Image Credit: Adelia Kirchner / The Tennessee Conservative
The Tennessee Conservative / By Adelia Kirchner –
On Monday, a bill to expand the First Amendment rights of Tennesseans who wish to speak at public meetings passed on the House floor by a 60-30 vote.
Last year, Rep. Elaine Davis (R-Knoxville-District 18) carried legislation that mandated citizens be allowed to speak on agenda items at all meetings of public governing bodies.
This year’s House Bill 22 (HB0022), also sponsored by Rep. Davis, is an expansion on her previous legislation.
HB0022 seeks to remedy the “agenda item” loophole in current law by giving constituents the right to speak on any topic in front of the public governing body, as long as the constituent is addressing“any matter germane to the jurisdiction of the governing body.”
Image Credit: Adelia Kirchner / The Tennessee Conservative
Rep. Davis previously assured House committee members that governing bodies would still be allowed to add certain restrictions and control the amount of time a constituent may speak for in order to allow all viewpoints to be heard in an orderly manner.
Prior to the House floor vote on Monday afternoon, Rep. Sam McKenzie (D-Knoxville-District 15) voiced his opposition for the bill over concerns that HB0022 would cause too much disruption in a local governing body’s process and planning.
Image Credit: Adelia Kirchner / The Tennessee Conservative
“There’s times to talk about budgets. There’s times to talk about capital improvements. There’s time to talk about the non-profits. So as they manage their year, this bill in my opinion would be a huge disruption to that process,” said Rep. McKenzie. “So I’m trying to understand why this bill is before us when we already an ability for the public to talk about what they want, but it allows the city councils, and the county commissions, and the school boards and the like, to set that.”
In contrast, Rep. Chris Todd (R-Madison County-District 73) stood up to thank Rep. Davis for bringing legislation that makes at least “one little tweak” that he believes will be “for the people.”
“We each have to remember why we’re here. We have to remember, according to our Constitution, our contract with each other, who’s in charge. It’s the people that are in charge,” said Rep. Todd. “I’m all with you in doing everything we can to not only increase their ability to speak, but also the notice that they get.”
Image Credit: Adelia Kirchner / The Tennessee Conservative
“We have a very minimum notice right, that is actually set by court, that I would love to see changed,” Rep. Todd continued. “48 hours just somehow magically appeared as the standard, and if anybody in this room thinks that 48 hours is enough notice for your utility board or your local city council or county commission to give notice of what their business is gonna be to their constituents…I can’t take off work that quickly. Most people can’t.”
Democrat Representatives Hardaway and Harris also voted in favor of the legislation.
Only Democrat Representatives Freeman and Jones (J) chose to record themselves as “present and not voting.”
Representatives voting against this bill were Republicans Alexander, Boyd, Cochran, Crawford, Eldridge, Hale, Lamberth, Littleton, Rudder, Travis, Williams, and Democrats Behn, Camper, Chism, Clemmons, Dixie, Glynn, Hakeem, Hemmer, Johnson, Love, McKenzie, Miller, Mitchell, Parkinson, Powell, Salinas, Shaw, and Towns.
Image Credit: Adelia Kirchner / The Tennessee Conservative
Image Credit: Adelia Kirchner / The Tennessee Conservative
The corresponding Senate Bill 178 (SB0178), sponsored by Sen. Adam Lowe (R- Calhoun-District 1), is scheduled to be heard in the Senate State and Local Government Committee on Tuesday, March 10th, 2025.
Tennessee Conservative News Contributor, David Seal, also recently wrote an op-ed endorsing this type of legislative action from the perspective of a former county commissioner.
Tennessee Conservative News will continue to provide updates on this legislation as it moves through the Senate committee process.
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.
Bill Expanding Citizen Input At Public Meetings Passes In Tennessee House
Bill Expanding Citizen Input At Public Meetings Passes In Tennessee House
Image Credit: Adelia Kirchner / The Tennessee Conservative
The Tennessee Conservative / By Adelia Kirchner –
On Monday, a bill to expand the First Amendment rights of Tennesseans who wish to speak at public meetings passed on the House floor by a 60-30 vote.
