12:30 p.m. - Finance, Ways & Means - Watch - SB 1366 by Watson
- Senate bill 1366 establishes the Joint Ways and Means Committee which will have the power to reject federal aid and requests for federal assistance by state departments or agencies
- There are some exceptions in the bill, but the measure takes legislative micromanaging to a new level.
G.O.P. enables state takeover of Memphis-Shelby County Schools
4 p.m. - Senate Regular Calendar - Watch - SB0714 by Taylor
- This Republican-backed legislation would strip power from the locally elected Memphis-Shelby County Schools board and create a state-appointed shadow panel to oversee the district.
- The state of Tennessee has a piss-poor record of managing school districts. The Achievement School District was marketed as a needed intervention to turnaround under-resourced schools, but the results never materialized.
- Here’s a novel idea! Instead of taking over local schools, Republicans in the legislature could invest in public school students. Under Republican control, Tennessee ranks 45th in the nation for per student spending – behind all eight of our neighboring states.
Bill sends G.O.P. Attorney General on a witch hunt against cities, counties
4 p.m. - Senate Regular Calendar - Watch - SB 0845 *Lowe
- Republicans are backing a heavy-handed bill that would empower the state’s G.O.P. attorney general to investigate and prosecute cities and counties when he claims they are violating state law.
- This top-down powerplay is designed to give the state more control and to create tension where there should be cooperation.
- And the penalties for disobeying the great and powerful legislature are steep: if a local government resists, the state finance commissioner could withhold all state funding owed to the city or county.
G.O.P. bill dismantles Human Rights Commission, moves civil rights enforcement to biased Attorney General
4 p.m. - Senate Regular Calendar - Watch - SB 0861 *Stevens
- This Republican-backed bill would terminate the independent watchdog protecting the civil rights of workers, renters, homeowners and consumers.
- The Human Rights Commission has safeguarded the civil rights of Tennesseans since 1963 by investigating reports of discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodations. The Commission generally resolves issues without costly litigation.
- Senate Bill 861 would move the division under the Republican Attorney General, a political appointee who has actively undermined the civil rights of women, minorities, students and LGTBQ families.
G.O.P. grandstands against ‘DEI hires’ but allows nepotism, political hires
4 p.m. - Senate Regular Calendar - Watch - SB 1083 *Johnson, Hensley
- Senate Bill 1083 would enact the "Dismantle DEI Act" which prohibits state agencies, local governments and colleges from basing hiring decisions on metrics that consider an applicant's race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or disability.
- The Republican sponsor — who has twice delayed a Senate vote — says government hiring should only be based on “merit,” but his legislation still allows government officials to hire friends, family members and political campaign supporters.
- Republicans have proven they fundamentally do not understand the purpose of “diversity, equity and inclusions” initiatives, which are meant to ensure that everyone in the organization feels respected and valued.
- Instead of canceling DEI initiatives and playing into FOX News stereotypes, the Republican Party should be focused on real problems, like Tennessee’s road funding crisis, spiraling healthcare costs or sky-high inflation.
- Extra Useless: The next bill on the calendar follows the same failed thinking – SB 1084 *Johnson, called the "Dismantling DEI Departments Act."
GOP bill shields students who bully trans students, teachers by ignoring preferred pronouns
8:30 a.m. - Senate Message Calendar - Watch - *SB0937 by Rose
12:30 p.m. Finance, Ways & Means
1. SB0918 by Campbell. (*HB0940 by Camper.)
Boats, Boating - Amends TCA Title 69, Chapter 9. As introduced, increases from 12 to 16, the minimum age for operating a personal watercraft without direct adult supervision; requires persons operating personal watercraft to maintain financial responsibility in the same amounts applicable to motor vehicles.
2. SB1172 by Akbari. (*HB0686 by Camper.)
Historical Sites and Preservation - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 9 and Title 13. As introduced, enacts the "African American Cultural and Historical Grant Act."
3. HJR0051 by Pody, Fritts
General Assembly, Statement of Intent or Position - Designates the period of July 1, 2025, through July 31, 2025, as a time of prayer and fasting in Tennessee and seeks God’s hand of mercy healing on Tennessee.
