Top Senate Stories: Republicans Effort Urges Support For 30% Sales Tax - And Response

Republican effort urges support for 30% sales tax in Tennessee

8:30 a.m. - Finance, Ways & Means - Watch - 5. HJR 0017 Johnson

• House Joint Resolution 17 urges the U.S. Congress to enact H.R. 25, the Fair Tax Act of 2023, which was described by the House sponsor as adding a national sales tax between 17%-23% on consumer spending.
• That’s in addition to Tennessee’s 9.5% state sales tax on purchases.
• Guess what? The national sales tax would radically reshape the tax code in favor of the rich.

Bill will force Memphis’ utility to serve a new customer outside the city

8:30 a.m. - Finance, Ways & Means - Watch - SB1138 by Taylor

• A developer building a housing subdivision outside of the city of Memphis was rejected on his application to connect his subdivision to the city’s sewer system operated by Memphis Light, Gas & Water.
• Rather than investing in an alternative sewer system for the property, the developer called his friends in the Tennessee General Assembly. Those Shelby County Republicans filed a bill designed to force the city-owned utility to serve that developer’s subdivision.

G.O.P. bill allows development on flood-fighting wetlands days after widespread flooding

8:30 a.m. - Finance, Ways & Means - Watch - SB0670 by Taylor

• Just days after storms left neighborhoods flooded and millions in damage across West Tennessee, Senate Bill 670 would allow property developers to pave and build over flood-fighting wetlands that are not protected under federal law.
• The bill removes Tennessee’s state-level protections for wetlands, which are more broad than federal law, a move that will increase flooding and costs for taxpayers. Tennessee wetlands absorb billions of gallons of stormwater each year, reducing flood risks for families and businesses. More flooding leads to higher insurance rates and disaster recovery costs—which taxpayers will be forced to cover.
• Isolated wetlands also act as a natural filter, removing pollutants from urban and agricultural runoff. Eliminating protections means more contamination in drinking water sources, especially in West Tennessee, where millions of residents rely on groundwater.
• MORE WETLAND REDUCTION. While SB0670 rolls back wetland protections, SB 0843 (also on this calendar) would reduce wetland restoration by pilfering the state’s wetland acquisition fund to pay for TWRA operating expenses.

Gun calendar features ‘firearm’ permit allowing any gun to be carried

1 p.m. - Judiciary - Watch - 10. SB 1227 *Lowe

• The Senate Judiciary Committee will hear a variety of proposals seeking to enact gun safety laws and roll them back. Two would ban “Glock switches.” Another would allow some security guards to carry assault rifles.
• One of the biggest proposals would rewrite Tennessee’s enhanced and concealed handgun permit laws to allow permit holders the option to carry any firearm, including long guns.

State has issued 800 handgun carry permits to people aged 18-20

1 p.m. - Judiciary - Watch - SB 1318 *Johnson

• Senate Bill 1318 would codify current practice, allowing the Safety Department to issue handgun carry permits to individuals between the ages of 18-20.
• According to the fiscal note, 802 handgun carry permits were issued to individuals between 18-20 years of age in 2024.

License to kill: Republican bill expands legal use of deadly force to ‘protect property’

1 p.m. - Judiciary - Watch - SB 1407 *Hensley

Anti-trafficking bill could ensnare farmers, contractors who transport, harbor undocumented workers

1 p.m. - Judiciary - Watch - 39. SB 0392 *Taylor

• Senate Bill 392 expands Tennessee’s trafficking laws, the language says, to crack down on human smuggling. The bill creates penalties for knowingly transporting even one undocumented person or harboring an undocumented individual “for the purpose of commercial advantage or private financial gain.”
• That’s exactly what’s happening all across Tennessee’s agriculture and construction industries, which are well known for transporting undocumented workers and, in some cases, providing housing for these crews.
• Would this law actually be used to lock up farmers and construction company owners?

8:30 a.m. Appropriations / Finance, Ways & Means

1. SB 0308 *Briggs (HB 0381 by *Eldridge)

Alcoholic Beverages- “liquor by the drink” omnibus bill, which permits entities with unique promises to apply directly to the ABC for a liquor by the drink license.

