Alternative Tennessee Sovereignty Bill Undermines Stronger Nullification Bill That Has Grassroots Support

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The Tennessee Conservative [By Paula Gomes] –

A bill scheduled to be heard in the Senate State & Local Government Committee today at 10:30am may be a ploy to undermine a stronger bill that conservative Tennessee lawmakers have been attempting to get passed for two years.

According to conservative grassroots Tennesseans, the “Tennessee State Sovereignty Act of 2024” sponsored by Senator Adam Lowe (R-Calhoun-District 1) does little, if anything, to protect state sovereignty.

Senate Bill 2058 (SB2058) would effectively set up a legislative committee to protect against federal infringement of the constitutional rights of the state. The ten member “state sovereignty committee” would be authorized to receive input, advice, and assistance from “interested and affected persons and parties” who are not part of the Tennessee General Assembly.

A committee that could easily block the efforts of grassroots Tennesseans who petition for nullification say some who oppose Lowe’s proposal.

Founder of TN Citizens for State Sovereignty Karen Bracken says that Lowe has made comments against Nullification in the past. “This appears to me to be his way of killing [Senator Bowling’s bill] while appearing to his constituents to be on the right side of this issue,” Bracken said. “This committee will die a sudden death like all the other committees have done in the past. Just another Trojan Horse bill.”

“We see this as an effort to intentionally subvert the work being done by grassroots supporters across the state in pushing back against federal overreach,” said Gary Humble of Tennessee Stands who supports the bill sponsored by Senator Janice Bowling (R-Tullahoma-District 16).

Bowling’s bill – “Restoring State Sovereignty Through Nullification Act” – is superior to Lowe’s bill say grassroots supporters.

Leading the fight “to end Tennessee’s practical participation with federal actions that it finds constitutionally violate” since 2022, Bowling filed her original bill due to the aftermath of Covid-19 lockdowns, mandates and restrictions.

“I think we all have to concur it’s an undeniable fact that our federal government has grown well beyond its specifically enumerated powers,” stated Bowling.

Her proposed legislation was killed by other Tennessee lawmakers in 2022, and again in 2023 when Bowling reintroduced it. Governor Bill Lee has openly opposed it.

Bowling reintroduced it this year under Senate Bill 2775 (SB2775) with corresponding House Bill 2795 (HB2795) being carried by Representative Bud Hulsey (R-Kingsport-District 2).

SB2775/HB2795 defines a petition process for citizens’ concerns and clearly describes the role of the U.S. Constitution, something that Lowe’s bill does not mention.

Bracken says she supports Bowling’s bill because it is better legislation “to fight the many assaults coming from the federal government which will get even worse in the near future.”

“If this bill sponsored by Lowe were a better bill or even a good bill, I would not in the least be opposed to it,” Bracken said.

About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. 

You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.