Image Credit: capitol.tn.gov
The Tennessee Conservative [By Olivia Lupia] –
Following last week’s publication regarding HB1159 being taken off notice, The Tennessee Conservative has received communications from bill sponsor Rep. Susan Lynn (R-Mount Juliet-District 27) and other legislators detailing how two bills aimed at closing Tennessee primaries may still be viable for this session.
HB1159 would add language on the permanent registration record when a person registers to vote requiring them to select an official party affiliation. An individual would be designated “Unaffiliated” if they so choose or if they refuse or fail to make a designation.
As we reported last week, the bill was set to be heard by the House Elections & Campaign Finance Subcommittee on Tuesday, Jan. 20, but was taken off notice by Rep. Lynn.
Now, Lynn has provided The Tennessee Conservative with new information explaining the strategy behind her decision as another similar bill is more viable than previously thought.
According to Lynn, she asked for her bill to be taken off notice in favor of a different bill, HB0886 by Rep. Chris Todd (R-Madison County-District 73), but still plans to proceed with HB1159 if needed.
Her email stated that her office, “Chose not to run it next week because Rep. Todd’s bill, which passed the House committee last year, is still alive in the Senate. We had initially believed the Senate bill was dead after it failed to receive a second in committee last year, but in the Senate, that does not kill a bill.
Rep. Todd’s House bill is currently behind the budget in the [House] Finance Committee and is positioned to move forward. He feels confident that the Senate sponsor intends to advance the Senate version this year.
Because committees generally do not pass competing bills that accomplish the same thing, it makes sense for us in the House to wait and see whether the Senate companion bill moves. We should know that fairly soon. If the Senate declines to advance the bill again, I will place my bill back on notice in the House.”
Lynn had filed HB1159 last year but asked for the bill to be deferred to 2026 when Todd’s HB0886 was making progress.
Per the amended language, HB0886 would also require party registration, but individuals would have to provide 90 days’ notice in writing to change one’s party affiliation after their initial registration. It also states that the party with whom the individual registers must match the party for which the individual requests a primary ballot.
Since stalling last year, both the House and Senate versions have picked up additional co-sponsors, and Rep. Todd is optimistic about its chances for passage.
“My HB0886 that creates a party registration in TN has made it as far as it can go before budgeting. On the Senate side, SB777 is in State & Local Gov’t Committee and has picked up 7 co-sponsors. Sen Lowe and Leader Johnson are working to secure enough votes in that committee to have it up again and that could happen any time now,” Todd told The Tennessee Conservative.
“Rep Lynn has been so gracious to work with me and keep her similar bill alive but not interfere with the momentum HB886 has garnered. We both have had significant input from the Secretary of State’s election experts, SEC members as well as folks from the general public in crafting this to make it the best it can be. I implore constituents of those Sen Committee members to let each of them know how much they demand we fix the current, unenforceable, ‘closed primary’ farce on the books now.”
Constituents are encouraged to contact members of the Senate State and Local Government Committee and Lt. Gov. Randy McNally to politely encourage them in supporting the bill (HB0886/SB0777). Contact information below.
It is worth noting that neither bill adds any enforcement mechanisms for deliberately changing a party registration for the purpose of crossover voting, which is already technically illegal but has been designed to be nearly unenforceable.
Contact Information:
Lt. Governor Randy McNally – lt.gov.randy.mcnally@capitol.tn.gov
Senate State and Local Government Committee:
Sen.richard.briggs@capitol.tn.gov
Sen.page.walley@capitol.tn.gov
Sen.tom.hatcher@capitol.tn.gov
Sen.todd.gardenhire@capitol.tn.gov
Sen.kerry.roberts@capitol.tn.gov
Sen.jeff.yarbro@capitol.tn.gov
Sen.richard.briggs@capitol.tn.gov; sen.page.walley@capitol.tn.gov; sen.tom.hatcher@capitol.tn.gov; sen.todd.gardenhire@capitol.tn.gov; sen.ed.jackson@capitol.tn.gov; sen.sara.kyle@capitol.tn.gov; sen.adam.lowe@capitol.tn.gov; sen.kerry.roberts@capitol.tn.gov; sen.jeff.yarbro@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.
2 Responses
I’m suspicious that this is a clever way to kill the bill.
Emailed Lt. Governor McNally and the Senate State and Local Government Committee:
We’re sick of dimmercraps voting in our primaries and of lucifer’s accursed RINOs who get elected by dimmercrap votes.