-60th Anniversary of Selma’s Bloody Sunday
Friends, Some days it’s hard to know where to start, especially since I was only at the Legislature on Thursday because I spent a long holiday weekend with our LA granddaughter and her parents (such fun!!).
First, I offer you a list of upcoming bills for this week, but really, who knows what will happen given the House’s “Flow” system? They’ve not updated their Agendas, except for Monday’s 10 AM Floor Session, which has created a real challenge. The Senate has listed Floor Sessions for both Monday and Tuesday, along with a long list of proposed bills for their Finance Ways and Means Committee on Monday. The current prediction is that both the House and Senate will finish on Tuesday, yet some folks are predicting they will go into next week (Really?!) .
Next, I provide some highlights from last week, gleaned from news stories and information shared by advocates and activists.
I’ve saved the discussion about the GOVERNOR’s BUDGET until the very end. It took up most of Wednesday’s Floor Session and included numerous Amendment offerings from Democrats (all of which failed). It behooves you to listen to the concerns and issues raised by your Democratic Representatives because their proposals offer insight into what would/could make Tennessee a better place for all.
And immediately below this introduction is an update on the Anti-Child Immigrant Education bill - its current status and how you can still help bring it to an end!!
I just heard a chorus of “Save us!” coming from the heavens- appropriate for this season. Thanks to Tedashi (below) and Paul McCartney (end of this post) for sharing in this moment of our releasing unto the unknown.
Happy Easter and Passover, while also recognizing that Ramadan is just behind us and early next month is the celebration of Vesak, Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, and passing. Together, gathering from our many perspectives, we can face it all!! Michele
PS- A book recommendation from a friend: Hate Won’t Win by Mallory McMorrow.
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UPDATE- ANTI-IMMIGRANT CHILD BILL:
HB0793 Lamberth/SB0836 Watson: Authorizes LEAs and public charter schools to refuse to enroll students who are unlawfully present in the United States.
On Monday, February 14th, hundreds of students and adults marched to the Capitol to let Legislators know they are committed to Education for All (see The Tennessean coverage).
-Nicole Hester / The Tennessean
Already passed in the Senate, 19-13, meaning 7 Republicans voted against the bill along with all of the Democrats, the House version had been scheduled to be heard on Monday, shortly after the march. However, Sponsor Lamberth did not bring the bill forward in the House Finance, Ways and Means SubCommittee, which required its passage before being voted on in the full FWM Committee and then heard on the full House Floor. At this point, according to the Legislative calendars, the FWM Sub or full Committees are not scheduled to convene next week, so the bill MAY NOT move forward (unless they get sneaky…)
According to a report by News Channel 9 in Hamilton County, Senate Sponsor Watson’s District, he asked to “speak with people who opposed his legislation to find a middle ground” after the School Board “passed a resolution that officially opposed the legislation.” Getting cold feet about next year’s elections, Watson???
Thanks to everyone who helped to stall this measure, but to be sure it is dead for this year, please call and email Committee members this weekend and Monday. Even if you’ve reached out once, it’s important to make one last effort. Our children need to know they can safely return to school this fall.
At Schwab Elementary School on Thursday morning, students, parents, teachers, and community supporters made signs and sang out for the inclusion of all students in public schools across Tennessee.
-Marco: Let My Friends Go to School
-Students and Parents march into School
-Sign at Thursday’s House Session
UPCOMING WEEK: 4/21 to ???