2. SB 0129 *Haile, Akbari (HB 0331 by *Baum, Grills, Miller, Jones R)

Tennessee Housing Development Agency- With amendment, increases, from $4 billion to $5 billion, the maximum aggregate principal amount for which the agency may issue bonds and notes at any one time. - Amends TCA Section 13-23-121.

3. SB 0576 *Haile (HB 0829 by *Hicks G, Sherrell)

TennCare- As amended, enacts the Annual Coverage Assessment Act of 2025, which establishes an annual coverage assessment on hospitals of 6.0 percent of a covered hospital's annual coverage assessment base for FY25-26. Authorizes the use of funds within the Maintenance of Coverage Trust Fund (MCTF) to provide administrative funding for a program manager contract. Authorizes the MCTF to receive intergovernmental transfer of funds (IGTs) from hospitals for the purpose of securing federal medical assistance percentage payments up to $300,000,000.

4. SB 1002 *Haile, Southerland (HB 0988 by *Marsh)

Cooperatives- As introduced, specifies that the privilege tax exemption for subsidiaries of agricultural cooperatives applies without regard to whether the subsidiary was formed as a corporation, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, or other legal entity, association, or body vested with the power or function of a legal entity. - Amends TCA Title 43, Chapter 16, Part 1 and Section 67-4-102.

5. HJR 0017 *McCalmon, Powers, Russell, Littleton, Davis, Todd, Butler, Reeves, Capley, Sparks, Vital, Kumar, Burkhart (HJR 0017 Johnson)

Memorials, Congress- Urges Congress to enact H.R. 25, the Fair Tax Act of 2023. -

Add a national sales tax between 17% - 23% on every dollar Tennesseans spend. That is in addition to the 9.5% state sales tax on purchases. Regressive form of taxation.

6. SB 1266 *Johnson, Rose (HB 0103 by *Lamberth, Cochran, Littleton, Harris)

Foster Care- As introduced, expands the provision of voluntary extended foster care services by the department of children's services to include young adults between 20 and 23 who were in the custody of the department at the time of the young adult's 18th birthday and young adults who were adopted from, or approved for subsidized permanent guardianship by, the department of children's services at 16 or older. - Amends TCA Title 37; Title 49 and Title 55.

7. SB 1291 *Johnson, Powers, Crowe (HB 0114 by *Lamberth, Cochran, Moon, Jones R, Haston, Stevens, Stinnett, Glynn, Fritts, Raper, White, Russell, Vital, Bricken, Vaughan, Powers, Warner, Burkhart, Reedy, Garrett, Terry, Moody, Sherrell, Atchley, McCalmon, Martin G, Hurt, Sparks, Scarbrough, Zachary, Littleton, Leatherwood, Rudder, Hicks T, Darby, Gant, Davis, Bulso, Farmer, Todd, Lafferty, Slater, Hawk, Grills, Reeves, Eldridge, Helton-Haynes, Wright, Williams, Hicks G, Baum, Marsh, Boyd, Cepicky, Carringer, Maberry, Camper, Doggett, Hardaway)

Scholarships and Financial Aid- As introduced, makes various changes to the Tennessee Support, Training, and Renewing Opportunity for National Guardsmen (STRONG) Act. - Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 4, Part 10.

8. SB 1293 *Johnson (HB 0117 by *Lamberth, Cochran)

Taxes, Sales- As introduced, extends indefinitely the authority of the commissioner of revenue to require persons selling food, candy, or nonalcoholic beverages, including bottled soft drinks, to retailers to file an information report of such net sales with the department by deleting the July 1, 2025, termination date. - Amends TCA Section 67-6-410.

9. SB 1314 *Johnson, Haile (HB 1328 by *Lamberth, Cochran, Hulsey, Doggett)

Criminal Procedure- As introduced, establishes a permanent criminal proceedings notification system, rather than a pilot project; removes the July 1, 2025, termination date for the criminal proceedings notification system. - Amends TCA Section 40-38-507.

