Noon - Judiciary - Watch - Watch - SB0527 by Stevens
- A Republican senator is pushing a bill that would grant sweeping legal immunity to pesticide and herbicide manufacturers, protecting these multinational corporations from lawsuits when consumers believe they have been harmed by a product’s chemicals.
- The legislation’s sponsor admitted publicly that Bayer-Monsanto was backing the bill.
- Similar legislation shielding the company from liability has popped up in state capitals throughout the U.S. as the number of lawsuits facing the company tops 170,000.
- If passed, this bill would strip Tennessee farmers and all consumers of their right to hold a pesticide or herbicide manufacturer accountable when a product causes harm.
- RELEVANT: A Georgia jury ordered Bayer-Monsanto to pay over $2 billion in a Roundup lawsuit
G.O.P. looks to terminate Human Rights Commission
Noon - Judiciary - Watch - SB 0861 *Stevens
- Republicans have introduced legislation to 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 commission under the Attorney General, a political appointee who has actively undermined the civil rights of some Tennesseans.
Republicans look to quash ‘community benefit agreements’
4 p.m. CT - Senate Regular Calendar - Watch - SB1074 by Johnson
- Community Benefits Agreements are legally binding contracts that outline how a developer or big business will benefit the community.
- The CBA model has been utilized to great effect in the Nashville area, securing higher wages, affordable housing and community partnerships from publicly-backed projects like the soccer stadium and the NFL stadium.
- This bill would deal community benefits agreements a major blow, banning corporations from accessing public funds when they chose to enter into a contract with their community.
Local taxpayers will be forced to pay for state-approved schools they didn’t want
4 p.m. CT - Senate Regular Calendar - Watch - SB1310 by Johnson
- Tennessee taxpayers will be forced to fund privately-run charter schools approved by an unelected state commission under a new proposal by Gov. Bill Lee.
- The legislation strips local communities of their ability to decide how their education dollars are spent by allowing charter operators to bypass locally elected school boards and apply directly to a state commission whose members are handpicked by the governor.
- If passed, this measure would shift more public money away from school board-run public schools to charters, leaving taxpayers footing the bill for schools that will not be accountable to their communities.
State will study care, health coverage for stuttering under Akbari bill
8:30 a.m. CT - Senate Floor Calendar - Watch - SB0231 by Sen. Raumesh Akbari
- Senate Bill 231, as amended, would have the state study the value of health coverage that provides new speech therapy benefits to people who stutter.
- Sen. Akbari’s initial bill would have required insurance companies to strengthen speech therapy coverage, but it faced resistance from the insurance industry and Republicans.
- Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, a University of Kentucky Men’s Basketball champion and nine-year veteran of the NBA, urged lawmakers to take action during testimony in the Senate last week. Read the full release.
Noon - Judiciary Committee
Note: The Committee says it will only take up bills sponsored by members of committee today
40. SB 0227 *Taylor (HB 0811 by *Grills)
Tort Liability and Reform- As introduced, allows a charitable organization that provides housing to a person whom the charitable organization knows is unlawfully present in the United States to be held liable for a loss, damages, injury, or death resulting from a criminal offense committed by the person who is unlawfully present in the United States while the person is receiving housing services from the charitable organization if the charitable organization's conduct in providing housing constitutes negligence, gross negligence, or willful and wanton misconduct. - Amends TCA Title 29, Chapter 34.
Is this targeting religious groups that assist refugees? How Christ like.
41. SB 0238 *Taylor (HB 0078 by *Stevens)
Bail, Bail Bonds- As introduced, specifies that venue for prosecution of the offense of knowingly violating a condition of release is the county in which the conduct constituting the violation of a condition of release occurred. - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 40.
42. SB 0241 *Taylor (HB 0206 by *Barrett)
Mental Illness- As introduced, requires the chief officer of an inpatient mental health treatment resource to notify the committing court if a patient who was involuntarily committed for mental health treatment becomes eligible for discharge; permits the court to hold a hearing to determine whether to order the person's return to the hospital under the original commitment or order the person's release from involuntary commitment in accordance with the recommendations of the chief officer. - Amends TCA Title 33 and Title 52.
