Legislative Update, March 6, 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).

 

FOR YOUR PRAYER LIST:
I got to see Sen. Paul Bailey this week and he is doing very well.  The big bandages are off his wrists replaced with what looks like splints.  He expressed his appreciation for all the prayers, acknowledging those being the reason he has improved so much.  Rep. Mike Carter is still undergoing chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer. He was home this week dealing with the results of a treatment, but is expected back in Nashville next week.  Rep. David Byrd continues to have significant problems. He had another bump in the road last weekend. He had a stomach bleed and had to have it cauterized and had to have another blood transfusion then he returned to rehab. Some really good news, is that his liver enzymes continue to look better and he is no longer on oxygen! Praise The Lord!!! Please keep remembering David in your thoughts and prayers


Sometimes one just has a lovely surprise!!

I am still meeting and getting to know the freshmen legislators.  Wednesday, I had a delightful visit with Rep. John Gillespie (R, District 97, Memphis) He showed me this picture taken in Chapel Hill, NC, from about 2009, when he got to meet and spend some time with our dear Phyllis Schlafly. He told me how impressive she was and how much  he enjoyed meeting her. He is in the blue shirt on the left.







PROTECTING CHILDREN FROM MUTILATING SURGERY:
SB 0657 by *Bowling - HB 0578 by *Ragan , WEAVER
Children - As introduced, prohibits the provision of sexual identity change therapy to prepubescent minors; prohibits the provision of sexual identity change therapy to minors who have entered puberty unless a parent or guardian has written recommendations for the therapy from at least three physicians; punishes violations as child abuse; designates violations by healthcare professionals as professional misconduct.

The Victims of Childhood Transgenderism Have Spoken Out - It's Time for Joe Biden To Listen .

‘Transition’ Treatment Harms Kids, Veteran Psychiatrist at UK Gender Clinic Says .

STATUS: HB578 rolled last week, but is in House Criminal Justice Committee on Wednesday, March 10.
ACTION:  Would you please contact these members and politely ask them to vote for HB578. Rep. G. A. Hardaway rep.ga.hardaway@capitol.tn.gov, Rep. Bill Beck rep.bill.beck@capitol.tn.gov



STOP SEXUAL HARASSMENT
SB 1124 by *White--HB 1006 by *Doggett
Juvenile Offenders - As introduced, expands the unruly act of illegal use of a communication device by a minor to include possessing or transmitting an image of sexual activity involving a minor.

This bill will amend TCA 37-1-148 from: “sexually explicit image of a minor’ and substituting “sexually explicit image of a minor OR  an image of sexual activity involving a minor”.  The DA’s Conference Executive Committee is supportive of this proposal!
The girls say on separate occasions, in different schools, they were each subject to unwanted sexual encounters that were videoed without their knowledge — a practice kids have nicknamed "exposing."
The videos were later circulated widely among the girls' peers, leading to harassment on social media and in their schools, according to the lawsuit. The school attorneys said this action "does not rise to the level of sexual harassment".

STATUS:  SB1124 is in Senate Judiciary on Tuesday afternoon.
ACTION: Please contact these senators and politely ask them to vote FOR this sex harrassment bill: Sen. Todd Gardenhire sen.todd.gardenhire@capitol.tn.gov, Sen. Katrina Robinson Sen.Katrina.Robinson@capitol.tn.gov, Sen. Sara Kyle sen.sara.kyle@capitol.tn.gov
STATUS:  HB1006 is in House Criminal Justice Subcommittee on Wednesday.
ACTION: Please contact these House members asking them to support this bill:Rep. G. A. Hardaway rep.ga.hardaway@capitol.tn.gov, Rep. Bill Beck rep.bill.beck@capitol.tn.gov



GIVING POWER TO THE VICTIM OF RAPE
SB 0274 by *Rose - HB 0326 by *Moody
Child Custody and Support - As introduced, removes custody, visitation, or inheritance rights for a parent who has been convicted of aggravated statutory rape, statutory rape by an authority figure, or lesser included offenses of rape, from which crime the child was conceived
STATUS: I really am thrilled to tell you that SB274 stayed on the Consent Calendar and passed the Senate Floor 32-0 Monday evening.
HB326 is scheduled in  Children & Family Affairs Subcommittee March 10.
This is a ‘victim centered bill’ and protects a child from some questionable outcome in a civil custody battle. This bill gives the power to the victim of the rape and the child of the crime.
This legislation would also remove parental rights from a rapist who is “convicted of or pleads guilty or no contest to a lesser included offense, from which CRIME a child was conceived, shall not have….” 
The DAs Conference Executive Committee is supportive of this proposal!

