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The Tennessee Conservative [By Adelia Kirchner] –
Two pieces of legislation designed to protect the constitutional rights of Tennesseans are scheduled to be heard in House subcommittees on Wednesday.
A bill which seeks to limit the governor’s emergency authority and powers if they contravene or undermine the rights of Tennesseans as outlined by the Tennessee Constitution has been placed on the House Public Service Subcommittee calendar.
House Bill 324 (HB0324) was originally sponsored by Rep. Jody Barrett (R-Dickson-District 69) but the bill sponsor was changed to Rep. Rusty Grills (R-Newbern-District 77) on Feb. 27th.
Rep. Bud Hulsey (R-Kingsport-District 2) is listed as a co-sponsor of the legislation.
According to Tennessee Freedom Initiative Legislative Director, Kayla Garretson, this bill does two things.
“Right now the governor has a very broad emergency management power. He can suspend any state rule and law, he can renew this longer than 45 days without any checks and balances,” Garretson told Tennessee Conservative News.
According to Garretson, governors in all 50 states have state of emergency powers. This authority was given to the Tennessee governor in 2000.
In 2007 a clause was added to state law to protect the right of Tennesseans to bear arms.
In 2022, a section was added to protect the right of Tennesseans to gather in a religious capacity.
“We want to make sure that our constitutional rights are protected underneath the declaration of emergency,” said Garretson. “It’s great when we add these protections but we want to make sure our entire constitution is protected, not just these two amendments.”
The House Public Service Subcommittee will be meeting at 10:30am (CST) on Wednesday, March 5th, 2025.
Rep.iris.rudder@capitol.tn.gov, rep.jeff.burkhart@capitol.tn.gov, rep.rick.eldridge@capitol.tn.gov, rep.jake.mccalmon@capitol.tn.gov, rep.gabby.salinas@capitol.tn.gov, rep.todd.warner@capitol.tn.gov
A resolution to grant Tennesseans the right to “forgo medical treatment” is also scheduled to be heard on Wednesday, March 5th, 2025, during a 12pm (CST) meeting of the House Health Subcommittee.
House Joint Resolution 28 (HJR0028), sponsored by Rep. Gino Bulso (R-Brentwood-District 61), seeks to amend the Tennessee Constitution to ensure citizens cannot be compelled to undergo a medical treatment.
The resolution defines “medical treatment” as “any medical procedure, drug administration, vaccination, or other intervention intended to diagnose, treat, prevent, or mitigate any physical or mental condition.”
It also specifies that a medical treatment may be refused, “even in the case of a declared state of emergency.”
HJR0028 further provides that the General Assembly would have the authority to enact legislation to enforce these standards.
Proposed constitutional amendments must be passed in the state legislature twice.
First by a simple majority vote in each chamber of the legislature and then again by a 2/3 majority vote in each chamber the following year.
Once this occurs, the proposed constitutional amendment can be placed on the ballots of Tennessee voters during the next gubernatorial election year.
Contact information for House Health Subcommittee members can be found below.
Rep.brock.martin@capitol.tn.gov, rep.ron.gant@capitol.tn.gov, rep.tim.hicks@capitol.tn.gov, rep.timothy.hill@capitol.tn.gov, rep.tom.leatherwood@capitol.tn.gov, rep.sam.mckenzie@capitol.tn.gov, rep.bo.mitchell@capitol.tn.gov, rep.bryan.terry@capitol.tn.gov, rep.ryan.williams@capitol.tn.gov
About the Author: Adelia Kirchner is a Tennessee resident and reporter for the Tennessee Conservative. Currently the host of Subtle Rampage Podcast, she has also worked for the South Dakota State Legislature and interned for Senator Bill Hagerty’s Office in Nashville, Tennessee. Adelia is The Tennessee Conservative’s on-site reporter for the Tennessee General Assembly. You can reach Adelia at adelia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
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