10. SB 1315 *Johnson, Yager, Lowe (HB 1329 by *Lamberth, Cochran, Garrett, Doggett, Hicks T, Crawford, Hawk)

Revenue, Dept. of- As introduced, reduces from 1.125 percent to 0.75 percent the administrative fee percentage the department takes from the proceeds of the business tax, short-term rental unit occupancy tax, local tax surcharge, coal severance tax, and local option sales tax to assist in defraying the expenses of administration and collection, before remitting proceeds to the appropriate county, city, or town. - Amends TCA Title 67, Chapter 4; Title 67, Chapter 6 and Title 67, Chapter 7.

11. SB 0439 *Powers (HB 0635 by *Williams)

Taxes, Excise- As introduced, urges the department of revenue to study the economic impact of authorized adjustments to net earnings and net losses; requires the department, if such study is conducted, to report its findings and recommendations, on or before January 1, 2026, to the finance, ways and means committee of the senate and the committee in the house of representatives having jurisdiction over tax-related matters. - Amends TCA Section 67-4-2006.

Watch. Is this one law for Eastman Chemical? Allows taxpayers the option to increase their excise tax liability to utilize additional tax credits that may go unused by not taking all the deductions available to them.

12. SB 0014 *Walley (HB 0024 by *Hemmer, Vaughan, Vital, Chism, Shaw)

Fines and Penalties- As introduced, increases the penalty from a Class C misdemeanor to a Class B misdemeanor for removing a wild animal, wild fowl, or fish while trespassing on land; increases various fines under $500 to not more than $500. - Amends TCA Title 70.

13. SB 0145 *Walley (HB 0388 by *Butler, Shaw, Russell, Rudder, Hurt, Travis)

Municipal Government- As introduced, extends indefinitely the time frame, by deleting the June 30, 2028, termination date, that a municipality that continues to receive an allocation of state sales tax revenue pursuant to the now-repealed Courthouse Square Revitalization Pilot Project Act of 2005, will continue to receive the allocation of the revenue. - Amends TCA Title 6 and Title 67, Chapter 6.

14. SB 0751 *Yager, Walley (HB 0035 by *Hicks G, Russell)

Regional Authorities and Special Districts- As introduced, adds the MidSouth development district to the list of development districts to which this state intends to assist financially; specifies an overall state funding level for the nine development districts; changes the calculation for how much funding each development district will receive. - Amends TCA Title 13, Chapter 14, Part 1.

15. SB 0172 by Massey. (*HB0007 by Hale.)

Education, Higher - Amends TCA Title 49. As introduced, establishes the hunger-free campus grant program; provides grants to higher education institutions to address student hunger.

16. SB 0452 *Massey (HB 0496 by *Reedy)

Treasurer, State- As introduced, removes the restriction that earnings in an achieving a better life experience account may only be expended for a student's education expenses; redefines "disability certification" and "eligible individual" to have the same meaning as in the Internal Revenue Code and all rules and regulations released by the United States treasury.

17. *SB0438 by Reeves. (HB0667 by Terry.)

Environment and Conservation, Department of - With amendment, creates an advisory task force on solid waste to examine and review issues related to solid waste.

18. SB 0557 *Reeves (HB 0728 by *Hicks G)

TennCare- As introduced, extends the nursing home annual assessment fee to June 30, 2026. - Amends TCA Title 71, Chapter 5.

19. SB 0876 by Reeves. (*HB0624 by Keisling.)
Motor Vehicles, Titling and Registration - Amends TCA Title 55, Chapter 4, Part 1. As introduced, increases, from $5 to $7, the fee for the service of handling mail orders that renew a registration plate through the U.S. postal service; increases, from $2 to $3, the fee for the service of handling mail orders of decals.

20. SJR 0028 by Lowe

Memorials, Congress- Expresses support for the Constitutional Concealed Carry

Reciprocity Act of the 119th U.S. Congress.

21. *SB0481 by Lowe. (HB1229 by Lafferty.)
Forfeiture of Assets - Amends TCA Title 40, Chapter 33. As introduced, removes the requirement for a claimant to post a bond when filing a claim to seized property.

22. *SB0728 by Lowe. (HB0810 by Grills.)

Motor Vehicles - Amends TCA Title 55. As introduced, authorizes utility terrain vehicles to operate on county roads and state highways throughout the state, subject to certain restrictions.

23. *SB0778 by Lowe. (HB0816 by Travis.)

