Tennessee House Continues To Pass Bills As Disruptive Protestors Are Escorted Out
Image Credit: capitol.tn.gov
The Tennessee Conservative [By Paula Gomes] –
Amid several calls from the speaker of the House to remove disruptive protestors from the balconies, the Tennessee House of Representatives continued to pass bills Monday afternoon and will reconvene on Tuesday at 11 am.
Members of the public became rowdy after Representative Justin Jones was prohibited from continuing to speak on the floor. Jones was ruled out of order twice by House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville-District 25) which led to a vote in which lawmakers voted 70 to 20 for disciplinary action, silencing Jones for the remainder of the day.
House Democrats chose to walk out with Jones before final roll call.
Lawmakers passed several bills. Some had been passed in the Senate before the House took them up Monday, but many have had no action taken by that body.
Governor Lee reportedly sent Republicans a list of 12 bills he wanted to see debated this week.
HB7041/SB7088: requires a report on child and human trafficking be submitted annually to the governor and speakers of the House and Senate on December 1st. Something bill sponsor Representative William Lamberth (R-Portland-District 44) said is long overdue by a decade.
“Surely to goodness, human trafficking is something we can all come together to combat,” said Lamberth before the bill passed 81 to 1 with 3 present but not voting.
This bill has already passed in the Senate.
HB7072/SB7007 takes $75 million appropriated in the budget earlier this year and directs the administrative office of the courts to upgrade and centralize antiquated systems responsible for the collection and reporting of all state and local court public case level data. The bill passed 69 to 17 with 4 not voting but is currently “laying on the table” in the Senate.
HB7032/SB7091 increases reimbursement rates for mental health providers which have been chronically low since 2014 leading to a shortage in mental health personnel.
Representative Jason Zachary (R-Knoxville-District 14) who spoke in favor of the bill said, “This may be one of the most important bills we pass during special session.”
Citing testimony from mental health providers who report that Tennesseans in need of care has increased to 30% of the state’s population – up from 18% pre-pandemic – Zachary said, “We have a crisis in funding as it relates to mental health.”
The bill passed 83 to 4 with 3 not voting but is currently laid on the table in the Senate.
HB7038/SB7060 requires the Tennessee Department of Education to create a school safety alert program which will provide grants to schools to establish First Alert Systems.
According to bill sponsor Representative Ron Gant (R-Piperton-District 94) this type of system will have “panic buttons” capable of instantly alerting first responders of active shooter threats. The one button activation would alert the entire school campus and be able to differentiate between threats of violence, medical alerts and other emergencies.
Lawmakers voted 88 to 0 with 2 members not voting but the Senate has opted not to take action.
HB7012/SB7085, regarding gun safety, had already passed in the Senate and the House voted to pass 77 to 9 with 4 present but not voting.
An amendment to the bill clarifies that the Department of Safety will provide free firearm locks to Tennessee residents upon request only if money is set aside for that purpose in the budget.
HB7008/SB7078, another bill suspended in the Senate for the meantime, deals with mental health professionals and their responsibility to report credible threats of harm against a victim or group to law enforcement or crisis response services. The language for the bill was drafted by a “Covenant parent” – a father who is an attorney – according to bill sponsor Jason Zachary.
The bill passed 82 to 5 with 4 not voting.
HB7005/SB7004 expands the ability of private schools who serve pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade to adopt a handgun carry policy for school property.
The bill is on hold in the Senate but passed in the House 72 to 18.
HB7034/SB7077 increases the penalties for stalking and violating restraining orders and requires mental health assessments for those convicted of stalking including the enforcement of drug treatment should an assessment indicate a need.
This bill, on hold in the Senate, passed 84 to 2 with 3 abstaining from voting.
HB7023/SB7015 allows law enforcement with jurisdiction to assign a law enforcement officer to serve as a school resource officer (SRO) even if the LEA has not entered into a memorandum of understanding.
The bill passed 69 to 3. The Senate has it laying on the table.
HB7063/SB7094 allows for veterans and retired police officers to be trained and hired as SROs.