Monday, April 21
10:00 AM- HOUSE Floor- REGULAR CALENDAR
+ HEALTH CARE- HB1192 Cepicky/ SB0871 Hensley: Directs a TACIR study about how to improve the continuum of care in Tennessee (4/17 placed on 4/21 House Regular Calendar/ 3/27 passed Senate, 32-0)
+ FAMILY LEAVE- SB0322 Massey /HB0915 Sparks: Grants eligible employees leave of up to six workweeks to care for a family member with a serious health condition. (4/17 Placed on 4/21 House Regular Calendar/4/16 PASSED SENATE, 33-0)
+ FAMILY CARE- HB0717 Jones R: SB0654 Crowe: Enacts the "Caring for Caregivers Act," creating a three-year family caregiver grant pilot program for family members diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or related dementia to offset expenditures incurred by the caregivers. (4/17 placed on 4/21 House Regular Calendar/ 4/17 Placed on 4/21 Senate FWM)
-LOSE RIGHT TO BAIL-SJR0025 Johnson: Constitutional Amendments to remove the right to bail for the act of terroris, second degree murder, aggravated rape and aggravatef rape of a child, and grave torture. (3/17 SENATE Adopted, 23-6-1/ 4/17 Reset on 4/21 House Regular Calendar)
- ANTI-IMMIGRANT & ELECTION- HB0069 Lamberth/SB0133 Johnson: Requires Election Coordinator to create portals to verify citizenship status & felony conviction status. (4/17 Placed on 4/21 House Regular Calendar/ 4/17 Placed on 4/21 Senate Regular Calendar)
- OPEN ACCESS TO JUVENILE RECORDS- HB0034 Gillespie/ SB0221 Taylor: Permits a court to use juvenile court records in pretrial reports to set bond for adult criminal offenses. (4/17 placed on 4/21 House Regular Calendar/ 3/3 passed Senate, 25-5)
-ANTI-IMMIGRANT- SB0392 Taylor /HB0322 Todd: Creates the offense of human smuggling, harboring, hiding, or assisting someone undocumented. (4/16 PASSED SENATE, 26-6/ 4/17 Placed on 4/21 Regular HOUSE Calendar)
-ANTI-WETLANDS -SB0670 Taylor /HB0541 Vaughan: Prohibits the Department of Environment and Conservation from applying criteria that will result in the classification of real property as a wetland. (4/14 PASSED SENATE, 26-6 / 4/17 placed on 4/21 House Regular Calendar)
12:30 PM- SENATE Finance, Ways, and Means Sub., Senate Room 1
+AFRICAN AMERICAN GRANT - SB1172 Akbari / HB0686 Camper: Enacts the "African American Cultural and Historical Grant Act." (4/17 Placed on 4/21 Senate FWM Committee/4/16 placed on 4/16 House FWM Sub)
+ FREE MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS- SB0155 Akbari / HB0039 Davis: Enacts the "Menstrual Hygiene Products Accessibility Act," requiring public and charter schools to provide feminine hygiene products at no charge in all women's and girls' bathrooms, in all locker rooms, and with school nurses. (4/17 Placed on 4/21 Senate FWM/ 4/9 Placed on 4/14 House FWM Sub)
+ TAX OFF FOOD- SB1164 Akbari/ HB0633 Clemmons: Exempts fresh, frozen, and canned fruit and vegetables from the food retail sales tax. (4/17 placed on 4/21 Senate FWM/ 3/12 Assigned to House FWM Sub
+ FAMILY CARE- SB0654 Crowe/HB0717 Jones R: Enacts the "Caring for Caregivers Act," creating a three-year family caregiver grant pilot program for family members diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or related dementia to offset expenditures incurred by the caregivers. (4/17 Placed on 4/21 Senate FWM/ 4/17 placed on 4/21 House Regular Calendar )
+TRACK TOXINS- SB1352 Akbari /HB1397 Pearson: Requires the creation and maintenance of a website tracking data about facilities releasing toxic chemicals per the Environmental Protection Agency. (4/17 Placed on 4/21 Senate FWM/ 3/26 Action Deferred in Agriculture Natural Resources Sub- to Special Calendar 37)
+ FREE FOOD SCHOOL - SB0740 Harshbarger/ HB1153 Lynn: Requires local boards of education to provide free school breakfast and lunch to disadvantaged students. (4/17 placed on 4/21 Senate FWM/ 4/14 Placed on 4/14 House FWM Sub)