Last year, Rep. Elaine Davis (R-Knoxville-District 18) carried legislation that mandated citizens be allowed to speak on agenda items at all meetings of public governing bodies.
This year’s House Bill 22 (HB0022), also sponsored by Rep. Davis, is an expansion on her previous legislation.
HB0022 seeks to remedy the “agenda item” loophole in current law by giving constituents the right to speak on any topic in front of the public governing body, as long as the constituent is addressing “any matter germane to the jurisdiction of the governing body.”
Rep. Davis previously assured House committee members that governing bodies would still be allowed to add certain restrictions and control the amount of time a constituent may speak for in order to allow all viewpoints to be heard in an orderly manner.
Prior to the House floor vote on Monday afternoon, Rep. Sam McKenzie (D-Knoxville-District 15) voiced his opposition for the bill over concerns that HB0022 would cause too much disruption in a local governing body’s process and planning.
“There’s times to talk about budgets. There’s times to talk about capital improvements. There’s time to talk about the non-profits. So as they manage their year, this bill in my opinion would be a huge disruption to that process,” said Rep. McKenzie. “So I’m trying to understand why this bill is before us when we already an ability for the public to talk about what they want, but it allows the city councils, and the county commissions, and the school boards and the like, to set that.”
In contrast, Rep. Chris Todd (R-Madison County-District 73) stood up to thank Rep. Davis for bringing legislation that makes at least “one little tweak” that he believes will be “for the people.”
“We each have to remember why we’re here. We have to remember, according to our Constitution, our contract with each other, who’s in charge. It’s the people that are in charge,” said Rep. Todd. “I’m all with you in doing everything we can to not only increase their ability to speak, but also the notice that they get.”
“We have a very minimum notice right, that is actually set by court, that I would love to see changed,” Rep. Todd continued. “48 hours just somehow magically appeared as the standard, and if anybody in this room thinks that 48 hours is enough notice for your utility board or your local city council or county commission to give notice of what their business is gonna be to their constituents…I can’t take off work that quickly. Most people can’t.”
Republican Representatives Atchley, Barrett, Baum, Bricken, Bulso, Burkhart, Butler, Capley, Carringer, Cepicky, Darby, Davis, Doggett, Faison, Farmer, Fritts, Gant, Gillespie, Hawk, Helton-Haynes, Hicks G, Hicks T, Hill, Howell, Hulsey, Hurt, Jones R, Kumar, Lafferty, Leatherwood, Lynn, Maberry, Marsh, Martin B, Martin G, McCalmon, Moon, Powers, Reedy, Reeves, Reneau, Rudd, Russell, Scarbrough, Sherrell, Slater, Sparks, Stevens, Stinnett, Terry, Todd, Vaughan, Vital, Warner, White, Wright, Zachary, and Sexton voted in favor of HB0022.
Democrat Representatives Hardaway and Harris also voted in favor of the legislation.
Only Democrat Representatives Freeman and Jones (J) chose to record themselves as “present and not voting.”
Representatives voting against this bill were Republicans Alexander, Boyd, Cochran, Crawford, Eldridge, Hale, Lamberth, Littleton, Rudder, Travis, Williams, and Democrats Behn, Camper, Chism, Clemmons, Dixie, Glynn, Hakeem, Hemmer, Johnson, Love, McKenzie, Miller, Mitchell, Parkinson, Powell, Salinas, Shaw, and Towns.
The corresponding Senate Bill 178 (SB0178), sponsored by Sen. Adam Lowe (R- Calhoun-District 1), is scheduled to be heard in the Senate State and Local Government Committee on Tuesday, March 10th, 2025.
To learn more about this legislation click here.
Tennessee Conservative News Contributor, David Seal, also recently wrote an op-ed endorsing this type of legislative action from the perspective of a former county commissioner.
Tennessee Conservative News will continue to provide updates on this legislation as it moves through the Senate committee process.
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.