Image Credit: Rep. Michele Reneau / Facebook & Canva
The Tennessee Conservative [By Olivia Lupia] –
Several bills by conservative Representative Michele Reneau (R-Signal Mountain-District 27) are set to be heard in House subcommittees this week tackling warrantless searches, parental rights in children’s healthcare, and more.
Image Credit: TN General Assembly
Read on for additional information about each bill and contact information for its subcommittee so you can urge lawmakers to vote appropriately.
First, an amended version of HB0850 would protect against unconstitutional property searches by requiring the Department of Agriculture (DoA) or Wildlife Resources Agency (WRA) to obtain a search warrant before entering any privately owned land to conduct a search, including administrative searches related to regulatory violations. The warrant can only be issued on probable cause, must be supported by an affidavit, and must specifically name or describe the person, property, or place to be searched.
There would be only a few specific exceptions to the requirement of obtaining a warrant, including exigent circumstances or the consent of the property owner. By mandating a warrant, the bill would ensure that these government agencies and officials are following proper protocols in state law establishing probable cause while not hindering lawful inspections or legitimate investigations.
And under the legislation, if the DoA or WRA violates the warrant requirement, the property owner will have standing to file a civil action against the department or agency and seek declaratory relief, injunctive relief, compensatory damages, nominal damages, and attorneys’ fees. Furthermore, any evidence gathered by the agencies in violation of the proposal would be inadmissible in “any judicial or administrative proceeding” unless it was obtained from another independent or lawful source.
Along with furthering Fourth Amendment safeguards against unlawful search and seizure, Renau stressed the bill’s importance to protecting property rights, referencing a letter she received detailing the experience of a Dickson County farmer whose property was subject to a warrantless search.
According to the letter, two Department of Agriculture officials came onto the owner’s farm, which was marked with “No Trespassing” signs, without any prior notice, consent, or a warrant and without presenting any probable cause or court authorization. Additionally, they executed their search when the owner was not home, and the department instead contacted her by phone to let her know the search was happening.
After entering the property, the officials went through areas and items without consent and the owner stated that at no point was she asked for consent to search, nor was she informed that she could refuse entry or require a warrant as there was no emergency and no immediate threat to public health or safety.
“The expectation that government officials must obtain consent or a warrant before conducting a search is a basic constitutional protection. When officials arrive unannounced and proceed to search without authorization, that protection is undermined,” she wrote.
She was later offered apologies and assurances from the Department of Agriculture that more Fourth Amendment training would be required for inspectors but believes this bill will help clarify that government officials must establish probable cause and obtain proper search warrants before entering private property, thereby protecting both citizens and officials “by setting clear legal boundaries and expectations. It promotes transparency, accountability, and trust.”
The House Criminal Justice Subcommittee is set to hear HB0850 on Wednesday, Feb. 11. If you support this bill, contact subcommittee members using the below information:
Rep.clay.doggett@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.fred.atchley@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.andrew.farmer@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.william.lamberth@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.mary.littleton@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.jason.powell@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.lowell.russell@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.gabby.salinas@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.rick.scarbrough@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.clay.doggett@capitol.tn.gov; rep.fred.atchley@capitol.tn.gov; rep.andrew.farmer@capitol.tn.gov; rep.william.lamberth@capitol.tn.gov; rep.mary.littleton@capitol.tn.gov; rep.jason.powell@capitol.tn.gov; rep.lowell.russell@capitol.tn.gov; rep.gabby.salinas@capitol.tn.gov; rep.rick.scarbrough@capitol.tn.gov
Next, HB0853 seeks to provide parents with greater transparency about their children’s medical treatments and records by ensuring that a child’s parent, legal guardian, or custodian may, “access all mental health treatment, medical, rehabilitation, and prescription records resulting from treatment” including records related to any treatments performed on minors without parental consent.
Additionally, the legislation would prohibit a healthcare provider from giving a vaccination or performing a medical treatment on a minor, outside of emergency medical treatment, unless the provider first receives informed consent from the parent or legal guardian.
Local education agencies would still be allowed to provide basic first aid treatment like bandages, gauze, or ice packs for the treatment of minor cuts, scrapes, and bruises, but the bill makes clear that parents have the right to obtain any and all records for any medical treatments, prescriptions, or rehabilitations.
This is a carryover bill from last year which was first introduced in the Senate by Sen. Mark Pody (R-Lebanon-District 17) and is now seeing progress in the House.
HB0853 is set to be heard in the House Health Subcommittee on Wednesday, Feb. 11. Those in support of parental rights may wish to contact subcommittee members using the information below:
Rep.brock.martin@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
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
Another bill, HB1247, would give businesses a small financial break by exempting from sales tax the first $20 of the sales price on a sale of “tangible personal property” when it is paid for with physical cash.
“Tangible personal property” generally refers to moveable, touchable property like computers and other technology, furnishings, office machines, tools, supplies, raw materials, signs, and vehicles used in the operation of a business.
The bill is scheduled to be heard by the House Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee on Wednesday, Feb. 11. Use the information below to contact subcommittee members:
Rep.ryan.williams@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.jesse.chism@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.mark.cochran@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.john.crawford@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.john.gillespie@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.antonio.parkinson@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.johnny.shaw@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.jason.zachary@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.ryan.williams@capitol.tn.gov; rep.kip.capley@capitol.tn.gov; rep.jesse.chism@capitol.tn.gov; rep.mark.cochran@capitol.tn.gov; rep.john.crawford@capitol.tn.gov; rep.ron.gant@capitol.tn.gov; rep.john.gillespie@capitol.tn.gov; rep.gary.hicks@capitol.tn.gov; rep.tim.hicks@capitol.tn.gov; rep.antonio.parkinson@capitol.tn.gov; rep.lee.reeves@capitol.tn.gov; rep.johnny.shaw@capitol.tn.gov; rep.jason.zachary@capitol.tn.gov
Finally, an amended version of HB0851 states that any U.S. citizen applying to register to vote by absentee ballot who is military personnel or living temporarily outside the United States must meet certain residency requirements prior to becoming eligible for absentee voting.
These requirements include those found in both the Tennessee Constitution and current state law such as residence in the state or a county for a specified time, a fixed habitation to which the person has a definite intention to return, where the person’s spouse and family reside, location of a person’s occupation, where taxes are paid, or other factors as prescribed in statute.
This legislation is scheduled for the House Elections & Campaign Finance Subcommittee on Tuesday, Feb. 10. Use the information below to contact subcommittee members.
Rep.rush.bricken@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.tom.leatherwood@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.jerome.moon@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.jason.powell@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.dave.wright@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.tim.rudd@capitol.tn.gov; rep.rush.bricken@capitol.tn.gov; rep.dan.howell@capitol.tn.gov; rep.tom.leatherwood@capitol.tn.gov; rep.jerome.moon@capitol.tn.gov; rep.jason.powell@capitol.tn.gov; rep.dave.wright@capitol.tn.gov
About the Author: Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
One Response
Thanx,
Emailed committee on HB0850, “Please vote YES!
We NEED protection from rouge “agencies”.
Emailed committee on HB0853, “Please vote YES!
COMPLETE transparency is what’s NEEDED.
Emailed committee on HB1247, “Please vote yes.”
and same for HB0851.