program that is open to any child who is four years of age on or before August 15 and who resides within the geographic area served by the LEA; removes the requirement for a community pre-k advisory council; requires this state to fund 100 percent of the costs required for an LEA to provide a pre-kindergarten program. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 51 and Title 49.

 

50. SB  2122 *Campbell (HB  2238 by *Powell)

Local Education Agencies- As introduced, allows an LEA or public charter school to elect not to receive a letter grade for one or more of its schools by notifying the commissioner of education, in writing, of its decision to opt out of such requirements; allows, instead of requires, an LEA or public charter school to retain certain students in fourth grade if the student's LEA or public charter school determines that retention may benefit the student. - Amends TCA Title 49.

 

51. SB  2190 *Campbell (HB  2276 by *Mitchell)

Education, Higher- As introduced, reduces from 65 to 60 the age at which a person is eligible to enroll in courses for credit at state-supported colleges and universities without payment of tuition, maintenance fees, student activity fees, or registration fees. - Amends TCA Title 49.

 

52. SB  2273 *Campbell (HB  2450 by *Hakeem)

Scholarships and Financial Aid- As introduced, requires a nonpublic school that accepts publicly funded vouchers for student tuition to comply with the same requirements for student testing applicable to public schools, subject to certain exemptions; requires a nonpublic school that accepts a publicly funded voucher to pay back a pro-rated amount of the scholarship if the student leaves school before the end of the school year. - Amends TCA Title 49.

 

53. SB  2622 *Campbell (HB  2818 by *Hale, Haston)

Education- As introduced, authorizes public school students in grades nine through 12 to be excused from school attendance for one school day per school year to allow students to participate in a civic engagement activity.  - Amends TCA Title 49.

 

54. SB  1892 *Oliver (HB  2024 by *Clemmons, Behn)

Education- As introduced, requires the department of education to contract with the TCAP test provider to offer students who receive language assistance services in the classroom the same language assistance services during the administration of a TCAP test. - Amends TCA Title 49.