+ SEXUAL ASSAULT- SB1123 Harshbarger/ HB0696 Gillespie: Establishes a statewide sexual assault response team coordinator to provide training, support, and technical assistance to teams across TN. (4/17 Placed on 4/21 Senate FWM/ 4/2 Assigned to FWM Sub)
+GUN CONTROL- SB0222 Jackson /HB1027 Russell: Increases, from 30 to 45, the number of days a sheriff has to provide the Department of Safety information about an applicant's truthfulness on an enhanced handgun carry permit application. (4/17 Placed on 4/21 Senate FWM / 4/14 Placed on 4/14 House FWM Sub)
+WOMEN- SB1205 Kyle/ HB1218 Johnson: Exempts the sale or use of menstrual hygiene products from sales and use tax. (4/17 Placed on 4/21 Senate FWM/ 4/9 Action Deferred to 2026 FWM Sub First Calendar)
+WOMEN- SB0188 Lamar /HB0813 Miller: Exempts feminine hygiene products from sales tax on the annual sales tax holiday. (4/17 Placed on 4/21 Senate FWM/ 4/9 Placed on 4/14 FWM Sub)
+ SCHOOL HUNGER- SB0172 Massey/ HB0007 Hale: Provides grants to higher education institutions to address student hunger. (4/17 Placed on 4/21 Senate FWM/ 4/9 Placed on 4/14 FWM Sub)
+ MATERNAL HEALTH - SB0898 Massey/ HB0867 Hicks: Creates a pilot program to provide pregnant TennCare recipients improved maternal health care through remote patient monitoring for maternal hypertension and maternal diabetes. (4/17 Placed on 4/21 Senate FWM/ 4/16 Placed on 4/16 FWM Sub)
+ TAX OFF GROCERIES - SB0002 Oliver/ HB0002 Behn: Enacts the "End the Grocery Tax by Closing Corporate Loopholes Act." (4/17 Placed on 4/21 FWM Sub / 3/19 House FWM Deferred to Summer Study)
+ NO TAX FOOD - SB1367 Watson/ HB0021 Davis: Removes sales tax from food and food ingredients. (4/17 Placed on 4/21 Senate FWM/ 4/9 Placed on 4/14 Sub)
+DISABLED CHILDREN- SB0679 White/ HB0401 White: Adds pre-kindergarten students with special education needs to those students who generate TISA education funding. (4/17 Placed on 4/21 Senate FWM/ 4/14 Placed on 4/14 FWM Sub)
+PROTECT CHILDREN’S MONEY -SB0312 Yarbro/ HB1235 Love: Requires DCS to set aside any federal funds for a child in their care who is eligible for special needs services not currently being provided by the department. (4/17 Placed on 4/21 FWM/ 3/25 Action Deferred to 2026 Children-Family Affairs Sub)
+CHILD TAX EXEMPTION -HB0784 Martin G/ SB0872 Haile: Exempts from sales and use tax infant formula, diapers, and wipes for use by infants and children. (4/9 Placed on 4/14 House FWM Sub/ 4/17 Placed on 4/21 Senate FWM)
-ANTI-TRANS- SB0676 Faison/ HB0754 Taylor - Requires clinics accepting funds from Tennessee to perform gender transition procedures also must perform detransition procedures. (4/9 Placed on 4/14 House FWM Sub/ 4/17 Placed on 4/21 Senate FWM)
-HONORS PEOPLE WHO ENSLAVED AFRICAN AMERICANS- HJR0318 Shaw: Names new entrance to Motlow Tunnel "Heritage Gateway Entrance" but includes their enslavers (!!) (4/14 PASSED HOUSE, 91-3) / 4/17 Placed on 4/21 Senate FWM)
- HEMP- SB1236 Haile / HB1148 Butler: Removes Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCa) and Tetrahydrocannabiphorol (THCp) from the list of authorized hemp-derived cannabinoids. (4/17 Placed on 4/21 Senate FWM/ 4/9 Placed on 4/14 Finance, Ways, and Means Sub)
-ANTI-PROTEST- SB0672 Taylor/ HB0729 Keisling: Increases the penalty for obstruction of a highway, street, sidewalk, railway, waterway, elevator, aisle, hallway, or other place used for the passage of persons or vehicles from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony. (4/17 Placed on 4/21 Senate FWM/ 4/14 Placed on 4/14 FWM Sub)
4:00 PM- SENATE FLOOR- Regular Calendar
-ATTACK ON HUMAN RIGHTS- HB0910 Garrett/SB0861 Stevens: The Human Rights Commission's duties are to be managed by the Attorney General. (4/16 PASSSED HOUSE, 23- 0/ 4/17 placed on 4/21 Senate Regular Calendar)
