Legislative Update, March 24, 2021
Tennessee General Assembly information, click HERE. For information on State Senators, including phone numbers and email addresses, click HERE; for House members, click HERE. For information on legislation, click HERE.
Don't forget that you can now watch the Senate committee meetings and floor sessions online by going HERE; House committee meetings and floor sessions online HERE.
Phone calls can go to the legislative Switchboard at 615-741-3011 or to the Toll Free number 1-800-449-8366+1 last four digits of office phone number (available online).
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FOR YOUR PRAYER LIST:
Once again, the pace at the legislature is speeding up like a ball rolling down the hill with floor sessions every day. The lawmakers need a LOT of prayer. However, even more faithful prayer is needed for Rep. Mike Carter and his sweet wife, Joan. As you know, he has been fighting pancreatic cancer for several months now. Rep. Jeremy Faison announced on the House Floor this week that 'comfort care' had now been brought in. Lots of prayer needed there. In addition, Rep. David Byrd, who has been fighting Covid since December has had to be put back in the hospital this week. He has Shingles, trouble holding food down and some liver problems. Much prayer needed here too.
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NOW FOR THE ABSOLUTE EXPLOSION THIS WEEK. The concern about CRITICAL RACE THEORY has been bubbling up for some time now as more and more was learned about its impact in the classroom and on the children.
When a mother in Williamson County shared these comments about her seven-year-old daughter, the issue really did blow up:
“I’m ashamed that I’m White.”
The daughter then asked “Is there something wrong with me? Why am I hated so much?”
“The seven-year-old is now in therapy. She is depressed. She doesn’t want to go to school,” the woman said.
“She is scared to death and has even had thoughts of killing herself. Again, we are talking about a seven-year-old child.”
How can ANYONE defend a program that does this to a child. This is nothing but pure indoctrination. Well, Tennessee Eagle Forum and many other state organizations and activists jumped into action to INSIST that the Legislators put a STOP to this debacle before they adjourn for the year. PLEASE click on link below AND PLEASE SHARE IT WITH OTHERS.
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STOP Critical Race Theory in TN NOW
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION HERE:
Biden Set to Push Critical Race Theory on U.S. Schools .
White House mulling grants for Critical Race Theory in classrooms .
School board members reportedly targeting parents opposed to critical race theory .
THIS LEGISLATION CONTINUED TO BE A HOT TOPIC THIS WEEK.
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FORCING INSURANCE COMPANIES TO COVER ELECTIVE SERVICES:
SB 0425 by *Massey , Watson, Akbari, Swann, Briggs, Haile, Walley, Reeves
HB 1379 by *Kumar , WHITSON, LAMAR, HAWK, HELTON, GILLESPIE, THOMPSON, HICKS G, LYNN, MITCHELL, HODGES, WINDLE, GARRETT, VAUGHAN, RAMSEY, WARNER, ALEXANDER, WHITE, BAUM, POWELL, RUSSELL, FREEMAN
Insurance, Health, Accident - Now the "Tennessee Pro-Family Building Act."
THE GOOD NEWS:
The marketing for this legislation has really been remarkable starting with its name: "Tennessee Pro-Family Building Act." as well as the heart-rending stories from the witnesses about their difficulty with having children. However, as the actual content of the bill and some of its possible consequences have become more clear, a number of co-sponsors have removed their names. I will continue to work on that.
DEFINITION OF INSURANCE: Coverage by contract whereby one party undertakes to indemnify or guarantee another against loss by a specified contingency or peril. This bill does not fit that definition.
DEFINITION OF DISEASE: Disorder of structure or function in a human, animal, or plant, especially one that produces specific signs or symptoms or that affects a specific location and is not simply a direct result of physical injury.
In addition, it seems questionable that infertility could be defined as a disease.
