What's New on the Hill - March 17, 2023
Weekly Calendar Updates
Senate Appropriation Amendments began on Tues, March 16th – Thurs, March 30th by 2PM is deadline for budget appropriations
The Senate stands in Recess until 4:00PM on Monday, March 20, 2023
The House stands in Recess until 5:00PM on Monday, March 20, 2023
As the session is moving swiftly, lawmakers are focusing on wrapping up pending business before the deadlines. The remaining calendars are getting smaller, and there is a sense of urgency in the air. As always, we will keep you updated on any developments and look forward to seeing the outcomes of this legislative session!
Not So Lucky…Flippers Advised!
Well folks, it seems like the waterworks are putting on a show at the Tennessee State Capitol this week. Metro Water Services reported a water main break in downtown Nashville's 600 block of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. First responders immediately called in the break for repairs, but not before the nearby staircase got a refreshing splash.
Don't worry, though - the State Capitol's water service remains unaffected. Unfortunately, the Cordell Hull Building was not so lucky. But hey, let's look on the bright side: traffic wasn’t impacted, so you can keep on truckin' without getting caught in a waterpark ride. And, maybe the plants nearby will get a little extra hydration for this Spring!
Tennessee's Department of Finance and Administration Commissioner, Jim Vryson, recently announced that tax revenue returns for the month of February exceeded the budgeted estimates. The state's general fund collections came in at an impressive $99 million more than projected, largely due to a strong growth in sales tax of 11.8% compared to the same month last year.
These results demonstrate Tennessee's continued economic resilience and success, particularly in light of the residual economic recovery from the pandemic. As always, the Department of Finance and Administration will continue to monitor economic trends and provide regular updates to ensure that the state's budget remains balanced and effective in serving the needs of Tennesseans.
Tennessee for Worker Freedom
This week the House has taken a significant step towards preserving the rights of Tennessee workers. With the support of Chairman Kevin Vaughan and Vice-Chairman Greg Vital, workers will now be able to vote privately without the fear of intimidation or coercion by labor unions. This move ensures that workers' decisions cannot be used against them. It is crucial to safeguard workers' rights, and we hope that this measure will pave the way for further progress in ensuring that Tennessee’s hard-working citizens are free to exercise their rights without any added influence or pressure.
NASHVILLE — The metropolitan government of Nashville sued the State of Tennessee on Monday, asking a judge to block a new law that would slash the size of its governing body to 20 members, from 40.
The standoff has emerged as a particularly stark example of flaring tensions between liberal-leaning cities and conservative state lawmakers around the country. State governments — particularly where Republicans control both the governor’s office and the legislature — have increasingly moved to overturn city policies.
The Tennessee law would limit the size of any city or county legislative body to 20 members, but its effect would be limited to Nashville: The Metropolitan Council that oversees both the city and the county that it sits in is the only local government body in the state to exceed that limit, with 40 members currently seated.
State AG's Office Lists Top 10 Consumer Complaints
The Tennessee Attorney General’s Office Division of Consumer Affairs last week announced the top 10 complaint categories for 2022. The Division of Consumer Affairs received 8,088 formal consumer complaints during 2022, according to a news release from the state Attorney General’s Office. The list, in order of complaints received, includes...continue reading:
Greenvillesun.com - March 13, 2023
After slashing the council, lawmakers will have to decide if they want to run Nashville
State Republicans cut the size of the Metro Nashville Council in half last week, kicking off a process that should reveal how serious lawmakers are about taking over various aspects of the city’s government.
GOP state lawmakers passed, and Gov. Bill Lee signed, the legislation into law Thursday, with metro officials expected to file a lawsuit challenging it in the coming days. Read More..
Tennesseelookout.com - March 13, 2023
Nashville files lawsuit over state’s law to cut the council’s size in half
Metro Nashville has filed a lawsuit to stop the state from implementing a law to cut the size of its council from 40 to 20. Last week, lawmakers passed and Gov. Bill Lee signed legislation that capped all city and metro council sizes at 20. The bill effectively targeted Nashville, the only city or metro government with a council larger than 20. Read More..
Tennesseelookout.com - March 13, 2023
New legislation seeks to create partnership between airport and state leaders
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — New legislation looks to readjust who's calling the shots at Nashville's growing airport. Some lawmakers believe it would create a better partnership with state leaders. It targets the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority, which is made up of Mayor John Cooper and commissioners appointed by him. The new bill wants to replace those commissioners with ones appointed by the governor or state lawmakers. Appointees would come from three members of the house, three from the Senate, three from the Governor and one from the Mayor. Read More..
newschannel5.com - March 13, 2023
Anti-abortion group signals support for change to Tennessee abortion law
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — Tennessee Right to Life released a statement Monday supporting an amendment to Tennessee’s abortion ban that would explicitly codify two instances in which an abortion could be performed. Amendment #005051 to Senate Bill 983 would state that treatments for ectopic pregnancy and miscarriages would not violate Tennessee’s ban on abortion. Read More..
wate.com - March 13, 2023
A new bill would funnel more kids into adult court. Advocates say it would cause damage that ‘can’t be undone.’