4. HJR0147 by Gardenhire, Watson
General Assembly, Statement of Intent or Position - Supports regulation or ban on the sale of Kratom in Tennessee.
5. HJR0318 by Shaw
Memorials, Government Officials - Urges Governor and State Capitol Commission to name new entrance to Motlow Tunnel "Heritage Gateway Entrance" in honor of workers who helped build Tennessee State Capitol.
6. SB0289 by Bailey. (*HB0310 by Maberry.)
Workers Compensation - Amends TCA Title 7, Chapter 51 and Title 50, Chapter 6. As introduced, creates a presumption that the diagnosis of a law enforcement officer or emergency medical responder with post-traumatic stress disorder as the result of responding to certain incidents was incurred in the line of duty for purposes of workers' compensation coverage.
7. SB 0646 *Crowe (HB 1278 by *Hill, Jones R)
Public Funds and Financing- As introduced, establishes the Hurricane Helene disaster recovery fund, from which the Tennessee emergency management agency shall provide county recovery grants and direct assistance recovery grants for certain counties and households impacted by flooding caused by Hurricane Helene. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 9 and Title 58.
Creates disaster recovery fund related to Hurricane Helene
8. SB0654 by Crowe. (HB0717 by Jones R.)
Disability and Aging, Dept. Of - Amends TCA Title 9; Title 33; Title 52; Title 67 and Title 68. As introduced, enacts the "Caring for Caregivers Act," which requires the department to create and administer a three-year family caregiver grant pilot program to provide grants to caregivers of family members diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or related dementia to offset expenditures incurred by the caregivers.
9. SB 0445 *Gardenhire (HB 0486 by *Farmer)
Public Defenders- With amendment, adds five (5) additional assistant district public defender positions.
10. SB 0782 *Harshbarger, Hatcher (HB 0726 by *Hicks G)
Taxes, Real Property- With amendment, extends the deadline by which a property assessor must determine that property was destroyed or damaged by Hurricane Helene, from January 28, 2025 to April 15, 2025, in order for a property owner to qualify for relief provided by the state.
11. SB0720 by Hatcher. (HB0894 by Todd.)
Boards and Commissions - Amends TCA Title 4 and Title 69. As introduced, increases, from two to three, the number of full consecutive terms that an appointive member of the board of ground water management may serve.
12. SB0659 by Hensley. (*HB0594 by Doggett.)
Taxes, Sales - Amends TCA Section 67-6-102. As introduced, increases, from two to four, the number of temporary sales periods that a bona fide religious institution may participate in and be exempt from registering to collect sales tax on sales directly to consumers made during such temporary sales period.
13. SB0186 by Jackson. (HB0577 by Doggett.)
State Inmates - With amendment, expands the definition of “prisoner day” to include each day a state parolee is detained, held, or housed pending a probation revocation hearing. Requires the reimbursement provided to counties to include reimbursement for inmates awaiting probation revocation hearings. Establishes that subsidies paid to counties for housing state prisoners must be paid from the date of conviction.
Better compensates local governments for housing state prisoners. It’s a good idea even if there is no money right now to pay for it.
14. SB0477 by Jackson, Haile, Yager. (HB0592 by Doggett.)
Public Funds and Financing - Amends TCA Section 9-8-108. As introduced, requires the board of claims to hear claims for compensation by persons wrongfully imprisoned whose charges are dismissed and sentences vacated; authorizes persons whose charges were dismissed and sentences vacated prior to enactment of this legislation to file a claim within one year; authorizes surviving spouse and children the right to file a claim with the board of claims on behalf of a person who was wrongfully imprisoned and died prior to filing a claim; grants surviving adult children the same right as surviving minor children to receive payments from an award.
15. SB0925 by Jackson. (HB1181 by Hicks T.)
Taxes, Sales - Amends TCA Title 67, Chapter 6, Part 3. As introduced, removes the end date of June 30, 2025, from the exemption from sales and use tax for purchases and leases of equipment and infrastructure used to produce broadband communications services or provide internet access.