Driver Licenses - Amends TCA Title 55, Chapter 50. As introduced, designates a traffic citation issued solely on the basis of a violation for the offense of driving while the person's driving privileges are canceled, suspended, or revoked as a nonmoving traffic violation.

24. SB1138 by Taylor. (*HB0543 by Vaughan.)

Sewage - Amends TCA Title 7, Chapter 35; Title 7, Chapter 82 and Title 68, Chapter 221. As introduced, prohibits a municipal sewer system or utility district that has operated a sewerage system outside of the corporate boundaries of the city or town for 25 years or more from ceasing operation of the sewerage system outside the corporate boundaries so long as the sewerage system maintains sufficient capacity, as determined by a study conducted by TACIR.

Watch. Legislative overreach. Forcing the Memphis-owned utility into a decision that benefits a developer and is not in the policy of the utility.

25. SB 1414 *Briggs, Yager, Crowe (HB 1242 by *Helton-Haynes, Rudder, Moon, Jones R, Sherrell, Behn)

Insurance, Health, Accident- As introduced, expands provisions prohibiting discrimination against 340B entities that are covered entities participating in the federal 340B drug discount program under section 340B of the Public Health Service Act, 42 U.S.C. § 256b. - Amends TCA Title 47, Chapter 18 and Title 56.

26. SB 1065 *Seal (HB 1128 by *Farmer)

County Officers- As introduced, requires the peace officer standards and training commission to issue a certificate of compliance to any person duly elected and sworn as a county constable if the person meets the qualifications for employment as a police officer and completes an approved recruit training program; requires a constable to complete an annual in-service training session to maintain certification. - Amends TCA Title 8, Chapter 10 and Title 38, Chapter 8.

27. *SB0263 by Hensley. (*HB0318 by Rudd.)
State Government - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 1, Part 4. As introduced, prohibits the enforcement and recognition of requirements or mandates issued by the World Health Organization, United Nations, or World Economic Forum in this state or its political subdivisions.

28. *SB0614 by Hensley (HB0348 by Hurt.)

Education - Amends TCA Section 49-3-314. As introduced, requires, if a local government adopts a budget that includes the required maintenance of effort for education funding but fails to appropriate or allocate the full amount budgeted to the LEA, the local government, in the following fiscal year, to appropriate and allocate the unfunded portion to the LEA; specifies that the maintenance of local funding effort required for a fiscal year following a fiscal year in which the local government failed to appropriate or allocate the full amount budgeted to the LEA must be determined based on the amount budgeted to the LEA for the previous fiscal year instead of the amount actually appropriated or allocated to the LEA by the local government.

Watch. Appears to change accounting rules for local school budgets.

29. *SB0821 by Hensley. (HB0902 by Jones R.)

Education, Curriculum - Amends TCA Title 49. As introduced, requires each local education agency and public charter school to annually implement an evidence-based substance abuse and violence prevention program in each school that serves students in any of the grades three through 12 to reduce tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drug use by students.

30. *SB1265 by Johnson. (HB1302 by Lamberth.)

Agriculture, Dept. of - Amends TCA Title 53, Chapter 7 and Chapter 380 of the Public Acts of 2023. As introduced, revises the Tennessee Meat Inspection Act to facilitate the implementation of a state meat inspection program.

31. *SB1271 by Johnson. (HB1306 by Lamberth.)
Economic and Community Development - Amends TCA Title 7, Chapter 53; Title 9, Chapter 21 and Title 9, Chapter 23. As introduced, clarifies that certain definitions concerning housing facilities and developments with regard to industrial development corporations include affordable and workforce housing; authorizes a municipality or county to approve amendments to an economic impact plan when approving the plan.

32. *SB1273 by Johnson (HB1307 by Lamberth.)

Education, Dept. of- As amended, Senate Bill 1273 will sunset the Achievement School District (ASD). In its place, this bill establishes a tiered intervention system for schools identified as priority schools. The system gives LEAs three options for existing ASD schools with progressing interventions from the first to the third tier (most intensive).

Ending the failed state ASD.

33. SB1274 by Johnson. (*HB0124 by Lamberth.)
Environment and Conservation, Department of - Amends TCA Title 68, Chapter 203, Part 1 and Title 68, Chapter 211, Part 1. As introduced, makes various changes related to fees set by the department for environmental regulatory programs; makes changes to the regulation of coal combustion residuals disposal units.

