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!!
LIVE VIDEO
| You can't go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending. C.S. Lewis |
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FOR YOUR PRAYER LIST:
Please continue to remember Rep. Kevin Raper who had a liver transplant. I understand that he is doing all right. Another legislator had a heart attack this week and I know another one who is having heart tests! In addition, PLEASE be praying for the legislative process. There is a lot of pressure to get finished and leave by April 17th!! That puts a lot of pressure on everyone.
Then, as I am sure you know by now, we had quite the event in the Criminal Justice Subcommittee where Gwen and I were.
Rep. Pearson confronts Rep. Farmer over gun legislation
I just wanted to commend Rep. Andy Farmer for being able to keep his 'cool' so that this situation was not as exacerbated as it could have been. Lots of prayer needed.
 Frances Arthur
Student Eagle Leader |
What a week!!! Our 35 Student Eagles (who each had to qualify to go!) had an incredible day of shadowing legislators at the Cordell Hull Building. The quote "it wasn't always easy, but I sure had fun" is applicable here. After kind recognition in committee meetings, students began the task of following the calendar of bills, listening to debates (some of which were not very polite), and marking results as the votes were cast. Most got to ride on the "Legislators Only" elevator. Several enjoyed Chick-fil-a lunch with a PAC. And many are already asking when they can return. Wouldn't it be fun to cast a vote for one of these students one day?
.jpg) Gwen Adams
TEF Ex. Dir. |
The videos I've seen this week have the sound muted at the end after a representative pushed past surprised security and up the platform, but I can tell you it was not quiet in the seats. There is a group that comes daily, yelling and delaying the hearings, causing fewer bills to be heard. I couldn't help but wonder how different the end of this session would be if you all began dropping by during your day, and just sitting during committee hearings (and praying, too). Anyone feeling called to sit? Here's the schedule - https://www.capitol.tn.gov/ We'd also love to have you come be in the room for the House Judiciary meeting on Wednesday 4/2/2025 at 11AM in House Hearing Room 1. Our bill is #35 on the list, so it may not be heard again next week, but we'd love to see you if you'd like to come sit. Email that you're coming and we'll send directions.
NOTE: I know, I know -- this is getting tiring. However, the Committee didn't get to our bill last week, so we are on the calendar this week, in House Judiciary, which meets next Wednesday at 11:00am.
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HUMAN TRAFFICKING TO INCLUDE SMUGGLING
SB 0392 by *Taylor, Johnson, White, Rose, Harshbarger, Lowe, Seal
HB 0322 by *Todd, Lamberth, Leatherwood, Keisling, Doggett, Russell, Atchley, Gant, Hill, Carringer, Martin B, Hulsey, Sherrell, Reneau, Stinnett, Moon, McCalmon, Alexander, Powers, Reedy
Criminal Offenses - As introduced, creates the offense of human smuggling; creates the offense of harboring or hiding, or assisting another in harboring or hiding, within this state an individual who the person knows or should have known has illegally entered or remained in the United States; authorizes the attorney general to take certain actions against a person or organization who commits or is about to commit a human trafficking offense or an aggravated human trafficking offense. - Amends TCA Title 39
STATUS: We have added some more co-sponsors, and we have had to make a small change to the 'amendment that makes the bill', which you can read HERE.
As Gwen reported last week, it was very clear that the women testifying against our bill had not read the amendment, and had NO idea what it really did, but they clearly didn't care.
We are getting back to the legislators to make sure that they have ACCURATE information about HB322 and answer any questions they may have.
ACTION: HB322 - as amended - is scheduled in House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday. Legislators don't always get thanked for what they do. Would you please click on the committee link, then click on the pictures of Farmer, Davis, and a few more - Alexander, Atchley, Bulso, Doggett, Eldridge, Garrett, Keisling, Lambert, Littleton, Russell, Scarbrough, Stinnett, Travis, and THANK THEM for their support of this important legislation that could, some day, save some lives.
See article below for more information about the world of trafficking, exploitation, forced labor, theft, etc., and smuggling is right in the middle of the action. At this time, smuggling is NOT illegal in TN. With your help, our bill will fix that!!
Feds Lost Track of Tens of Thousands of Unaccompanied Border Kids, Homeland Watchdog Confirms
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POLITICAL PARTY AFFILIATION:
SB 0777 by *Lowe , Hensley, Johnson;
HB 0886 by *Todd ,Grills, Powers, Zachary, Moon, Davis, Bulso, Lynn, Warner, Barrett, Reeves, Burkhart, Baum, Bricken, Marsh, Martin B, Hicks T, Moody, Capley, Hill, Maberry, Fritts, Reedy, Butler, Terry, Keisling, Jones R, Hurt, Farmer, Reneau, Cepicky, Kumar, Doggett, Scarbrough, Rudd
NOTE: The "amendment makes the bill". There has been a lot of discussion about this issue over the years. I have lost legislative friends because the Democrats came across the divide and sent them home. Maybe there has been a time that Republicans crossed over the divide and defeated a Democrat. Primary voting is like "your team picking its players." Why should the opposing team be able to involve themselves in the opponents' choices? In the General Elections, everything is wide open.