Should this bill pass, we learned that our insurance premiums will go up to pay for it. In addition, what kind of precedent does this put in place for the next effort to force insurance coverage; there is nothing in the bill to restrict the treatment to married men and women. The cost is enormous per treatment, and then there are the problems with the surrogacy issue, etc. The lawmakers are elected to develop and pass good public policy for seven million Tennesseans.
STATUS: SB425 was on the calendar in Senate Commerce on Wednesday. It was expected to pass, but it was obvious that our work had made a difference, when Sen. Massey announced that she was postponing the bill to 2022.
STATUS: HB1379 is scheduled in the Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee on Wednesday.
ACTION: Because of the large fiscal note, if anything, it is expected to be put "behind the budget", however, please contact these committee members and ask them to oppose this legislation: Rep. Charlie Baum rep.charlie.baum@capitol.tn.gov, Rep. Bob Freeman rep.bob.freeman@capitol.tn.gov , Rep. Karen Camper rep.karen.camper@capitol.tn.gov , Rep. David Hawk rep.david.hawk@capitol.tn.gov , Rep. Susan Lynn rep.susan.lynn@capitol.tn.gov , Rep. Brandon Ogles rep.brandon.ogles@capitol.tn.gov , Rep. Sam Whitson rep.sam.whitson@capitol.tn.gov , Rep. Ryan Williams rep.ryan.williams@capitol.tn.gov , Rep. John Mark Windle rep.john.windle@capitol.tn.gov ,
YOU WILL WANT TO READ THIS ARTICLE; Commercial Surrogacy in Tennessee and a Pot of Gold -- D. Joy Riley, M.D., M.A.
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UNBORN CHILD DIGNITY ACT:
SB 0828 by *Bowling - HB 1181 by *Rudd , LAMBERTH, SHERRELL, KUMAR, HALL, BOYD, TERRY, SMITH, MOODY
Abortion - As introduced, requires disposition of aborted fetal remains to be by burial or cremation; requires the department of health to promulgate certain rules and forms; and makes certain other changes regarding the disposition of fetal remains
NOTE: Against strong opposition Sen. Bowling and Rep. Rudd did incredible jobs presenting and defending the application of this legislation.
STATUS: As amended, SB828 passed the Senate floor 27-6; HB1181 passed the House floor 69-22.
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FORCED VACCINATION PROTECTION:
SB 0187 by *Bowling - HB 0013 by *Hulsey , GRIFFEY, CEPICKY, REEDY, WEAVER, SMITH, CALFEE, HALL, RUDD
Public Health - As introduced, prohibits state and local authorities from forcing, requiring, or coercing a person to receive an immunization or vaccination for COVID-19 against the person's will.
STATUS: As amended, HB0013 passed the House floor 72-20; SB187 is awaiting scheduling on the Senate floor.
House Passes Bill Prohibiting Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccines; Hospital Employees and Health Care Students Can Still Be Forced .
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PROTECTING PRIVACY IN SCHOOLS:
SB 1367 by *Bell , Rose-HB 1233 by *Zachary , LAMBERTH, FAISON, GANT, HOWELL, SHERRELL, GRILLS, MOON, CARRINGER, COCHRAN, RAGAN, CEPICKY, DOGGETT, WEAVER, SPARKS, SEXTON J, CRAWFORD, POWERS, SMITH, TODD, CARR, LYNN, HURT
Education - As introduced, enacts the "Tennessee Accommodations for All Children Act."
STATUS: As amended, SB1367 passed the Senate floor 23-7-2; HB1233 passed the House floor 65-24. It is on the Message Calendar Monday for the House to agree to the Senate Amendment.
'Bathroom bill' allowing students, teachers to reject shared restrooms with transgender peers clears Senate .
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Former Sen. Thelma Harper, first African American woman to serve in State Senate, dies at 80 .
Tennessee General Assembly Passes Bill Making Federal Law Enforcement Information Confidential .
Tennessee senator: Bill limiting AG's power in federal court won't happen this year .
Tennessee Justice Center, families file lawsuit over TennCare block grant .
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