While the Senate has yet to take any meaningful action, it passed the House 70 to 0.
HB7073/SB7027 makes changes to how juvenile offenders are dealt with and introduces “blended sentencing.”
It passed 64 to 4 with 3 not voting. No action has been taken in the Senate.
HB7013/SB7086 requires circuit or general sessions court clerks to notify TBI electronically of final dispositions of criminal proceedings within 3 days as opposed to the current 30 days.
The bill which has passed the Senate already, passed in the House 68 to 0 with 3 choosing not to cast a vote.
About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
I’m afraid the left-wing ghettos in our state are increasingly going to send disruptors rather than representatives and even senators to the General Assembly so the Republican majority must be prepared to impose a range of sanctions on the disruptors of increasing severity as a result.
Whatever you are for or against doesn’t entitle you to be a jerk. Same goes if your an elected official. Jones thinks he’s a big shot after being sent back after having been removed the first time. The Ballot Box is the place to protest and be heard. If you don’t like what’s happening, vote. Waving stupid signs and screaming and hollering does nothing but irritate others. So far, voters seem unable to recognize the childishness of their actions or those of, supposedly, mature adults. Personally, Jones and a few others are far down my list of acceptable people I would choose to represent me. Like them, vote for them, don’t like them vote them out. Believe it or not, there are some reasonable people we could choose to represent us. I have my choices, you have your. All I ask is all of act in a responsible manner and make our opinions heard at the Ballot Box.
I have never been so disgusted in our state government in my life. The entire Special Session has been a sham from the start.
I expect Democrats to act like fools but this is a Republican Govenor that started this mess. Cameron Sexton has been right there with Lee the entire time. The Republican Party now does the bidding for the lunatic left and provides them with a platform to disrupt our government.
At least the picture of who needs replacing is much clearer.
But replace them with WHAT, that’s the question. After Bredesen, Haslam and now Lee isn’t it time we had a real conservative for governor and a more conservative General Assembly? To that end I have the following three suggestions:
1. In 2024 there will hopefully be a number of conservatives challenging centrists and tepid conservatives in the Republican primary for seats in the General Assembly. Conservatives should be prepared to financially support those candidates.
2. It is said that Cameron Sexton is going to run for governor. He has proven himself to be a tepid conservative at best so conservatives shouldn’t consider voting for Sexton.
3. The open governor’s office in 2026 will attract a number of candidates who, like Lee, have no or an anemic conservative record but have a lot of money with which to buy the office. THIS TIME conservatives should reject such candidates.
There was no emergency therefore Lee had no business calling for a special session. Get this clown show shut down and adjourn before these idiots do major damage to Tennessee.
Sexton is acting like a dictator. If all the reps would just stand up and say we are going home then what can he do? Remove all the Republicans from their committees and chairmanships, Then who will run the committees. This is where people are brainwashed into believing that one person has the power, when in fact the people have the power.
Who’re those voting no or not voting?
I am pleased to see Americans speak up against the sham politics that this special session is.
That is the American I grew up with and respect and love.
The street corner hustlers should go back and hang.
Great article! And, as much as I agree with the above sentiments, that Bill’s ‘Do Something, Anything, Special Session’ was a colossal waste of Tennessee taxpayer dollars, after having read all the above referenced bills, I’m hopeful that some of them will become law! As many smart, 2nd Amendment believers have stated there are initiatives that can be promoted or taught that will enable citizens to protect themselves and those in their care that promote the 2nd Amendment and Firearm Safety! For instance, seriously hardening targets, making teaching the 2A and firearm safety a requirement for schools at appropriate age levels, putting multiple SRO’s and arming volunteer teachers and school administrators. And finally, Cost WILL not be a problem if the governor and legislature would stop using taxpayer funds to subsidize multi-billion dollar corporations like Ford and it’s Blue Oval City, to make electric trucks that do not work! Then, DEMAND that schools protect the children in their care or face losing all state funding. And that, dear politicians will qualify as “DO SOMETHING”!