ACTION:  Please contact these committee members politely asking them to support this bill. Rep. Mary Littleton rep.mary.littleton@capitol.tn.gov , Rep. Rush Bricken rep.rush.bricken@capitol.tn.gov, Rep. Mike Carter rep.mike.carter@capitol.tn.gov, Rep. Rick Eldridge rep.rick.eldridge@capitol.tn.gov , Rep. John Gillespie rep.john.gillespie@capitol.tn.gov , Rep. Torrey Harris rep.torrey.harris@capitol.tn.gov , Rep. Mike Stewart rep.mike.stewart@capitol.tn.gov

  


PRIVACY FROM THE OPPOSITE SEX:
SB 1224 by *Rose - HB 1182 by *Rudd , CEPICKY
Public Buildings - As introduced, requires a public or private entity or business that operates a building or facility open to the general public to post a notice at the entrance of each public restroom and at each entrance of the building of the entity's or business's policy of allowing a member of either biological sex to use any public restroom within the building or facility, if the entity or business maintains such a policy
STATUS.  HB1182 is scheduled in Public Service Subcommittee on Wednesday.
ACTION:  Please contact the committee members and politely ask them to support this legislation. Rep. Esther Helton rep.esther.helton@capitol.tn.gov , Rep. Rebecca Alexander rep.rebecca.alexander@capitol.tn.gov, Rep. Darren Jernigan rep.darren.jernigan@capitol.tn.gov , Rep. Curtis Johnson rep.curtis.johnson@capitol.tn.gov, Rep. Kelly Keisling rep.kelly.keisling@capitol.tn.gov, Rep. Pat Marsh rep.pat.marsh@capitol.tn.gov, Rep. John Mark Windle rep.john.windle@capitol.tn.gov.


ARTICLE V CONVENTION FOR TERM LIMITS:
HJR 0008 by *Todd ,  Eldridge, Mannis, Garrett, Zachary, Doggett, Calfee, Williams, Ogles, Bricken, Hurt 
Constitutional Conventions - Makes application to Congress for the purpose of calling an Article V convention to propose an amendment to the United States Constitution to set a limit on the number of terms to which a person may be elected as a member of the Congress of the United States.

Looking around at the world in which we are living today, this sounds like a great idea. But.....an Article V convention is completely  uncharted territory and there really are important things to know about:  TWENTY QUESTIONS ABOUT A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
 
Eagle Forum has long opposed taking this risky action in spite of the assurances that everything would be all right - that is speculation since we have never had one since the convention to amend the Articles of Confederation. This is a very important subject with significant consequences.  Please look at the articles linked below to learn the details. This article clearly demonstrates with problems with ARTIFICIAL Term Limits: The Problems with ARTIFICIAL Term Limits

STATUS:   HJR0008 is scheduled in the State Government Committee on Tuesday
ACTION: Please contact these members of the committee and urge them to vote NO on HJR0008
 Rep. John Mark Windle rep.john.windle@capitol.tn.gov. Rep. Rick Eldridge rep.rick.eldridge@capitol.tn.gov, Rep. Bill Beck rep.bill.beck@capitol.tn.gov, Rep. Dale Carr rep.dale.carr@capitol.tn.gov, Rep. Michele Carringer rep.michele.carringer@capitol.tn.gov, Rep. Jesse Chism rep.jesse.chism@capitol.tn.gov, Rep. Curtis Halford rep.curtis.halford@capitol.tn.gov , Rep. John Holsclaw rep.john.holsclaw@capitol.tn.gov, Rep. Bud Hulsey rep.bud.hulsey@capitol.tn.gov , Rep. Mary Littleton rep.mary.littleton@capitol.tn.gov , Rep. Jerome Moon rep.jerome.moon@capitol.tn.gov, Rep. Jason Powell rep.jason.powell@capitol.tn.gov




CHOOSING YOUR MEDICAL TREATMENT:
SB 0007 by *Pody, , Niceley, Bowling, Hensley; HB 0010 by *Reedy , CRAWFORD, WARNER, RUDDER, CEPICKY, OGLES, HALL, CALFEE, WEAVER, DOGGETT
Among other things, this bill removes the provisions that limit a person's objecting on religious grounds to vaccinations, examinations, and medical treatments. Additionally, this bill creates protection from state agencies, departments, and political subdivisions promulgating or enforcing ordinances or resolutions that require medical examinations, immunization, and treatment to individuals who object on religious or right of conscience grounds.

OUTCOME: There was definitely a lot of interest in and support for HB10, however after extensive discussion, HB10 failed 3-7 in the Health Subcommittee, 3/2/2021.  Representatives voting aye were: Boyd, Hall, Terry;   Representatives voting no were: Freeman, Jernigan, Kumar, Marsh, Ramsey, Sherrell, Smith.
For more details, I would recommend that you go HERE, then click on VIDEO, then on the left side of the page, click on HB10 and watch the debate. My good friend, Constitutional Attorney Larry Crain testified. Two amendments were considered that would have 'become' the bill, both failed.  Bill allowing vaccine exemption based on religious beliefs, 'right of conscience' dies in House subcommittee .



With all the legislative restrictions this session, please know that you can, AND SHOULD, watch the committee meetings as well as the floor session.  You can see the Senate HERE;  and the House HERE.     With all the legislative restrictions this session, please know that you can, AND SHOULD, watch the committee meetings as well as the floor session.  You can see the Senate HERE;  and the House HERE.    






 

Slatery signs onto GOP AGs’ letter criticizing congressional voting bill .

The doors of the Senate shall be open again .

Editor’s Column: Tennessee’s Constitution should be handled with care