House Speaker Cameron Sexton introduced a bill that would funnel more kids into the adult criminal court system. Juvenile justice advocates are concerned it could have disastrous results.
Right now, when a child is charged with a crime, they go to the juvenile court — which is focused on intervention and rehabilitation. Read More..
Wpln.org - March 13, 2023
Bill to ease Tennessee’s third-grade reading and retention law clears first legislative hurdle
Chalkbeat is a nonprofit news organization covering public education in communities across America. Sign up for our free Tennessee newsletter to keep up with the Shelby County public school system and state education policy. Read More..
Tn.chalkbeat.org - March 15, 2023
Is natural gas ‘clean energy’? Tennessee lawmakers want you to think so.
Natural gas is “better than” coal. This refrain is a classic argument for the fossil fuel industry, and it is how Tennessee lawmakers are persuading the state legislature to rebrand natural gas as “clean energy.”
“Relative to what we have used historically for electrical generation, it is clean,” said Rep. Clark Boyd, R-Lebanon, a sponsor of the bill. Read more..
Wpln.org - March 15, 2023
Bill in TN legislature would strengthen 'divisive concept' laws in schools
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A bill making its way through the Tennessee legislature is meant to strengthen rules passed last year that can change how schools approach teaching many kinds of lessons in social justice, racial inequity, political science, social work, psychology and many other fields. Read more..
Wbir.com - March 14, 2023
New bills advance that may impact Tennessee students
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Lawmakers propose three different bills that could impact students in Tennessee future in school. The current law requires that if third graders does not pass the English and Language Arts Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) exam next month, the students would have to attend tutoring or go to summer school. Read more..
Fox13memphis.com - March 15, 2023
Tennessee House Committee Passes Resolution to Term Limit Congress
Nashville, TN — The Tennessee House State Government Committee has passed House Joint Resolution 5 (HJR5), a resolution calling for the states to propose a congressional term limits amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The effort, led by Representative Chris Todd and spearheaded by the nonpartisan nonprofit U.S. Term Limits, passed by a voice vote. Read more..
Termlimits.com - March 15, 2023
Tennessee Senate clears bill that could stop transgender people from changing 'sex' on IDs, birth certificates
Tennessee Senate Republicans passed a bill Monday that could block transgender people from changing their listed sex on government-issued documents including driver’s licenses and birth certificates. Read more..
Foxnews.com - March 15, 2023
Changes to Tennessee’s third grade retention law advances
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - On April 17, Tennessee students will start TCAP testing. If Tennessee third-graders they don’t meet certain benchmarks, they are at risk of having to repeat the grade. Although, some lawmakers have been working to make changes to that law. Read more..
Wsmv.com - March 15, 2023
Feds Move to Rein In Prior Authorization, a System That Harms and Frustrates Patients
When Paula Chestnut needed hip replacement surgery last year, a pre-operative X-ray found irregularities in her chest. As a smoker for 40 years, Chestnut was at high risk for lung cancer. A specialist in Los Angeles recommended the 67-year-old undergo an MRI, a high-resolution image that could help spot the disease. Read more..
nashvillemedicalnews.com- March 13, 2023
Promising Futures child care scholarship bill advances in Tennessee Senate
A bill to create a scholarship program to help Tennessee’s low- and middle-income families pay for high-quality early child care cleared its first legislative hurdle Wednesday — even as some lawmakers questioned whether funding child care should be the state’s responsibility. The Senate Education Committee voted 7-2 to advance the legislation, which could tap up to $40 million annually in tax revenue from the state’s newly legalized sports betting industry. Read more..
Tn.chalkbeat.org - March 16, 2023
Tennessee GOP advance new narrow abortion exemption bill
Tennessee Republican lawmakers have taken another swing at adding a narrow exemption to one of the strictest abortion bans in the U.S. Nearly a month ago, a Republican legislative panel defied outside pressure and advanced legislation clarifying situat… Read more.
abcnews.go.com - March 16, 2023
Tennessee child advocates raise alarm as GOP moves to dissolve child advocacy commission
Multiple Tennessee child advocacy experts say they are alarmed by a sudden move from a top-ranking legislative Republican to dissolve an independent children's advocacy commission and distribute its responsibilities to other state agencies.
Senate Majority Jack Johnson, R-Franklin, was set to present Senate Bill 282 on Wednesday to the Senate Health and Welfare Committee, but the legislation, backed by Gov. Bill Lee's administration, was ultimately delayed to next week. Read more..
Tennessean.com - March 16, 2023