34. SB1276 by Johnson. (*HB0125 by Lamberth.)
Parks, Natural Areas Preservation - Amends TCA Section 67-4-409. As introduced, requires a county or municipal government that receives a grant from the local parks land acquisition fund for a project located within a county designated as distressed or at-risk by the Appalachian Regional Commission at the time of the grant application to match the grant with an amount of money equal to 25 percent of the project, instead of requiring a match with an amount of money equal to the grant.

35. SB0953 by Powers. (*HB0977 by Burkhart.)

Pensions and Retirement Benefits - With amendment, authorizes a political subdivision to adopt a supplemental benefit after July 1, 2025 for members in positions with mandatory retirement provisions. Upon adoption, the bridge benefit applies to members between the ages of 55 and 62 for up to seven years after the effective date of retirement. For members retiring between the ages of 60 and 62 to be paid the benefit until the member reaches 67 years of age.

36. 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. Robs the Wetland Acquisition Fund to pay TWRA officers…

37. HJR0324 by Littleton

Memorials, Recognition - Taiwan

38. SB0293 by Crowe. (*HB0020 by Reedy.)
Military - Amends TCA Title 9, Chapter 4 and Title 58. As introduced, specifies that the state guard is a separate entity within the military department for budgetary purposes.

39. SB0670 by Taylor. (*HB0541 by Vaughan.)
Water Pollution - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 11, Chapter 14, Part 4; Title 66; Title 67, Chapter 4, Part 4 and Title 69. As introduced, prohibits the department of environment and conservation from applying criteria that will result in the classification of real property as a wetland, or otherwise regulating real property as a wetland, unless the property is classified as a wetland under federal law.

Watch. Wetland destruction bill. Homebuilder’s bill.

40. SB1038 by Bowling. (HB1060 by Howell.)
Game and Fish Laws - Amends TCA Section 70-2-106. As introduced, increases the fee that county clerks and other agents are authorized to collect from purchases of hunting and fishing licenses from $1.00 to $3.00 for annual licenses and $.50 to $3.00 for temporary licenses.

41. SB 1359 *Watson (HB 1344 by *Lamberth, Williams)

Education, Higher- With amendment, allows institutions to request their unspent capital outlay funds (from Public Chapter 1130(2022))be redirected to other purposes. Requests under this part would be submitted to the comptroller’s office who would approve or deny the request, set the parameters for an approved request, and disburse funds as approved. Lastly, the comptroller would be required to submit quarterly reports to the speakers of both houses and select committees relative to institutions that have requested redirection of funds.

42. SB 0300 *Roberts (HB 0371 by *Scarbrough)

Sentencing- As introduced, requires a person convicted of a Class A or Class B misdemeanor in general sessions court to pay for and complete a cognitive behavioral training course; requires the offender to provide proof of course completion to the court or the court’s designee within the time period specified by the court. - Amends TCA Section 40-35-302.

What purpose does this cognitive training course serve – other than to deplete the pockets of the defendant?

43. SB 1069 *Pody (HB 0974 by *McCalmon, Lynn, Boyd, Marsh, Travis, Hale)

Motor Vehicles- With amendment, introduces a temporary exemption for certain high-profile vehicle auctions, allowing them to sell previously titled antique cars (25 years or older) and unique motor vehicles without requiring a motor vehicle dealer license. To qualify for this exemption, the auction must be held at a large venue with a permanent seating capacity of at least 20,000 in Wilson County (the Nashville Superspeedway).

1 p.m. Judiciary

1. 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.

Actual gun regulation…

2. 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 during commission or attempt to commit a dangerous felony.

3. SB 1318 *Johnson (HB 1332 by *Lamberth, Cochran)

Correction, Dept. of- Revises the age that one can apply for a lawful handgun carry permit from 21 years of age to 18 years of age as long as they are a lawful resident of the state.

Handgun carry permit at age 18.