Watch. $35 million tax break annually for telecommunication companies
16. SB 1233 *Johnson (HB 1232 by *Lamberth)
Criminal Offenses- As introduced, specifies that the report of a warden or chief administrative officer employed by a penal institution of the commission of certain offenses that occurred within the penal institution to the district attorney general for the judicial district in which the penal institution is located and the district attorney general who prosecuted the offense for which the offender is incarcerated must be in writing. - Amends TCA Title 10, Chapter 7, Part 5; Title 36; Title 37; Title 38; Title 39; Title 40 and Title 53.
Creates a Class E felony for assault against a first responder; Creates a Fentanyl 30-day minimum; must arrest;
17. SB 1089 *Johnson (HB 0748 by *Reeves)
Courts, Municipal- As introduced, increases from $1.00 to $2.00 the amount of funds from the court costs collected in municipal court cases that must be forwarded by the municipal court clerk to the state treasurer for deposit and credited to the account for the administrative office of the courts for the sole purpose of defraying the administrative director's expenses in providing training and continuing education courses for municipal court judges and municipal court clerks. - Amends TCA Title 16, Chapter 18 and Title 17, Chapter 3.
18. SB 1082 *Johnson (HB 0578 by *Doggett, Powers, Lamberth)
Criminal Offenses- As introduced, adds certain criminal offenses to the list of dangerous felonies for purposes of the offense of possessing a firearm or antique firearm during commission or attempt to commit a dangerous felony. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13.
19. SB 1072 *Johnson (HB 0160 by *McCalmon, Bricken)
Wine & Wineries- As introduced, exempts the sale of wine for consumption on the premises of a winery or farm wine producer, including the premises of a satellite facility, including tastings and sealed bottles sold at retail for consumption on the premises, from the liquor-by-the-drink tax on alcoholic beverages. - Amends TCA Section 57-3-207.
Tax break for people who drink at wineries.
20. SB 1075 *Johnson (HB 1093 by *Sexton, Farmer, Hardaway)
Safety, Dept. of- Adds “machine gun” conversion kits to the state’s existing ban on machine guns. Expands the offense of unlawful possession of a firearm to apply to persons who are prohibited from possessing a firearm to also include handgun ammunition. Stipulates there is no early release eligibility for a person convicted of an aggravated assault when using a firearm from within a motor vehicle.
Creates a state offense for machine gun conversion kits. The devices are already illegal under federal law.
21. SB 0944 *Massey (HB 1089 by *Sexton, Hicks T)
Criminal Offenses- As introduced, requires the punishment for the offense of cruelty to animals to include at least 40 hours of community service work to be determined by the court, in addition to any other punishment authorized by law. - Amends TCA Title 33; Title 39 and Title 40.
22. SB0505 by Powers. (*HB0524 by Maberry.)
Montgomery County - Amends TCA Title 16 and Title 40. As introduced, permits a court to transfer, upon motion by the defendant, a criminal case to the veterans treatment court program in Montgomery County if the veterans treatment court program would have jurisdiction over the case if the offense had been committed in Montgomery County, the defendant files with the court a written waiver of the right to be tried by an impartial jury of the county in which the crime was committed, and the district attorney general for Montgomery County agrees to accept transfer of the case.
23. SB 0396 *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.
24. SB 0530 *Stevens (HB 0479 by *Hicks G, Russell)
Military- As introduced, enacts the "Tennessee National Guard Servicemember's Medical Readiness Act." - Amends TCA Title 58, Chapter 1, Part 2.
25. SB0144 by Walley. (HB0969 by Hawk.)
Public Funds and Financing - As amended, requires all sales and use tax revenue generated from the sale of new or used tires to be earmarked and allocated to the Highway Fund. Requires such allocation not to exceed $80,000,000 in FY25-26.
Watch. Diverts tax revenue from the General Fund to the Highway Fund. Pot for Potholes is a much better solution.
26. SB0784 by Walley. (*HB0691 by Baum.)
Taxes, Exemption and Credits - With amendment, changes the base for the community investment franchise and excise tax credit allowed to financial institutions from certain percentages of the unpaid principal balance of certain qualified loans to certain percentages of the month-end average unpaid principal balance of such loans.
Watch. Tax break for mortgage lenders.
27. SB1390 by Watson. (*HB0782 by Martin G.)
TennCare - Amends TCA Title 71. As introduced, directs the director to establish an additional PACE program as a pilot in one of the two grand divisions where a PACE program did not exist in 2024; permits a current PACE program in a county with a specific population to expand into contiguous counties having specifically listed populations.