Watch. Legislation underscores that the involuntary commitment law is broken.
43. SB 0673 *Taylor (HB 0661 by *White)
Criminal Offenses- As introduced, enacts the "Comprehensive Assault Crime Intervention Act." - Amends TCA Title 38; Title 39 and Title 40.
44. SB 0857 *Taylor (HB 0930 by *White)
Housing- As introduced, authorizes any county having made loans in excess of the amount of funds in the initial capitalization of the loan fund pool for the county to terminate its participation in the homebuyers' revolving loan fund pool with notice to the Tennessee housing development agency (THDA) and to retain all funds, including any funds used for initial capitalization or interest earnings on repayments. - Amends TCA Title 13, Chapter 23.
Need more info
45. SB 0527 *Stevens (HB 0809 by *Grills, Todd, Shaw, Hurt)
Pest Control- As introduced, specifies that a manufacturer or seller of a pesticide registered with the commissioner of agriculture and with the environmental protection agency under the federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) is not liable in a civil action related to the labeling of the pesticide, if the pesticide bore a label approved by the EPA under FIFRA at the time of sale. - Amends TCA Title 43, Chapter 8.
Watch. "liability shield" legislation that protects Bayer-Monsanto from Roundup cancer lawsuits
46. SB 0533 *Stevens (HB 0351 by *Hurt)
Jails, Local Loc-ups - As introduced, requires a prisoner who is released from a county workhouse or jail for paid employment to pay the costs of the required electronic monitoring device. - Amends TCA Title 41.
Watch. Profiteering in the justice system?
47. SB 0535 *Stevens (HB 0874 by *Martin B)
Children- As introduced, enacts the "Tennessee Protection of Children Against Sexual Exploitation Act." - Amends TCA Title 24; Title 39; Title 40 and Title 47.
Prohibits social media companies from informing suspects of a subpoena related to their account.
48. SB 0655 *Stevens (HB 1010 by *Moody)
District Attorneys- As introduced, authorizes a district attorney general, on the consent of the district attorney general of any other judicial district, to specially appoint another district attorney general, or an assistant to that district attorney general, to conduct specific proceedings under title 8, chapter 47, regarding removal of officers, which the district attorney general is authorized by law to conduct in that district. - Amends TCA Title 8.
WATCH.
49. SB 0861 *Stevens (HB 0910 by *Garrett)
Human Rights- As introduced, transfers, from the human rights commission to the attorney general and reporter, the responsibility of identifying state laws, rules, programs, services, and budgetary priorities that conflict with the components, guidelines, and objectives of a comprehensive state policy established by the commission to ensure compliance with Title VI requirements. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 8 and Title 68.
Watch. Disbanding the Human Rights Commission?
50. SB 1097 *Stevens, Haile (HB 1343 by *Lamberth, Cochran)
DUI Offenses- As introduced, requires the state treasurer to deem a person ordered by a court to use a functioning ignition interlock device to be indigent and unable to pay the costs of the device if the person receives funds from the supplemental nutrition assistance, temporary assistance for needy families, or state medicaid program; removes the requirement that a court determine whether a person asserting inability to pay for a functioning ignition interlock device is indigent; revises other provisions relative to the electronic monitoring indigency fund. - Amends TCA Section 55-10-419.
51. SB 0525 *Rose (HB 0913 by *Vaughan)
Election Laws- As introduced, requires a three-judge panel to hear any civil action in which it is alleged that a proposed charter amendment ordinance that is to be submitted to qualified voters at an election is in violation of the Constitution or state law; prohibits an amendment to the charter of a home rule municipality from being placed on any ballot if the amendment is in violation of the Constitution or state law. - Amends TCA Title 2; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7 and Title 20, Chapter 18.
Watch. Legislative overreach on local control. Republicans are still mad that Memphis voters approved a charter question asking for stricter gun laws.
52. SB 0600 *Rose (HB 0575 by *Doggett)
Criminal Procedure- As introduced, specifies that the administrative office of the courts may distribute to the courts electronically the discharge from conditions of release form that is required to be sent to law enforcement agencies by the court when a defendant upon whom conditions of release have been imposed is discharged or released from those conditions. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 9; Title 16; Title 18; Title 38; Title 39; Title 40; Title 55; Title 56; Title 62; Title 68 and Title 71.
