Legislative Update, April 16, 2022

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).

The Man on the Middle Cross said I can come

FOR YOUR PRAYER LIST:
The General Assembly is literally winding down. I suspect it will be perhaps two to three weeks longer then they will adjourn sine die (from Latin "without a day").  Then the election cycle begins in earnest.  Very important votes will be taken in these last days that certainly need to be made with wisdom, thoughtfulness, and understanding. 
 

A point of personal privilege:  A long-time friend has chosen not to run for re-election. I knew Mike for some time before he ever ran for and was elected to the House of Representatives in 2007.  Then, in 2011, he moved over to the State Senate.  The final meeting of the Senate Judiciary Committee (which he chairs) was last Wednesday.  His colleagues had the opportunity to comment on his leaving: the hardest working man here; committed to excellence; a man of integrity, civility, respect, leadership, mentoring, a shinny bright light, etc.  We certainly thank Mike for his service and wish him God's blessings for this new season in his life and that of his lovely family. 

 

ETHAN'S CORNER:
This week at the capitol, Ms. Bobbie had learned about a seemingly innocent bill regarding illegal immigrants, and we spoke to a number of Senators about it. This bill would grant immigrants with temporary protected statuses certain work authorizations, including licenses to practice law. The summary of the bill was not at all helpful as to what this bill actually does, and looking at it, you wouldn't think there was anything wrong with it. We also planned on attending Local Government committee, but it started two hours earlier than was scheduled. We had planned on attending this committee to see HB 1201, which has caused a lot of backlash from some non-profit conservative organizations across the state. These organizations claim that this bill would require them to provide the government with information about their donors if they mention the name of a candidate within sixty days of an election. Later, I visited the capitol for the first time, and we attended a Senate floor session, where Senator Dawn White passed HB 2742. This bill requires that high school students be taught about the virtues of capitalism, and our form of government. I thank her for this legislation, and hope that more high school students will be better prepared to defend our freedom. 

 

TRINITY'S CORNER:
This week interning with Ms. Bobbie was a little bit different compared to my previous days interning. This week, we spent the majority of our time on the Senate floor of Cordell Hull lobbying against HB 2309. The concerning part of this bill is that it would allow DACA kids to get professional licenses ex. Licenses to be a doctor, lawyer, and a part of law enforcement. These are people that are not legal citizens; they are here on a grant that has to be renewed every two years. The opinions of the legislators were pretty half-and-half as far as if they agreed with the bill or not. I also got to go to another Senate Floor Session this past Wednesday. I have enjoyed getting to go to the Senate Floor Sessions, they are very formal as compared to a Committee Meeting. Lastly, we attended the last Judiciary Committee of the session. Not only was it the last Judiciary Committee, but it was also Sen. Mike Bell’s last Judiciary Committee. Sen. Bell is not re-running and will be greatly missed. He had a huge influence at Cordell Hull and was heavily respected and loved.

 

 

PROTECTING STUDENTS FROM DIGITAL OBSCENITY AND PORNOGRAPHY IN SCHOOLS:
SB 2292 by *Bell - HB 2454  by *Weaver, DOGGETT, LITTLETON, LYNN, ZACHARY, MOODY, CRAWFORD, POWERS, LAFFERTY, CEPICKY, LAMBERTH, HULSEY, RUDDER, HASTON, CARRINGER, WARNER, HOWELL, RUDD, GRIFFEY
Obscenity and Pornography - As introduced, redefines "obscene" to include material that has educational value; makes various changes to the internet acceptable use policy LEAs are required to adopt; requires providers of digital and online resources to ensure that users cannot access certain obscene material; requires a local board of education to establish a mechanism for parents, legal guardians, or students to report failures of the technology selected by the LEA to filter, block, or otherwise prevent access to pornography or obscenity through online resources and to submit an annual report to the state board of education regarding same.