28. SB 1366 by Watson
Federal Aid - With amendment, establishes the Joint Ways and Means Committee which will have the power to approve or deny every application and acceptance of federal aid by a state department or agency with some exceptions.
29. SB 0682 *White (HB 0504 by *White, Slater, Haston)
Scholarships and Financial Aid- Expands the Tennessee Future Teacher Scholarship Act of 2023 (Act) to eligible students enrolled in an approved educator preparation program (EPP) as a post-baccalaureate student, if the student is seeking an initial educator license. Removes the requirement that eligible students must also be recipients of the Tennessee HOPE scholarship. Reduces, from at least four consecutive years to two consecutive years, the period for which a recipient must agree to teach in a targeted setting.
30. SB0685 by White. (*HB0099 by Bulso.)
Criminal Offenses - Amends TCA Section 39-13-605 and Title 40, Chapter 39, Part 2. 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.
4 p.m. Senate Regular Calendar
1. *HJR0098 by Fritts.
Memorials, Congress - Urges Congress to require the Department of Veterans Affairs to add certain COVID-19 treatments and anthrax vaccinations as pre-qualifying for care under the PACT Act.
2. *HJR0100 by Faison.
Memorials, Government Officials- Urges the Tennessee opioid abatement council and each participating county to allocate 25 percent of approved expenditures from the opioid abatement fund to initiatives that distribute and promote overdose reversal medications.
3. *SB0133 by Johnson. (HB0069 by Lamberth.)
Election Laws - Amends TCA Title 2; Title 4; Title 38; Title 39; Title 41 and Title 55. As introduced, requires the coordinator of elections, in collaboration with the department of safety and Tennessee bureau of investigation, to create two electronic portals prior to January 1, 2028, for purposes of verifying an applicant's eligibility to vote based upon United States citizenship and conviction of a felony prior to registering the applicant to vote; requires department of safety to issue lawful permanent residents a temporary driver license, instead of a standard license, to aid in determining voter eligibility for someone who presents a Tennessee driver license as identification.
Creates two portals for the purpose of verifying that only US citizens are registered to vote and no person with a felony conviction is registered.
4. *SB0130 by Walley. (HB0175 by Darby.)
Tennessee Fish & Wildlife Commission - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 70. As introduced, authorizes the commission to promulgate rules or pass proclamations to authorize the use of drones to locate and retrieve deer that have been wounded by hunters.
5. *SB0203 by Massey. (HB0212 by Howell.)
Special License Plates - Amends TCA Title 55, Chapter 4. As introduced, authorizes a person who holds an official amateur radio station license issued by the federal communications commission to submit an application for issuance of a special purpose plate and proof of license to the county clerk electronically, by mail, or in person.
Specialty license plate omnibus bill
6. *SB0300 by Roberts. (HB0371 by Scarbrough.)
Sentencing - As amended, requires, in addition to any other sentence authorized under current law, a person convicted of a Class A misdemeanor in general sessions court to complete a cognitive behavioral training course.
What purpose does this cognitive training course serve – other than to deplete the pockets of the defendant?
7. *SB0324 by Massey. (HB1200 by Kumar.)
Tennessee Bureau of Investigation - Amends TCA Title 18; Section 38-6-103; Title 39 and Title 40. As introduced, enacts "Savanna's Law," which creates a registry of persistent domestic violence offenders; requires the bureau to maintain the registry.
8. *SB0409 by Bailey. (HB0487 by Farmer.)
Clerks, Court - As amended, increases incrementally court costs and various fees charged by the clerks of court for a wide variety of services and filings in state and local courts over the next three fiscal years in varying amounts. Requires filing fees and cost in civil cases to be collected at the time services are requested from the clerk or another officer of the court.
More fees
9. SB0476 by Bowling. (*HB0134 by Davis.)
Local Education Agencies - Amends TCA Title 49. As introduced, requires LEAs and public charter schools to prohibit food or beverage items that contain Red 40 to be sold, offered for sale, or provided to students on school property unless the food or beverage item is sold to the student as part of a school fundraising event.
10. *HJR0486 by Sexton.