Caption
53. SB 0601 *Rose (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.
54. 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.
55. SB 0521 *Roberts (HB 0907 by *Garrett)
Criminal Procedure- As introduced, creates a law enforcement investigatory privilege; prohibits a subpoena from being issued for a civil or criminal proceeding for information protected by the law enforcement privilege. - Amends TCA Title 24, Chapter 1, Part 2 and Title 40, Chapter 17, Part 1.
Gen Sub… Cases can stay “open” for decades…
56. SB 1399 *Roberts (HB 1353 by *Littleton, Kumar)
Criminal Offenses- As introduced, creates an offense for a person who harms or threatens to harm an individual involved in the judicial process or a family member of such person with the intent to impede, intimidate, interfere with, or retaliate against the justice system participant in connection with their participation in the judicial process, punishable as a Class E felony. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 16.
Isn’t it already illegal to harm someone or threaten to harm them?
57. SB 1400 *Roberts (HB 1204 by *Kumar)
Criminal Offenses- As introduced, states that a law enforcement officer may assist a qualified practitioner in using reasonable force to obtain a sample of blood from a person suspected of driving while under the influence of an intoxicant; increases the amount of time a driver license must be revoked for an implied consent violation from one year to one year and six months if the person has no prior violations. - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 55.
4 p.m. Senate Regular Calendar
1. SJR 0001 *Haile, Lowe, Walley, Bailey, Johnson, Briggs, White, Hensley, Pody, Stevens, Massey, Roberts, Rose
Constitutional Amendments- Proposes additional language in Article II, Section 28 to prohibit the general assembly from levying, authorizing, or otherwise permitting a state tax on property.
Watch. 2nd reading. Vote takes place after third reading. This could undermine Tennessee’s franchise tax, which includes a tax on the net worth of a company – including property.
2. *SB0026 by Pody. (HB0636 by Burkhart.)
Regional Authorities and Special Districts - authorizes municipalities, counties, and metropolitan governments to establish infrastructure development districts (IDD) within a municipality or across multiple municipalities for the purpose of establishing an alternative method to fund and finance capital infrastructure through the levy and collection of special assessments and the issuance of bonds, the maximum term of which must not exceed 30 years from the first issuance of the debt obligation. It adds the ability for commercial development to be eligible to participate in infrastructure development districts.
3. SB0124 by Powers. (*HB0081 by Hemmer.)
Students - With amendment, requires LEAs to transfer a student's records to a new school within or outside of their LEA within five business days of a student's transfer to a new school. Additionally, this amendment adds a requirement that the receiving school or LEA notify the sending school or LEA if the student does not enroll within five business days of their receipt of the student's records.
4. SB0147 by Lowe. (*HB0060 by Raper.)
Highway Signs - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 3; Title 12 and Title 54. As introduced, requires the department of transportation to install signs or markers displaying an appropriate symbol indicating to motorists that a rest area or welcome center has a family restroom; requires the department to post on its website rest areas and welcome centers that have family restrooms.
5. *SB0202 by Massey. (HB0213 by Howell.)
Highways, Roads and Bridges - Amends TCA Title 54. As introduced, requires the department of transportation to submit a report prior to January 1, 2026, to the chair of the transportation and safety committee of the senate and the chair of the transportation committee of the house of representatives on the status of projects to be funded under the high priority bridge replacement program.
Bridge and road renaming omnibus bill
6. *SB0267 by Hensley. (HB0702 by Leatherwood.)
Health Care - Amends TCA Title 68, Chapter 29. As introduced, clarifies that the location to which specimens are transported that are collected at a collection station owned and operated by a medical laboratory owner that is a licensee of a medical laboratory in this state does not affect the ability of such collection station to operate without an additional license from the medical laboratory board.
7. *SB0321 by Massey. (HB0498 by Hale.)
Health Care - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 62 and Title 63. As introduced, creates the advisory task force on state reimbursement rates to make recommendations on annual adjustments to rates paid to agencies that perform healthcare functions and services, the purpose of which is to ensure such reimbursement rates are adequate.