4. SB 1384 *Watson (HB 0683 by *Lamberth, Powers)

Private Protective Services- As introduced, creates the enhanced armed guard certificate that may be obtained upon completion of certain training and other requirements by an armed security guard/officer who has at least five years of full-time experience as a law enforcement officer or four years of active duty military experience in a combat arms military occupational specialty; directs the commissioner of commerce and insurance to establish and approve an enhanced armed guard training course. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 39 and Title 62, Chapter 35.

Gives security guards permission to carry long guns

5. SB 1244 *Massey (HB 1210 by *Keisling)

Firearms and Ammunition- As introduced, requires, if the respondent on an order of protection dispossesses firearms by transferring possession to a third party who is not prohibited from possessing firearms, the respondent to specify the third party and the physical address where all firearms are located on the affidavit of firearms dispossession form; requires the third party to sign the affidavit of firearms dispossession form to acknowledge receipt of the firearms. - Amends TCA Title 36, Chapter 3, Part 6.

6. SB 0163 *Hensley (HB 0468 by *Reeves, McCalmon, Powers)

Criminal Offenses- As introduced, increases the penalty for reckless endangerment when the offense is committed by discharging a firearm or antique firearm into a motor vehicle from a Class E felony to a Class C felony, if the motor vehicle is occupied, or a Class D felony, if the motor vehicle is unoccupied. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 13, Part 1.

7. SB 0657 *Hensley (HB 0587 by *Scarbrough, Doggett, Capley, Powers)

Criminal Offenses- As introduced, adds organized retail crime and possession or employment of a firearm during the commission of or attempt to commit a dangerous felony to the definition of racketeering activity; clarifies that carjacking is racketeering activity. - Amends TCA Title 39.

8. SB 1360 *Hensley (HB 0873 by *Fritts, Powers, Barrett)

Remedies and Special Proceedings- As introduced, removes the ability to bring a civil liability action for negligence per se against a seller of a qualified product; expands "qualified products" to include knives, body armor, pepper spray, silencers, and other certain products; requires physical injury for a negligent entrustment action rather than an unreasonable risk of physical injury; specifies that a person who will be subject to an ordinance in the future or reasonably intends to be physically present in the political subdivision is an adversely affected party for purposes of filing certain actions; makes various other changes regarding civil actions against arms dealers, manufacturers, and sellers and the preemption of local regulation of firearms. - Amends TCA Title 29, Chapter 42 and Title 39.

9. SB 1407 *Hensley (HB 0856 by *Capley, Fritts, Zachary, Grills, Todd, Doggett, Moody, Stinnett, Rudd, Crawford, McCalmon, Martin B, Reeves, Garrett, Powers, Atchley, Vital)

Firearms and Ammunition- As introduced, lowers the standard for the use of deadly force to protect property; specifies that deadly force does not include the display of a weapon, the brandishing of a weapon, or the use of force in circumstances that do not result in death or serious bodily injury. - Amends TCA Title 39.

10. SB 1227 *Lowe (HB 1189 by *Grills, Powers, Barrett)

Firearms and Ammunition- As introduced, renames enhanced and concealed handgun carry permits as enhanced and concealed firearm carry permits and authorizes a permit holder to carry any firearms, rather than handguns, that the permit holder legally owns or possesses. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 7; Title 8; Title 10; Title 33; Title 36; Title 37; Title 38; Title 39; Title 40; Title 49; Title 50; Title 57; Title 67; Title 68 and Title 70.

13. SB 1191 *Akbari (HB 0947 by *Brooks, Jones J, Powell, Salinas, Mitchell, Dixie, Johnson, Hardaway, Glynn, Hemmer, Towns, Camper, Clemmons, Parkinson, Shaw, McKenzie, Miller, Chism, Behn, Hakeem, Harris, Freeman)

Firearms and Ammunition- As introduced, enacts "Akilah's Law," which creates the offense of selling, offering to sell, delivering, or transferring a firearm to a person knowing the person has been a patient in a mental institution at any time within the previous five years. - Amends TCA Title 33 and Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13.