- ANTI-IMMIGRANT- ELECTION- SB0133 Johnson / HB0069 Lamberth: Requires Election Coordinator to create portals to verify citizenship status & felony conviction status. (4/17 Placed on 4/21 Senate Regular Calendar / 4/17 Placed on 4/21 House Regular Calendar)
+ TEST RAPE KIT TIMEFRAME- SB0920 Campbell/ HB0679 Freeman: Requires TBI to test sexual assault evidence collection kit within 120 days of receipt. (4/17 Placed on 4/21 Senate Regular Calendar/ 4/7 Passed House, 94-0)
-ANTI-DEI - SB1084 Johnson/HB0923 Maberry: Enacts the "Dismantling DEI Departments Act." (4/17 Placed on 4/21 Senate Regular Calendar/ 4/16 Placed on 4/17 House Regular Calendar)
- ANTI-DEI- SB1083 Johnson /HB0622 Maberry: Enacts the "Dismantle DEI Act," prohibiting local governments and public institutions of higher education from basing hiring decisions on any metrics that consider an applicant's race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or disability, or hiring a particular candidate to achieve any goals to increase diversity, equity, or inclusion in the workplace. (4/17 Placed on 4/21 Senate Regular Calendar/ 4/17 PASSED HOUSE, 73-24)
-HONOR ELON- HJR0486 Sexton: RECOGNITION- Elon Musk and SpaceX (Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/21/2025)
-DISABILITY- HB1314 Lamberth /SB1296 Johnson: Criminalizes children with developmental challenges who may threaten or repeat threats to commit an act of mass violence; (4/14 PASSED HOUSE, 83-11/ 4/17 Placed on 4/21 Senate Regular Calendar)
-CHARTER EXPANSION- HB1162 Stevens SB1020 White: Allows public charter schools to operate outside the geographic boundaries where they are currently authorized. (4/16 PASSED HOUSE, 74- 22/ 4/17 Placed on 4/21 Senate Regular Calendar)
4:00 PM - SENATE Floor- Message Calendar
-ANT-TRANS/WOMEN HB0571 Bulso /SB0468 Bowling: Enacts the "Women's Safety and Protection Act." (4/17 Placed on 4/21 Senate Message Calendar/ 4/15 PASSED HOUSE, 72-22 )
? HB1325 Lamberth / SB0207 Johnson: Establishes a fund to preserve farmland and forestland, including a grant program for conservation easements. (4/17 Placed on 4/21 Senate Message Calendar/. 4/16 PASSED HOUSE 84-8-3 )
SOME OF LAST WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS
MONDAY, APRIL 14
HOUSE Finance Ways and Means SUBCOMMITTEE
- ANTI-IMMGRANT -HB1023 Russell/SB0492 Bowling- Requires an enforcement officer to issue an out-of-service order to a driver issued a commercial driver license if the officer determines during a safety inspection that the driver is unable to read and speak the English language in violation of federal requirements for commercial driver license holders; applies penalties against employers of such drivers. (4/14 TAKEN OFF in HOUSE FWM Sub/ 3/19 FAILED in Senate Transport-Safety)
HOUSE FLOOR SESSION
-HONORS ENSLAVERS- HJR0318 Shaw: Names new entrance to Motlow Tunnel "Heritage Gateway Entrance." (4/14 PASSED HOUSE, 91-3) / 4/17 Placed on 4/21 Senate FWM)
-CHARTER EXPANSION -HB1322 Lamberth/ SB1310 Johnson: Existing public charter school may replicate itself in the same district by applying to the local board of education or directly to the Tennessee public charter school commission (4/14 PASSED HOUSE, 70-19-2/ 3/24 PASSED SENATE, 27-5)
-ANTI-ABORTION HB0990 Terry/SB1004 Briggs: Requires the accounting of the funds allocated by gift or grant to the building effort of the monument to unborn children and submission of this information to the House and Senate Speakers each year. (4/16 PASSED HOUSE, 71-18-4/ 4/7 PASSED SENATE, 25-3-4)
+ HB1175 Williams/SB1379 Watson- Allows child care agencies to lease or purchase underutilized property from local education agencies. (4/14 PASSED HOUSE, 86-9/ 3/31 PASSED SENATE, 28-1)
SENATE FLOOR SESSION
-SB0449 Massey/HB0533 Rudder: Enacts the "Fertility Treatment and Contraceptive Protection Act." (4/14 PASSED SENATE, 27-3 AND 4/10 PASSED HOUSE, 54-37-8).