8. *SB0346 by Powers. (HB0453 by Hurt.)
Fire Prevention and Investigation - Amends TCA Title 68, Chapter 102. As introduced, specifies that fire drills for private and public schools requiring full evacuation in educational occupancies where such occupancies constitute the major occupancy of a building must be held at least one time every 30 school days.
Watch. Seems like overkill.
9. SB0406 by Gardenhire. (*HB0361 by Parkinson.)
Orders of Protection - Amends TCA Title 16; Title 18 and Title 36. As introduced, expands the courts in Shelby County that can hear a petition for an order of protection to include a criminal court when the criminal court is hearing a criminal matter involving a domestic abuse victim, sexual assault victim, or stalking victim.
10. SB0536 by Stevens. (*HB0194 by Martin B.)
Tennessee Higher Education Commission - Makes various changes to state regulations relative to compensation for the use of an intercollegiate athlete's name, image, or likeness (NIL). Authorizes a third party, including, but not limited to, an institution and its affiliated foundations, or a third party authorized to act on behalf of such institution or affiliated foundations, to facilitate, offer, and provide compensation to an intercollegiate athlete related to the use of the intercollegiate athlete's own NIL. Authorizes any business arrangements with third parties that may provide economic incentives, foster start-ups, make investments, explore business combinations, develop licensing opportunities, or involve any other commercial activity that directly or indirectly benefits the state, the institution, the affiliated foundation, intercollegiate athletes, or industry participants. Places various requirements and restrictions on institutions’ athletic associations. Prohibits an agreement for representation of an intercollegiate athlete between that athlete and a third party from compromising the athlete’s eligibility to participate in an athletic program at an institution or any athletic event. Declares, broadly, that any records, materials, information, or other data, etc., related to, or generated from, business activities associated with NIL compensation are confidential and not subject to public inspection under the open records laws.
11. SB0554 by Reeves. (*HB0510 by Terry.)
Medical Occupations - With amendment, enacts the Tennessee Physician Workforce Information Act.
Just a new survey of the healthcare workforce.
12. *SB0941 by Briggs. (HB1337 by Lamberth.)
Charitable Institutions - Amends TCA Title 3, Chapter 17. As enacted, establishes a five-day period after the effective date of this act during which a nonprofit organization may apply to operate a charitable gaming event during the annual period beginning July 1, 2025, until June 30, 2026.
13. *SB1034 by Bowling. (HB1071 by Wright.)
Historical Sites and Preservation - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 1, Part 4. As introduced, designates a seal that has been erected for, named, or dedicated on public property in honor of any historic conflict, historic entity, historic event, historic figure, or historic organization as a memorial for purposes of protection under the Tennessee Heritage Protection Act.
Watch. Expands the law protecting Confederate memorials
14. SB1068 by Johnson. (*HB0972 by McCalmon.)
Motor Vehicles - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 39; Title 47; Title 48; Title 55; Title 56; Title 62; Title 66 and Title 67. As introduced, revises various provisions of the Modernization of Towing, Immobilization, and Oversight Normalization Act.
15. *SB1074 by Johnson. (HB1096 by Sexton.)
Economic and Community Development - Amends TCA Title 4. As introduced, prohibits an employer seeking to receive an economic development incentive from the state from entering into a community benefits agreement or similar legal contract if the agreement or contract imposes obligations or conditions on the employer regarding employment practices, benefits, or operations that are not directly related to the performance of the employer’s duties under the economic development incentive.
Watch. Anti-CBA. Inserts state law into community affairs to tip the scales of power away from communities and for big business.
16. SB1178 by Akbari. (*HB0712 by Hale.)
Disability and Aging, Dept. Of - Amends TCA Title 52 and Title 71. As introduced, directs the commissioner to develop guidelines for service providers for hiring qualified family members as a family care giver; specifies that the department shall not prohibit qualified individuals from employment as a family care giver at a service provider agency based on certain listed criteria; directs the director of TennCare to develop guidelines for service providers for hiring qualified family members as a family care giver; specifies that the bureau of TennCare shall not prohibit qualified individuals from employment as a family care giver at a service provider agency based on certain listed criteria.