15. SB 1128 *Yarbro, Campbell (HB 1295 by *Powell)

Criminal Offenses- As introduced, enacts the "Shielding Tennesseans from Oligarchic Power and Eliminating Lawless Obstruction of Necessities Act (STOP ELON Act)," which creates a new offense of interfering with an individual's or entity's receipt of a loan, grant, or financial assistance that the individual or entity is lawfully entitled to receive from the federal, state, or local government, with intent to deprive the individual of the loan, grant, or financial assistance, which is punished as theft; authorizes a victim of an offense to bring a civil action to recover the funds that the victim did not receive because of the offense. - Amends TCA Title 29 and Title 39.

16. SB 1129 *Yarbro (HB 1190 by *Shaw, Hakeem)

Criminal Offenses- As introduced, creates a Class E felony that is committed when a person exercises control over a motor vehicle knowing that the person does not have the permission of the owner of the motor vehicle; creates a Class A misdemeanor of possessing a firearm that the person knows or reasonably should know has been stolen. - Amends TCA Title 39.

17. SB 1331 *Yarbro, Massey (HB 1131 by *Parkinson)

Children's Services, Dept. of- As introduced, clarifies that on or before January 31 of each year, the department shall report information regarding child support to the general assembly and the governor. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 8; Title 33; Title 34; Title 36; Title 37; Title 41; Title 49; Title 68 and Title 71.

18. SB 0034 *Campbell (HB 0599 by *Freeman)

Criminal Offenses- As introduced, creates a Class A misdemeanor for knowingly giving, selling, lending, delivering, or otherwise transferring a firearm to a person when the transferor knows or reasonably should know that the person receiving the firearm is prohibited from purchasing or possessing a firearm under state or federal law. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13.

19. SB 0642 *Campbell (HB 0596 by *Freeman, Behn)

Firearms and Ammunition- As introduced, enacts the "Tennessee Voluntary Do Not Sell Firearms Act," which permits a person to voluntarily waive their firearm rights through filing a waiver with the clerk of the circuit court in the county of the person's residence; specifies procedures the clerk, TBI, and department of safety must follow upon receipt of a waiver. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 3; Section 10-7-504 and Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13.

20. SR 0006 *Oliver

General Assembly, Statement of Intent or Position- Affirms that the American Dream belongs to all of us. -

21. SB 0043 *Lamar (HB 0814 by *Miller)

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.

22. SB 0957 *Lamar (HB 1082 by *Camper)

Firearms and Ammunition- As introduced, prohibits the possession, manufacture, transport, repair, or sale of a switch or auto sear device designed, made, or adapted for the purpose of converting a weapon to shoot automatically more than one shot, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger unless certain exceptions apply. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13.

Glock switch ban

23. SB 0673 *Taylor (HB 0661 by *White, Littleton)

Criminal Offenses- As introduced, enacts the "Comprehensive Assault Crime Intervention Act." - Amends TCA Title 38; Title 39 and Title 40.

Need info

24. SB 0862 *Stevens (HB 1266 by *Scarbrough)

Criminal Offenses- caption

Watch

25. SB 0601 *Rose, Haile (HB 0580 by *Doggett)

Bail, Bail Bonds- As introduced, makes various changes regarding global positioning monitoring and the pretrial release of certain defendants. - Amends TCA Title 8; Title 39; Title 40 and Title 55, Chapter 10.

26. SB 0819 *Roberts (HB 0554 by *Capley, Powers, Todd)

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.

This bill opens a giant can of worms for police interacting with persons who are carrying a firearm.

27. SB 0255 *Gardenhire (HB 0490 by *Helton-Haynes)

Courts- As introduced, authorizes the administrative office of the courts to submit its annual report in an electronic format to the attorney general and reporter and the appropriate legislative committees. - Amends TCA Title 8; Title 16; Title 17; Title 18; Title 20; Title 21; Title 24; Title 25; Title 26; Title 27; Title 28 and Title 29.

28. SB 0407 *Gardenhire, Yager (HB 0445 by *Hulsey, Russell, Barrett, Hardaway)

Criminal Procedure- As introduced, revises the procedure for restoration of rights of citizenship. - Amends TCA Title 2; Title 4; Title 22; Title 36; Title 39 and Title 40.

