First Spate Of Bills Filed For Tennessee’s Special Session On “Public Safety”

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The Tennessee Conservative [By Jason Vaughn] –

Several bills for Governor Lee’s Special Session have already been filed in the Tennessee House dealing with additional training requirements for individuals seeking a handgun carry permit, school training for dangerous situations, lifetime protection for victims of stalking and law enforcement notification when “at-risk” individuals are released from mental health care.

Three of the first four bills filed for the Special Session are sponsored by House Majority Leader William Lamberth (R-District 44-Portland) with the fourth sponsored by Democrat Representative Dwayne Thompson (D-District 96-Cordova).

In a statement, Lamberth said, “Our highest priority is to ensure a safer, healthier and more prosperous future for all Tennesseans. In pursuit of that goal, we welcome the opportunity to strengthen public safety and help those dealing with mental illnesses in this upcoming extraordinary session. These proposals will create additional layers of support in critical times when it is needed most.”

House Bill 7001 (HB7001), sponsored by Democrat Representative Dwayne Thompson (D-District 96-Cordova), in summary reads, “As introduced, specifies that classes that qualify as training for issuance of an enhanced handgun carry permit or concealed handgun carry permit must include training on the use of gun locks. – Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 14; Title 39, Chapter 17 and Chapter 445 of the Public Acts of 2023.”

From the bill text: “Beginning October 1, 2023, and thereafter, a component of the classroom portion of all department-approved handgun safety courses shall be instruction on the safe storage of firearms, including the use of gun locks”

House Bill 7002 (HB7002), sponsored by Republican Representative William Lamberth (R-District 44-Portland), in summary reads, “ As introduced, requires each LEA, public charter school, private school, and church-related school to develop a policy to direct how students, teachers, substitute teachers, and staff are to respond when a fire alarm is activated on school premises outside of a scheduled fire drill to protect students, teachers, substitute teachers, and staff in the event the fire alarm was activated due to the presence of an active shooter on school premises. – Amends TCA Title 39; Title 49 and Chapter 367 of the Public Acts of 2023.”

In reviewing the current bill text, it seems the focus is to require schools to regularly conduct a variety of drills to direct the actions of all occupants in the event of a dangerous situation, including “active shooter” situations.

House Bill 7003 (HB7003), sponsored by Republican Representative William Lamberth (R-District 44-Portland), in summary reads, As introduced, expands the eligibility for filing a petition to obtain a lifetime order of protection to include victims of aggravated stalking and especially aggravated stalking. – Amends TCA Title 36 and Title 39.

The current version of the bill reveals no other pertinent information beyond that of the summary above.

House Bill 7004 (HB7004), sponsored by Republican Representative William Lamberth (R-District 44-Portland), in summary reads, As introduced, requires the court or chief officer of a mental health facility that orders the release of a person from the mental health facility to notify the law enforcement agency that transported the person to the mental health facility of the person’s release. – Amends TCA Title 8, Chapter 8 and Title 33.

In reviewing the bill’s current version, the intent appears to be that if an individual has been placed into a mental health facility by law enforcement under a court’s “emergency diagnosis,” the court must notify the law enforcement agency if the individual is released from the mental health facility before their hearing takes place.

Completely unrelated to the focus of the Special Session, Republican Representative David Hawk (R-District 5-Greeneville) has filed House Joint Resolution 7001 to “honor and congratulate Lieutenant Colonel Herbert W. “Bill” Powley upon his induction into the Flight Instructor Hall of Fame.”

Other House Resolutions have been filed including those honoring the TSSAA girl’s wrestling champion, the 2023 Mother of the Year and the National 5th Grade Essay Contest winner.

As of the writing of this article, no Senate bills or resolutions have been filed.

John Harris of Tennessee Firearms Association, said, “Based on what has been filed and indicators of what might be filed based on Bill Lee’s August 8, 2023, proclamation it is clear that NONE of this is an emergency that requires the lack of openness and covert concealment that a special session provides.” 

Harris goes on to say that all of these issues should be deferred to the Legislature’s regular session that will begin in roughly five months.  

Based on “insider reports,” there may be several hundred bills filed for the Special Session.

The General Assembly should be placing bills HERE for public viewing as they are filed.

However, this is subject to change as we near the beginning of the Session on August 21st.

The Tennessee Conservative will strive to stay abreast of legislation, as it is filed, and keep our readers informed.

About the Author: Jason Vaughn, Media Coordinator for The Tennessee Conservative  ~ Jason previously worked for a legacy publishing company based in Crossville, TN in a variety of roles through his career.  Most recently, he served as Deputy Director for their flagship publication. Prior, he was a freelance journalist writing articles that appeared in the Herald Citizen, the Crossville Chronicle and The Oracle among others.  He graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a Bachelor’s in English-Journalism, with minors in Broadcast Journalism and History.  Contact Jason at news@TennesseeConservativeNews.com