This proactive effort to protect Tennesseans’ right to access fertility care and contraception access was led by AWAKE TN. (NOTE: The difference between the vote on the Board below and that reported as the vote count means someone went from a yes to a no afterwards.) Having passed both the House and Senate, it has gone to the Governor for his signature.
- PROTECTS GUN SELERS- SB1360 Hensley/HB0873 Fritts: Removes right to a civil liability action against arms dealers, manufacturers, and sellers. (4/15 PASSED HOUSE 72-20/ 4/15 PASSED SENATE, 26-6)
-WETLANDS DESTRUCTION- SB0664 Taylor /HB0612 Vaughan: Identified the area that the Department of Environment and Conservation is required to exempt from compensatory mitigation. (4/14 PASSED SENATE, 26-6/ 4/10 PASSED HOUSE, 74-20)
TUESDAY, APRIL 15
HOUSE Floor Session
+ HB0347 Hurt/SB0560 Jackson: Specifies that the terms abandonment, abuse, severe abuse, and dependent and neglected child do not include the failure to meet the needs of a child solely due to financial hardship unless reasonable material resources such as cash assistance, safe and stable housing, or tangible goods have been offered to and refused by the parent or guardian. (4/15 PASSED HOUSE, 95-0 AND 3/31 PASSED SENATE, 30-0)
This was a Healthy and Free Tennessee bill supported by a coalition of reproductive rights groups across the state. It decouples a judgment about a family’s income and resources from the decision by the Department of Children’s Services as to whether a child is neglected, something that has been a concern for many, many years.
- ANTI-IMMIGRANT- HB0833 Keisling /SB0750 Yager: Every law enforcement agency must submit a monthly report about their interactions with undocumented individuals. (4/15 PASSED HOUSE, 75-20/ 4/9 PASSED SENATE, 26-5)
-ANTI-UNHOUSED- HB0197 Leatherwood/SB0217 Taylor: Requires the Department of Transportation to collect, store, and dispose of personal property from those camping in a right-of-way or under a bridge or overpass. (4/15 PASSED HOUSE, 74-23 / 3/13 PASSED SENATE, 25-6)
- HB0811 Grills / SB0227 Taylor: Criminalizes charitable organizations that provide housing to an undocumented person. (4/16 PASSED HOUSE, 70-23 / 4/3 PASSED SENATE, 24-4-1)
WEDNESDAY, 4/16
HOUSE FLOOR SESSION
As Wednesday’s session opened, Jones called out the situation of Andre Hernandez Romero, who came to this country legally but was recently kidnapped and deported by ICE.