FINALLY, HB2454, as amended (Amendment 1), (Amendment 2) is on the House Floor on Monday evening.  Is it perfect?  No! Did it go through the 'sausage making process'? Yes!
Is it worth the effort of getting it passed?  DEFINITELY!!

In part because of other bills being heard, this has been a difficult road, but now we can finish the job, get it through the House and on to join the Senate bill that is waiting to be scheduled for the Senate floor. 

PLEASE HELP US by clicking on the link and contacting your House member  urging him or her to vote YES on this bill and getting others to call or email too.

 

PROFESSIONAL AND COMMERCIAL LICENSES TO ILLEGAL ALIENS?
SB 2464 by *Reeves , Briggs, Gardenhire, Jackson, Powers, Yarbro - 
HB 2309 by *Freeman , WHITE, GILLESPIE, RAMSEY, CURCIO, CALFEE, MANNIS, SPARKS, POWELL, DIXIE, HARDAWAY, MILLER, THOMPSON, JOHNSON G, HARRIS

STATUS:  Unfortunately, SB 2464, as amended, passed the Senate floor on Thursday. 20-7, strongly supported by the business community as a work force issue (National Federation of Independent Business, the Chamber of Commerce, the Alcohol Beverage Commission, etc. ).

 

 

Despite what was offered in support of this legislation:

DACA grantees and individuals under Temporary Protected Status (TPS) are two classes of illegal immigrants who have work authorization. Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program may apply for a social security number, but they are not considered permanent legal residents eligible.  Because they do not have LEGAL immigration status, DACA grantees must apply to renew every two years and TPS relies on DHS to authorize extensions for covered TPS populations. Both groups are subject to deportation. DACA grantees only have “lawful presence” for purposes of deferred deportation

Federal law is plainly designed to preclude those here illegally from receiving commercial and professional licenses under 8 U.S.C. § 1621. Granting an occupational or professional license to illegal aliens frustrates the purpose and objectives of federal immigration law. Illegal aliens have no legal right to remain in the United States and are prohibited from being employed. Moreover, illegal aliens could be subject to deportation. Providing a professional or occupational license to an individual who could be deported at any time needlessly could jeopardize those who are depending on that individual for services.

Additionally, many occupational and professional licenses, like becoming a lawyer or doctor, require the practitioner to take an oath of office.  Someone here illegally cannot in good faith take that oath. Nor can an individual administer such an oath in good faith until the practitioner is legally present.

I don't think we can even forecast the 'untended consequences' that may come from passing this legislation.

DACA Is Unconstitutional, as Obama Admitted .

Tennessee General Assembly May Enable Illegal Immigrants to Acquire Commercial and Professional Licenses .

 

 

PROTECTING WOMEN'S SPORTS:
SB 2153 by *Hensley - HB 2316 by *Ragan 
Education - As introduced, prohibits males from participating in public higher education sports that are designated for females; creates a cause of action for violations that deprive a student of an athletic opportunity or that cause direct or indirect harm to a student at the middle school, high school, or postsecondary level
STATUS: SB2153 passed the Senate floor on the 11th 27-4:
Senators voting aye were: Bailey, Bell, Bowling, Briggs, Crowe, Gardenhire, Haile, Hensley, Jackson, Johnson, Kelsey, Lundberg, Massey, Niceley, Pody, Powers, Reeves, Roberts, Rose, Southerland, Stevens, Swann, Walley, Watson, White, Yager, Mr. Speaker McNally -- 27.
         Senators voting no were: Akbari, Campbell, Gilmore, Yarbro -- 4.
STATUS:  HB2316 is in the Finance Ways and Means Committee on Tuesday.
ACTION:  Please click on the committee link and urge the members to support this bill. 