A small but needed improvement in the voter rights restoration process

29. SB 0418 *Gardenhire (HB 0004 by *Bulso)

Tort Liability and Reform- As introduced, increases the amount that a person may recover in an action brought against a local governmental entity under the Tennessee Governmental Tort Liability Act for claims brought on or after July 1, 2025, to $750,000 for the bodily injury or death of a person, $1.5 million for the bodily injury or death of all persons in an accident, occurrence, or act, and $250,000 for the injury or destruction of property of others. - Amends TCA Title 29.

30. SB 0445 *Gardenhire (HB 0486 by *Farmer)

Public Defenders- With amendment, adds five (5) additional assistant district public defender positions.

31. SB 0464 *Gardenhire, Haile (HB 0528 by *Doggett)

Bail, Bail Bonds- As introduced, requires professional bondsmen and agents of insurance companies making appearance bonds in criminal cases to assess a premium fee of no less than 5 percent nor more than 10 percent of the amount of the face value of the bond. - Amends TCA Title 40.

32. SB 0595 *Gardenhire (HB 0650 by *Parkinson)

Bail, Bail Bonds- As introduced, requires a sheriff to accept the surrender of a criminal defendant on pretrial release by a bail bondsman or surety for good cause, pending a hearing by a court with jurisdiction to admit to bail to determine whether there is good cause for the surrender. - Amends TCA Title 40, Chapter 11.

33. SB 1133 *Gardenhire, Haile (HB 1256 by *Doggett, Sexton)

Criminal Offenses- With amendment, mandates that when a court issues a bench warrant or capias, the defendant must be listed as a fugitive from justice in available state and federal databases, including the National Crime Information Center. The judicial official must sign the warrant by the end of the business day, and the clerk must transmit it to the entering agency within one business day. The entering agency then has three business days to add the warrant to the databases, and a surety is not liable if this is not done. If the defendant is apprehended out of state in an area beyond the listed extradition limits, the district attorney general must decide within one business day whether to initiate extradition proceedings.

34. SR 0120 by Taylor

General Assembly, Statement of Intent or Position - Urges Supreme Court to draft and adopt codes of conduct in the court rules for district attorneys general, district public defenders, and court clerks; urges Supreme Court to create panel to investigate current complaints of misconduct regarding three elected district attorneys general.

35. SB 0175 *Massey (HB 0036 by *Davis)

State Inmates- As introduced, removes the requirement that an inmate be chronically debilitated or incapacitated for the commissioner of correction to be able to certify an inmate as eligible for parole; empowers the commissioner to grant an inmate furlough if the inmate is unable to perform at least one of the activities of daily living in a prison environment due to the inmate's chronically debilitated or incapacitated medical condition. - Amends TCA Title 40 and Title 41.

36. SB 0662 *Akbari (HB 0625 by *Hardaway)

Mental Illness- As introduced, establishes a rebuttable presumption that a person poses an imminent substantial likelihood of serious harm and needs emergency detention and examination if the person was charged with one of certain criminal offenses and ordered by the criminal, circuit, or general sessions court to undergo an evaluation to determine whether the person is incompetent to stand trial or the person's mental capacity at the time of the commission of the crime; requires clear and convincing evidence to rebut the presumption. - Amends TCA Title 33; Title 40 and Title 52.

37. SB 1186 *Akbari (HB 0629 by *Hardaway)

Children- As introduced, authorizes a juvenile court to order a child who is accused of being delinquent or unruly and released prior to a hearing to wear a global positioning monitoring system device; if the court issues such an order, requires the entity operating the global positioning monitoring system to notify the probation officer or other entity ordered to take charge of the child if the child violates the instructions issued by the court upon release; requires students who are expelled for committing a zero tolerance offense for threatening mass violence on school property or at a school-related activity to undergo counseling and a mental health evaluation before returning to school. - Amends TCA Title 37; Title 39; Title 40, Chapter 11 and Title 49.

38. SB 0030 *Pody (HB 0055 by *Lamberth, Russell, Sherrell, Eldridge)

Criminal Offenses- As introduced, creates new misdemeanor offenses, including intentionally refusing to give one's name or giving a false name to a law enforcement officer who has lawfully detained or arrested the person and requested the information. - Amends TCA Title 39; Title 40; Title 54 and Title 55.

39. SB 0392 *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.

This bill could jam up farmers who “harbor” undocumented workers on their farms and labor brokers who enlist undocumented workers in groups for subcontracting.

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