-ATTORNEY GENERAL TAKEOVER OF HRC- SB0861 Stevens / HB0910 Garrett: Transfers the responsibilities of the Tennessee Human Rights Commission to the Attorney General. This includes “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. (4/17 Placed on 4/21 Senate Regular Calendar/ 4/16 PASSED HOUSE, 73-23)
ANTI-ABORTION -HB0990 Terry/SB1004 Briggs: Requires an accounting of all monies collected toward the erection of a monument to unborn children. (4/16 PASSED HOUSE, 71-18-4/ 4/7 PASSED SENATE, 25-3-4)
- ANTI-TRANS 12. HB1270 Cochran SB0937 Rose: Specifies that certain individuals are not required to use another's preferred name or pronoun, if not consistent with the individual's legal name or sex. (4/16 PASSED HOUSE, 77-18/ 4/3 PASSED SENATE, 25-5)
SENATE FLOOR SESSION
-SJR0002 Pody: Expresses support for the Nation of Israel. (4/16 SENATE ADOPTED, 27-0-5)
- SJR0028 Lowe: Supports the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of the 119th U.S. Congress. (4/16 SENATE ADOPTED, 28-3-2)
THURSDAY, APRIL 17
SENATE FLOOR SESSION
CRIMINALIZES HEMP- SB1413 Briggs/ HB1376 Lamberth: Criminalizes THCa flower, the hemp industry’s most popular product (at a quarter-billion dollars). (NOTE: According to a recent survey, 64% of the small businesses currently dominating the market would be forced out of business or will move out of state. The alcohol industry may be behind this bill because of wanting control over the THC beverage market.) (4/17 PASSED SENATE 23-9 / 4/10 PASSED HOUSE 69-29-3)
Roberts questioned bill Sponsor Briggs about the change in regulation that includes penalties for growers and manufacturers not following it, but provides no penalty for users who can secure the product from any other state, asking the body instead to align any new law with the federal standard.
Yarbro questioned the wisdom of passing a prohibition-style bill when 20+ states have legalized marijuana use and 40+ states have approved medical marijuana.
According to Sam Stockared in his 4/18 article in the Tennessee Lookout, bill Sponsor Briggs “harkened back to Woodstock, love, peace and rock ‘n’ roll” and said “the weed people were smoking back then had less than 3% THC. ‘That’s your grandfather’s marijuana.’ Enough senators bought his argument that they turned back the clock on hemp and put the industry in turmoil.”
Four Republicans (Bowling, Pody, Roberts, and Walley) joined all of the Democrats except Kyle in voting against the bill, which passed 23-9.
HOUSE FLOOR SESSION
WHO ATTACK- HB0318 Rudd/ SB0263 Hensley: 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 (4/17 PASSED HOUSE, 72-25 / 4/14 PASSED SENATE, 25-6)
Salinas spoke out against this bill, although it passed both Chambers.
UPDATE: DEI Bills: Since one horrible bill is never enough for this Republican Super-Majority, they have been moving 2 different DEI bills through the current Session.
PASSED in the HOUSE on Thursday… HB0622 Maberry/SB1083 Johnson: Enacts the "Dismantle DEI Act," prohibiting local governments and public institutions of higher education from basing hiring decisions on any metrics that consider an applicant's race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or disability, or hiring a particular candidate to achieve any goals to increase diversity, equity, or inclusion in the workplace. (4/17 Placed on 4/21 SENATE Regular Calendar/ 4/17 PASSED HOUSE, 73-24)
But not without House members trying to push back against this proposed legislation. First, there was an inquiry about the fiscal note and the appeals process, which the Clerk confirmed could occur after the vote on the bill, if the House agreed to this review.
Then Jones offered an Amendment to rename the bill the “Dismantle Civil Rights Act”:
And Johnson followed with an Amendment that renamed the measure, “The White Fragility Bill.”
Todd made a motion to call the question (meaning end debate) about the Amendment AND simultaneously to end debate about the bill itself- before Pearson could offer his Amendment. This created a rush of Democrats to the well in protest and to lodge a parliamentary inquiry as to the appropriateness of the correctness of a combined motion.
Lamberth once again tried to agitate Pearson after he inquired of the Clerk about hearing his Amendment.
The Clerk ruled that both of the motions offered by Todd could stand.
When the vote was taken, it passed along party lines, 73-24.
The second Ant-DEI Bill (SB1084 Johnson/HB0923 Maberry) is called "Dismantling DEI Departments Act." (4/17 RESET on 4/21 SENATE Regular Calendar/ 4/17 was moved to 4/21 House Regular Calendar per request of Camper- see below).
