A quick guide to what legislators did this session
A rundown on the fate of every bill we’ve covered since January, organized by subject.
Topic: Tennessee General Assembly
RSSThere are 166 article(s) tagged Tennessee General Assembly:
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May 2022
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April 2022
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Tennessee General Assembly finishes legislative session
On the last day of the session, lawmakers put the finishing touches on a bill that would lead to books being banned from schools and on Gov. Bill Lee’s school funding overhaul.
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Legislation affecting Germantown namesake schools heavily amended by Senate
The Senate made significant revisions to a bill affecting the ownership and operations of four Memphis-Shelby County Schools.
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State House passes permitless carry for 18-year-olds, but it won’t become law
Lawmakers debated the Second Amendment and liberty, the value of training and permitting, and the maturity of teenagers, even though a Senate committee stalled the bill earlier this month.
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General Assembly passes ‘truth in sentencing,’ but Lee won’t share his position
House Speaker Cameron Sexton invoked the names of Memphis rapper Young Dolph and Rhodes College student Drew Rainier, both of whom were shot and killed last year, in a speech arguing against early release for a handful of crimes.
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Tennessee lawmakers consider range of bills targeting gay, transgender communities
“I’ve heard a lot that Tennessee just isn’t the place for us,” said state Rep. Torrey Harris, one of two openly gay members of the General Assembly. “And I’m trying not to get to the place where I believe the same thing.”
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Senate passes bill affecting 4 county schools with amendments
A bill adopted by the state Senate regarding four schools in Shelby County suburbs must return to the House for review after a flurry of amendments before Senate passage Tuesday.
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State Senate amends, stalls Germantown namesake schools bill
A bill potentially impacting the ownership and operation of four Memphis-Shelby County Schools received new amendments on the state Senate floor.
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Collierville students speak out against ‘obscenity’ bill, help stall action
“There’s a clear difference between desensitizing a child to obscenity and removing stigmas to topics society continues to turn its head to,” Milana Kumar of Collierville said.
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Permitless carry bills stall in General Assembly
Two bills expanding permitless gun carry stalled Wednesday, April 6 in the General Assembly.
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Conaway: A pliable governor, a shameful legislature
“Democrat or Republican, there is no justification, no possible excuse, for what the puppet governor and the Tennessee General Assembly jerking his strings are doing to the children of our state and to our future.”
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March 2022
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Lee proposes $20 million for riverfront dock expansion
The budget amendment also includes $10 million for the National Civil Rights Museum, $2.5 million each for the Brooks Museum of Art and the Leftwich Tennis Center and $100,000 for the Southern Heritage Classic.
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General Assembly won’t tackle child care this year
The economic effect of lack of access to child care is enormous, according to a Tennesseans for Quality Early Education report. In Memphis, the impact is $259 million annually in lost earnings and revenue.
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State House committee advances two bills giving state more power over speech
“I might say this sounds like a five star bill to me,” state Rep. Kevin Vaughan (R-Collierville) said of a bill that seeks to ban “factually false” reviews on sites like Yelp.
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Drew Rainer’s father advocates for ‘truth in sentencing,’ but governor’s support in doubt
A criminal defense lawyer told lawmakers he crafted a law similar to “truth in sentencing” decades ago — and regretted it.
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General Assembly says college students can sue professors over low grades
State Sen. Richard Briggs, the only Republican who voted against the measure, said legislators are “trying to overprotect students” and that the bill is “a solution looking for a problem.”
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Ex-state Sen. Katrina Robinson sentenced to one year probation
Katrina Robinson was convicted for two wire fraud counts. She was granted the acquittal of two other wire fraud counts in January. A federal judge ruled Friday afternoon that she will not serve prison time.
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Senate version of ban on police residency requirement — not targeting Memphis — passes House
Residency requirements for police and firefighters would be prohibited across Tennessee, not just in Memphis.
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House passes bill allowing parents to challenge books in school libraries
The bill comes amid a parents’ rights movement among conservatives, who have fought COVID mandates, banned books in some places, and challenged lessons on race, gender and history.
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State Senate rejects House version of police residency requirement bill
The Senate last year approved a statewide ban on residency requirements, making an exception for Hamilton County. But last month, the House passed an inverted version, allowing them everywhere except Memphis.
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Legislation would let 18-year-olds carry guns without permits
Lt. Gov. Randy McNally said, “I think the legislature has adequately addressed the issue of gun rights,” and the House Civil Justice Subcommittee was told the bill proposed by Rep. Chris Todd of Jackson would risk reciprocity with 21 other states.
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Legislators reject bill allowing cities to raise minimum wage
“Like many of you, I believe in local control,” state Sen. Sara Kyle of Memphis said.
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February 2022
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General Assembly passes ban on police, fire residency requirements — for Memphis only
The bill was amended to apply only to Memphis. It will become law with Gov. Bill Lee’s signature.
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Juneteenth won’t be a state holiday — for now — after bill stalls in General Assembly
The bill would have upgraded June 19 from a day of special observance to an official state holiday, giving state government workers the day off.
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Variety of education initiatives, some controversial, working through General Assembly
“This bill does not ban any book,” state Sen. Jack Johnson said about the controversial Age-Appropriate Materials Act of 2022.
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