Tennessee General Assembly Rules For 2026 Limit Bill Sponsorships & Allow Speaker To Remove Disruptors

Image Credit: Speaker Cameron Sexton / Facebook

The Tennessee Conservative [By Olivia Lupia] –

Last year’s controversial rules package for the House will also apply to this year’s session, including a reduction in the number of bills lawmakers can sponsor and the ability of House Speaker Cameron Sexton to remove both disruptive legislators and citizens from the House floor.

As each General Assembly convenes for two consecutive years, the rules passed for the 2025 session will also apply for the 2026 session until the 114^th General Assembly officially adjourns in the spring.

While several improvements were made through last year’s rules adjustments, including the electronic voting system for all House committees so votes are transparently recorded, other changes became contested as some lawmakers felt the rules diminished their voices in the legislative process and limited their ability to accurately represent their constituents.

Some of the biggest pushback came on the rule which limits the number of bills each member may sponsor for the session. In 2025, that number was dropped from 15 down to 12, and this year it will be further reduced to 10.

Rep. Jody Barrett (R-Dickson-District 69) objected to this rule change as he believed it forced him to forfeit a third of his opportunities to work on causes and issues important to his constituents.

“This reduction limits my ability to serve you,” Rep. Barrett said last year. “Many of the bills I sponsor come directly from conversations with constituents, local officials, and community leaders in our district. These legislative initiatives address critical needs and reflect the priorities of our community, and this rule diminishes [the people’s] voice in the legislative process.”

Other carry-over rules from last year include one giving the House Speaker power to eject members of the gallery for disorderly conduct. Rule 4, regarding order in the gallery or lobby, states that the Speaker may have removed any person in the gallery who “attempts to attract attention of anyone on the floor by word, deed, or otherwise, or when any person in the gallery engaged in conduct or commits any action deemed by the speaker to be detrimental to the orderly business of the House.”

If an observer is removed, they are prohibited from returning to the gallery for the rest of that day and the next legislative day, and if an observer has to be removed more than once or the offense is deemed “especially egregious” they may be barred for any period of time, up to the remainder of the session.

Some House members could face similar repercussions as another rule change closed a loophole regarding transgressions of House rules by lawmakers. Language in Rule 19 was changed to strike provisions that allowed disruptive behavior to continue if a representative simply “sits” down. 

Now, if a lawmaker is found to be disruptive, their speaking time could be limited for a first offense, silenced for up to two days for a second incident, or they could even be completely removed from the floor for the next three legislative days if repeated violations occur in one day. 

During the time in which they would not be allowed on the House floor, the ejected legislator would have the option to watch the proceedings and vote remotely from a secure room in the Cordell Hull building.

Many of these changes were born after leftist protests, from spectators and lawmakers alike, became unruly and disrupted House proceedings several times during the 2023-2024 legislative sessions.

So far, no House members have been ejected per these rules, but as the 2026 session has just begun, only time will tell if that remains true for both years of the 114^th General Assembly.

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.