Both bills were offered by the same two Republicans, as you may have noticed. This second one was supposed to be heard before the other because of its place on the Agenda, but when it was first called, Maberry asked that it be rolled to the end of the day’s calendar.
Before it came up again, Camper asked for “Rule 49” to be suspended and that each Caucus be allowed 30 minutes to debate the bill. Sexton agreed and set the debate for the full House Floor Session on Monday, 4/21 at 10:00 AM.
As House members walked off the House floor, Brooks and Salinas stopped for a picture with the signs they had held up during the Floor debate on the DEI bill.
Earlier in the week, Republican Representative Garrett, House Majority Whip, had given actual whips (!) to the newly appointed “deputy floor whips.” Here is Reeve’s comment (he serves part of Williamson County):
Understandably, there was an immediate response from Black Caucus Chair Chism, published in full by WKRN HERE:
“Recent actions taken by several members of this body reflect a troubling lack of awareness and sensitivity in the General Assembly… When legislation is introduced to dismantle programs that promote Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion—programs designed to address long-standing inequities— it reveals a troubling disregard for our shared humanity. To pair this with imagery of legislators holding whips only deepens the trauma, evoking a dark and painful chapter in our state’s history…I call on those who have caused distress or disregarded the dignity of their fellow members to take full accountability... public, not private…in a manner that is equal to the visibility as the offense itself.”
Yes, crickets.
WEDNESDAY’S BUDGET DEBATE IN THE HOUSE
Gary Hicks, the new Chair of the House Finance, Ways, and Means Committee and the Bo Watson, Chair of the Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee led the way for the Governor’s 25-26 budget to pass in Committees and be voted on in last week’s full floor Sessions.
In the House, first there were objections by Democrats to particular items in the budget (HB1409), then they offered Amendments, and finally they debated the merits of funding decisions in the budget. Each Amendment offered by the Democrats was defeated along party lines, with every Democrat voting in unison except for the vote on the final budget, when Shaw decided to vote along with the Republicans, and Glynn chose to vote Present-Not-Voting.
It is valuable to listen to the debate about the budget as it offers insight into the divergent thinking of Democrats and Republicans about funding priorities for our state. Remember, budgets are a good reflection of a moral code.
In addition to giving us an idea about what life would be like under Democratic state leadership, I hope it prepares us to work on the mid-term elections to vote out the Republican super-majority who are NOT leading with what is best for Tennesseeans.
Powell was the first to decry the move to include funding for party-based elections during primaries, which he maintained had not been discussed when the bill initially passed in Committee, and now upset Democrats who had been told there would be no fiscal impact.
Republican Warner agreed with Powell, declaring that they were lied to in the Committee regarding this bill.
Warner followed up with his objection to the lack of honesty about this bill.
Mitchell also addressed the lack of honesty in including $8 million to cover costs for this new primary structure.
Each time a Democrat offered an Amendment to the budget as proposed, Lamberth gave a thumbs-down gesture, telling Republicans to vote against the Democrat’s proposals.
Behn began the discussion about the full budget proposal, offering an Amendment challenging the ballooning of the budget that does not help average Tennesseans, saying it merely “costs more and works less for our constituents.”
Harris offered an Amendment to reduce funding for several items, including the “Voucher Scam,” and instead suggested reallocating this funding into TNCARE.
Miller’s Amendment reduced funding from charter and voucher school allocations, among other costs, and invested these funds into the Tennessee Investment in Children’s Achievement.
Clemmons reminded the House that the Governor had “inexplicably” refused federal funding for the Summer Food Program for vulnerable children and proposed instead to fund this program by taking money away from the administration of the Voucher program and Teacher American Program.
Hardaway offered an Amendment to reduce the Governor’s payroll and reallocate it to funding the Memphis “Rock and Soul Museum”.
Behn decreased the administrative budget and reallocated it to reduce the sales tax on fruit and vegetables, in contrast to the use of our tax dollars by the Attorney General, “to boost his ego and make government bigger. SO, let’s stop feeding lawsuits and let’s start feeding families.”
Camper questioned the process of rushing the budget without enough discussion, thus causing confusion.