Memorials, Recognition - Elon Musk and SpaceX.
11. SB0714 by Taylor. (*HB0662 by White.)
Education - As amended, requires the commissioner of education to notify various elected officials when a public school district qualifies for state intervention under the bill. Requires an unelected “advisory board” be appointed by state elected officials for a four-year term to conduct needs assessments and measure other metrics. Empowers the commissioner of education to recommend escalating interventions including the removal of the director of schools, removal of school board members or the conversion of public schools into charter schools. Gives the state board of education a check on appointments made by local governing bodies. Provides new avenues for the state to convert public schools to charters and to enroll in the private school voucher scam.
Watch. More Republican overreach into local government. This bill creates a shadow school board, appointed by state officials, to run a local school district.
12. *SB0764 by Bailey. (HB0979 by Williams.)
Health Care - As amended, requires the Board of Medical Examiners (BME) to review and determine the qualifications and fitness of all persons applying for a license to practice as an anesthesiologist assistant. Requires the BME to adopt rules governing the licensure and practice of anesthesiologist assistants. Prohibits a person from practicing as an anesthesiologist assistant or using the title or representing that the person is a certified anesthesiologist assistant or anesthesiologist assistant without having a license granted by the BME. Establishes that a violation of such restriction is Class B misdemeanor.
Watch. CRNAs oppose. Anesthesiologists want the option to hire lower-paid, less-trained “anesthesiologist assistants” that do not have a scope of practice currently under TN law.
13. SB0843 by Walley. (*HB0842 by Crawford.)
Taxes, Real Property - Amends TCA Section 67-4-409. As introduced, requires half the revenue collected from recordation taxes be returned to the county in which the real property is located on a recurring basis; applies to transfers of real property on or after July 1, 2025.
Watch. Diverts funding from the Wetland Acquisition Fund to pay TWRA officers…
14. *SB0845 by Lowe. (HB1097 by Sexton.)
Local Government, General- As amended, authorizes the attorney general and reporter to review actions by local governments to determine whether or not the action violates state law or the State Constitution. If it is determined that a violation has occurred, the attorney general must provide written notice to the local government identifying the specific statutory or constitutional provision that the local government has violated. The local government will then have sixty (60) days to either repeal or revise the action, or challenge the finding of the Attorney General. The bill requires that any challenge be heard and determined by a three-judge panel.
Bill empowers the AG to investigate local governments for suspected preemption violations…
15. SB0861 by Stevens. (*HB0910 by Garrett.)
Human Rights - As amended, makes significant changes to Tennessee’s civil rights and anti-discrimination laws. It consolidates enforcement authority under the attorney general by dissolving the Tennessee Human Rights Commission by July 1, 2025, transferring its functions, case files, and responsibilities to the attorney general’s office. It strengthens penalties for malicious harassment, allowing civil fines up to $10,000 per violation. The bill prohibits discrimination in housing, real estate, and education based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, and disability. It creates the "Tennessee Anti-SLAPP Act," providing immunity from civil suits for individuals making good faith reports to government agencies and allowing recovery of legal costs. State agencies are barred from doing business with organizations that discriminate, and the Department of Personnel is tasked with ensuring compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Watch. Disbands Tennessee’s independent civil rights watchdog.
16. SB0869 by Hensley. (*HB0938 by Capley.)
Licenses - Amends TCA Title 70. As introduced, creates a bait privilege license to allow hunting or taking of whitetail deer and wild-appearing swine using bait on privately owned or privately leased land.
17. SB0875 by Reeves. (*HB0780 by Stevens.)
Taxes, Sales - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 3; Title 4, Chapter 49; Section 9-16-101; Title 54, Chapter 4; Title 55, Chapter 4; Title 57, Chapter 5, Part 2; Title 57, Chapter 3, Part 3; Title 67, Chapter 3, Part 9; Title 67, Chapter 4, Part 9 and Title 67. As introduced, requires the department of economic and community development to revise and certify the population of each county and municipality, and the aggregate population of the state, prior to July 1 each year during the interim between the regular decennial federal census to ensure equitable allocation and distribution of the local share of revenue; requires the Boyd Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Tennessee, through the Tennessee state data center, to generate annual population estimates for each county and municipality and provide the estimates to the department of econo