 

STUDENT'S SEX AT BIRTH AND SPORTS:
SB 1861 by *Hensley - HB 1895 by *Ragan , CEPICKY, WEAVER, ZACHARY, GRILLS, TODD, COCHRAN
Education - As introduced, requires the commissioner of education to withhold a portion of the state education finance funds that an LEA is otherwise eligible to receive if the LEA fails or refuses to determine a student's gender, for purposes of participation in school sports, by the student's sex at the time of birth; exempts an LEA that fails or refuses to determine a student's gender, for purposes of participation in school sports, by the student's sex at the time of birth if the LEA's failure or refusal to do so is required by a court or other legally binding order.
STATUS: So happy to report that SB1861 passed the Senate 26-5-1; HB1895 passed the House 66-22.

 

 

OPPOSING ANTI-SEMITISM HATE CRIMES:
SB 2684 by *Rose - HB 2673 by *Sexton J
Education - As introduced, requires the governing body of each LEA to adopt a written policy prohibiting the teaching of anti-Semitic concepts in schools by teachers and administrative staff employed by the LEA; requires that the policy be distributed or made available to each teacher and staff member at the beginning of each school year
STATUS:  As amended, SB2684 passed the Senate floor 29-0; and HB2673 passed the House floor 95-0-1.   What a wonderful victory.

 

StandWithUs commends Tennessee for landmark anti-Semitism legislation

(April 15, 2022, NASHVILLE, TN, JNS Wire

At a time when anti-Semitism festers throughout the country and world, measures like these remain necessary to help guide authorities in better being able to classify, address, and prevent anti-Semitic hate crimes.

StandWithUs commends the state of Tennessee for overwhelmingly passing (by a vote of 29-0-0) groundbreaking legislation to help confront anti-Semitic crimes and discrimination on April 14, 2022. By passing HB 2673, Tennessee now joins the ranks of Florida, Iowa, and South Carolina in codifying the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism and making sure it is taken into account by state authorities when investigating incidents of crime or unlawful discrimination.

At a time when anti-Semitism festers throughout the country and world, measures like these remain necessary to help guide authorities in better being able to classify, address, and prevent anti-Semitic hate crimes.

The IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism (and its examples) has emerged as the gold standard definition, being adopted or endorsed by 865 entities worldwide, including 37 countries, and more domestically, the U.S. Departments of Education and State. Its universal acceptance is indicated by its adoption from the Global Imams Council.

CEO of StandWithUs Roz Rothstein, observes, “Historically, anti-Semitism has been so deadly due to its evolving nature, making it difficult to identify and address. Tennessee’s legislation is a first step in the right direction given that the IHRA definition addresses contemporary anti-Semitism and provides examples of such behavior.”

 

 

 

 

MARITAL CONTRACT RECORDING ACT
SB 0562 by *Bowling , Hensley, Southerland, Bailey - HB 0233 by *Leatherwood , POWERS, HAWK, HOWELL, SEXTON J, HULSEY, MOODY, GRILLS, SMITH, RAGAN, TODD, WEAVER, REEDY, KUMAR, SHERRELL, CEPICKY, ELDRIDGE, OGLES, GRIFFEY
Marriage - As introduced, deletes statutes on marriage licensing and ceremonies; limits the jurisdiction of circuit courts and chancery courts in cases involving the definition of common law marriage to the principles of common law marriage.
STATUS: SB562 was voted out of Senate Judiciary 6-3 and was scheduled for the Senate floor on the 14th.
STATUS: HB233 was on the Civil Justice Committee on the 13th, where it was sent to Summer Study in Civil Justice Committee
You can read more about the basis and support for this effort here. There was a lot of misinformation published about this  bill and some amendments were prepared.  We will see if the committee members will actually study this issue this summer. 
 

 

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
 

Longtime Nashville lawmaker Brenda Gilmore announces retirement from Tennessee Senate . 

Tennessee General Assembly Overwhelmingly Approves Legislation Banning Local Education Associations or Public Charter Schools from Doing Business with Entities That Perform Abortions .

Tennessee Revenues for March $348.8 Million More than Budgeted, Annual Surplus Hits $2.5 Billion  .