Dixie challenged allocating funds for partisan projects when disaster relief was being denied to East Tennesseeans who continued to suffer from the effects of Hurricane Helene.
Glynn asked the body to re-examine the Attorney General’s budget and declared that funds should be reallocated to specific programs that were cut in the current Republican budget.
Hemmer asked that funds be redirected from the Attorney General’s special litigation program to the Starter Home Revolving Fund, noting that while the funding for the AG’s office has increased, the actual caseload has decreased.
Camper again questioned the process whereby the Republicans are allowed to debate their Amendments, but the Democrats are not getting the opportunity to discuss their Amendments.
Powell’s Amendment takes all the money allocated for vouchers and redistributes it to Tennesseans who make less than the median income.
McKenzie’s Amendment reallocates funding from “an already bloated attorney general’s office,” and funds “we’re pouring into our charter school commission” for administration costs, along with funds for “the voucher scam" and instead asks that funding be spent on “much needed highway program to fix the bridges and roads.”
Johnson offered an Amendment to “take money for the Voucher Scam” to pay for “federal employees in Tennessee who have lost their jobs.”
Jones’ Amendment “shifts money from the Voucher Scam to local food banks that have lost federal food funding.” It is a suggestion brought to him “by farmers and food bank providers in Tennessee that have felt the impact of the Department of Agriculture cuts by the Trump Administration.”
Salinas’ Amendment would “take money from the Voucher Scam and put it into the expansion of Medicaid” to help the half a million uninsured Tennesseans.
Brooks offered an Amendment to fund the Office of Gun Violence Prevention in Tennessee, “because lives are at stake… It’s time that our budget reflects our values.”
Powell’s Amendment addresses waste, fraud, and abuse in the Administrative branch by funding an Ombudsman to deal with this issue by taking the money from the Immigration Czar. This will help avoid the (unnamed) Casada and Cothren debacle.
Pearson offered a series of 6 Amendments. The first would reallocate the funding for Vouchers to improve the air quality in Shelby County, which is the worst in Tennessee because of pollution.
The second Amendment from Pearson would take funding from the Vouchers and reallocate it to the Department of Safety for violence intervention grants.
The third Amendment Pearson offered would take funding away from the “wealthy welfare education Freedom Scholarships and instead invest it in public transit.”
The fourth Amendment by Pearson would take funding from the Voucher fund to increase teacher pay.
The fifth Amendment by Pearson would reallocate the funding from the Voucher Scam toward the schools that are in the bottom 5%, based on the TCAP scores.
The sixth Amendment by Pearson ensured that the Department of Veterans Services provides grants to disabled and homeless veterans in Tennessee, noting that “Shelby County is home to the most veterans in the state of Tennessee.”
Clemmons then spoke directly to the issues inherent in the budget, and in particular related to the fact that over the past 15 years, the state has doubled its budget, “but the people I meet with over the state of Tennessee want to know where that money has gone.”
Clemmons continued, in response to a challenge by a Republican representative, “The people of Tennessee will know the legacy you (Republicans) are leaving.”
Behn reminded the Republican Super-Majority that they have eliminated taxes on the wealthy and are now dependent upon a regressive sales tax, which is not recession-proof proof and the majority of state government budgets rely upon uncertain federal funding. She asked that this reality be taken into consideration by this body as “things are about to get really bad.”
Camper once again objected to the House members being asked to vote on a budget they’ve had little time to review, which includes gaps and missed opportunities, yet are being told that this is the only way to be sure limited funding will be allocated to their districts back home- a kind of bribe.
Mitchell called out the actual ways that Tennessee is leading in this country, that is, with children dying from gun violence and the number of subpoenas issued for a federal corruption trial.
The final vote on the Governor’s Budget was 79-16-1, with 7 Democrats joining Republicans to pass it and Glynn voting Present-Not-Voting (why???).
The budget had passed previously in the Senate on a 30-2-1 vote, with Oliver and Yarbro opposing it and Lamar voting Present-Not-Voting.
Time for a bit of McCartney- (Love will) Save us!!
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