17. SB1194 by Jackson. (*HB0801 by Grills.)
Codes - Amends TCA Title 68, Chapter 120. As introduced, specifies that the International Energy Conservation Code's requirements for roof solar reflectance and thermal emittance for low-sloped roofs do not apply in this state.
18. SB1288 by Johnson. (*HB0106 by Lamberth.)
Human Services, Dept. of - Amends TCA Title 4 and Title 71, Chapter 3, Part 5. As introduced, makes various changes to the licensing exemption categories for programs and activities that fall within the definition of a child care agency, including adding gym care and Tennessee professional sport event care program requirements; specifies that a program that does not provide child care for five or less children in certain circumstances is not subject to licensure; removes the requirement for a drop in center that provides child care for certain hours to register as casual care.
19. *SB1310 by Johnson. (HB1322 by Lamberth.)
Schools, Charter - Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 13. As introduced, establishes a process by which the governing body of an existing public charter school may replicate that public charter school in the same district by applying to the local board of education or directly to the Tennessee public charter school commission; allows, in certain circumstances, a public charter school sponsor to apply directly to the commission to open a new public charter school; makes various changes to the state agencies responsible for performing certain functions in the Tennessee Public Charter Schools Act of 2002.
20. SB1368 by Watson. (*HB1227 by Hicks G.)
Tennessee Higher Education Commission - Amends TCA Title 49. As introduced, adds the executive director of the commission to the statutorily prescribed selection process for chief executive officers of public institutions of higher education and removes the repeal date for that process; revises various reporting and other duties of the commission; allows the commission to delegate its approval authority to its executive director in certain areas; expands the quality non-degree credentials for which a student may receive the Wilder-Naifeh technical skills grant.
21. *SB0231 by Akbari. (HB0296 by Love.)
Insurance Companies, Agents, Brokers, Policies - As amended, requires TACIR to study insurance coverage for habilitative or rehabilitative speech therapy services.
22. *SB0233 by Akbari. (HB0634 by Clemmons.)
State Government - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 34 and Title 71, Chapter 2. As introduced, creates the conservatorship management task force.
23. *SB0421 by Reeves. (HB1239 by Helton-Haynes.)
Opioids - Amends TCA Title 33; Title 41; Title 53 and Title 63. As introduced, authorizes certain prescribing physician assistants and nurse practitioners to prescribe buprenorphine products for the treatment of opioid use disorder when the physician assistant or nurse practitioner is employed by or contracts with a state correctional facility or county or municipal jail, and certain other conditions are met.
24. SB0517 by Akbari. (*HB0485 by Hardaway.)
Education - Amends TCA Title 49. As introduced, authorizes local education agencies and public charter schools to provide up to four days of the required 180 days of classroom instruction via hybrid learning in the event of dangerous or extreme weather conditions, or an emergency, as determined by the director of schools or the director of public charter schools.
25. *SB0582 by Akbari. (HB0623 by McCalmon.)
Education - Amends TCA Title 49. As introduced, requires the department to establish enrollment deadlines for voluntary pre-kindergarten programs so that at-risk students who will be four years old by August 15 must be enrolled by the beginning of the school year and students who are four-year-olds who do not have a disability or who meet the qualifications for enrollment at three years of age must be enrolled by August 30.
* * *
The top issue in the nation is “can a single federal judge order a President to return a flight of illegal aliens being deported because the judge suddenly wants to know their status?” Why is the judge interfering with a President’s Article II executive branch duties now but wasn’t interested when they illegally crossed the border and the President at the time allowed them to just go free? Are Tennessee Senate Democrats not concerned by that?
Why is the message from Tennessee Senate Democrats concern over foreign chemical makers and not the immediate threat to women and children by violent alien gangs? Could it be because there’s billions to be made in judgements from foreign chemical companies and no money by suing Tren d’Aragua.
And why are Tennessee Senate Democrats not concerned over a Tennessee business in Franklin being harassed by activists hoping to harm that business. Are Tennessee Senate Democrats too busy protecting Tennessee auto dealerships?
Ralph Miller