STATUS: HB886 was in Finance Ways and Means and it was voted out 11-7-1 and placed BEHIND THE BUDGET. That means that it has a Fiscal Note that is NOT included in the Budget, and it will have to wait in place to see if money becomes available after the Budget is passed.
SB777 is in the Senate State and Local Government on Tuesday, PLEASE click on the committee link, then the picture, see phone number and call, or click on email that send a message to the senator to support closed primaries.
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ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT STUDENTS
SB 0836 by *Watson , Yager, Johnson, Stevens
HB 0793 by *Lamberth , Garrett, Capley, Butler, Todd, Martin G, Rudd, Zachary, Reeves, Lafferty, Doggett, Fritts, Cepicky
Local Education Agencies - As introduced, authorizes LEAs and public charter schools to refuse to enroll students who are unlawfully present in the United States. - Amends TCA Title 4 and Title 49.
STATUS: SB836 is in Senate Finance Ways and Means Committee on Tuesday.
HB793 was voted out of Government Operations Committee 11-7. It does not have a date in the next committee yet.
ACTIONS: Click on the Senate link, then on the member's picture where, on the left side of the page, you will find the members' phone numbers and their emails. You can encourage the members to support this bill.
‘The entire world has changed’: TN Republicans challenging 1982 Supreme Court ruling with bill to allow schools to refuse students without legal status
DECLARED STATES OF EMERGENCY:
SB 0396 by *Rose
HB 0132 by *Zachary McCalmon, Barrett
Governor - As introduced, limits the duration of a state of emergency declared by the governor to 30 days; authorizes the general assembly to terminate, extend, or renew a state of emergency by joint resolution; establishes an ad hoc legislative council to extend a state of emergency during the interim between legislative sessions. - Amends TCA Section 58-2-107
BACKGROUND: In the event of an emergency beyond local control, present law authorizes the governor to issue executive orders, proclamations, and rules and to amend or rescind them. This bill prohibits the governor from issuing such a proclamation or executive order, or suspending a state law or regulation, that would violate the rights of the citizens of this state under the Declaration of Rights in Article I of the Constitution of Tennessee or the Bill of Rights in the First through Tenth Amendments to the United States Constitution. If the governor issues such an executive order or proclamation of a state of emergency, then this bill authorizes the general assembly to terminate, renew, or extend such state of emergency by joint resolution of both houses. For more information, go HERE and click on the SUMMARY tab.
STATUS: HB132 was passed out of the House State and Local Government Committee 18-4 and then 'put behind the budget'.
SB396 is in Senate State and Local Government Committee on Tuesday.
ACTION: Please click on the link above, then the pictures and make a phone call or send an email asking the members to SUPPORT this bill.
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DRIVER LICENSES AND ILLEGAL ALIENS:
SB 1086 by *Johnson - HB 0749 by *Reeves , Atchley, Butler, Capley, Keisling, Todd, Zachary, Lamberth
Driver Licenses - As introduced, creates the Class B misdemeanor offense of operating a motor vehicle in this state with an invalid driver license; designates out-of-state driver licenses issued exclusively to illegal aliens as invalid driver licenses in this state
The house bill and the senate bill will be on their respective floors this coming week. How about contacting your Senator and House member and urge each of them to support this important legislation. DON'T KNOW WHO YOUR SENATOR OR REPRESENTATIVE IS?
Just go HERE and you can find out!!
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LEGALIZING ABORTIONS:
SB 1425 by *Briggs - HB 1241by *Helton-Haynes
Abortion - As introduced, defines the terms "serious risk of substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function" and "lethal fetal anomaly"; specifies that a physician does not commit the offense of criminal abortion if, under certain circumstances, the physician performs or attempts to perform an abortion to address a lethal fetal anomaly or a premature delivery of an unborn child with a lethal fetal anomaly.
OUTCOME: I am so glad to report that SB1425 was moved to 'General Sub' in Senate Judiciary, which means it will not be heard!!
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PROHIBITION AGAINST TRANSMITTING FUNDS:
SB 0268 by *Hensley - HB 0145 by *Bulso
Immigration - As introduced, requires a financial institution to verify the immigration status of a person sending funds electronically outside of the United States and its territories; changes the definition of resident or citizen of this state to mean citizens of the United States and aliens lawfully present in this state; requires the parent, guardian, or legal custodian of a pupil who is not lawfully residing in this state, but who attends a public school in this state, to pay tuition
STATUS: I am very sorry to report that HB145 failed in the House Banking and Consumer Affairs Subcommittee. Interesting that there are seven members in that committee, but the vote was 2-2: Reps voting aye were: Darby, Lynn -- 2. Reps voting no were: Hemmer, Marsh -- 2.
