Rep. Clark Boyd updates

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE (WEEK 15) – APRIL 26, 2024

Greetings from the Capitol!

We have reached the conclusion of business for the 113th General Assembly. Yesterday evening at around 5:30pm, your Tennessee General Assembly adjourned "Sine Die". I am proud of the work that our legislature accomplished this year, and I am proud to say that I passed 13 of the 15 bills that I introduced this past year. I look forward to the summer and hearing from you all about what legislation I can run to make your lives, and the lives of all Tennesseans, better.

It has been an honor to serve as your State Representative. I will never take the position that I am in for granted. Always feel free to contact me with questions or concerns at rep.clark.boyd@capitol.tn.gov or at 615-741-7086 .

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113th General Assembly Adjourns Sine Die!

The 2024 session successfully carried into law a slate of conservative policies that prioritized public safety, economic development, rural health care, education, and conservation.

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“This session was the most tough on crime in the history of Tennessee. We took additional steps to reduce crime by passing stricter sentencing laws for violent adult and juvenile offenders. I’m thankful for the 113th General Assembly and how we are protecting our communities and fighting to keep our families safe.” said House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville.

The session was highlighted by the supermajority’s continuous efforts to keep taxes low and remain fiscally responsible while prioritizing Tennesseans' needs.

“Tennessee leads because Republicans continue to stand strong to preserve the common-sense conservative values that are important to the people of this state,” said House Majority Leader William Lamberth, R-Portland.

“Republicans have wisely and responsibly invested in making government work more effectively and efficiently for our citizens. We will continue to build on our successes and deliver on our promise to build a safer, stronger, and more prosperous Tennessee."

Lawmakers were well prepared to face new budgeting challenges this session with lower state revenue collections, passing a $52.8 billion zero-debt balanced budget which is $10 billion less than last year’s budget. More than a decade of consistent conservative budgeting during times of record-high revenue growth enabled lawmakers to make strategic investments and keep recurring expenses low. This year’s budget deposits $100 million in the state’s Rainy-Day fund, bringing the total to more than $2 billion.

“The 113th General Assembly cast a bold vision. I’m incredibly pleased that we rose to the occasion by exceeding expectations and ensuring Tennessee remains the greatest state in the union. I appreciate the strong conservative fortitude and unwavering dedication of my colleagues. Our state economy is strong and our Rainy-Day fund is healthy. We are well-positioned to face any challenge that comes our way. Tennessee’s future is brighter than ever because of the strong conservative values of this General Assembly.” said House Republican Caucus Chairman Jeremy Faison, R-Cosby.

Law and Order: The General Assembly passed legislation that continues Tennessee’s efforts to improve public safety and provides proactive measures to combat illegal immigration. Tennessee is a law-and-order state that values and appreciates its law enforcement and first responders. These investments include:

$17 million for 60 new Tennessee State Trooper positions

$15 million for grant pools for volunteer firefighters, rescue squads, and EMS

$6.4 million for military border deployment of Tennessee National Guard

$4.4 million to implement blended sentencing to address juvenile crime

$3.3 million for mental health evaluations / treatment for certain misdemeanor defendants

$1.5 million to reduce recidivism of repeat misdemeanor offenders

$750,000 in security grants for houses of worship

$383,500 to collect data on illegal immigrants in Tennessee from law enforcement

13 new positions for the TBI

Criminalized abortion trafficking of minors (HB1895)

Duty to Warn Act (HB1625)

Strengthened deterrents to curb juvenile crime (HB2126)

Prioritized public safety when setting bond amounts (HB1642)

Increased protections for domestic violence victims (HB2692)

Increased support for victims of child sex trafficking (HB1906)

Enhanced penalties for threats of mass violence (HB2538)

Strengthened the punishment for bullying (HB2590)

Parental Accountability Act (HB1930)

Increased protections for law enforcement officers from assault (HB1881/Back the Blue Act)

Healthy Tennessee Families: Budget and legislative priorities include significant investments in rural and behavioral health care, with $303 million in new dollars directed to 17 programs. These funds will help to expand bed capacity, fund infrastructure projects for children’s hospitals and expand access to behavioral health inpatient care. These priorities are funded through shared savings from Tennessee’s successful TennCare waiver, which allows the state to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the TennCare program. Legislative initiatives will support Tennessee’s most vulnerable citizens, including individuals with disabilities

Expanded TennCare health coverage for mental health services (HB 2921)

Economic Development: Tennessee delivered the strongest protections in the nation when it comes to managing the risks and potential of artificial intelligence. The ELVIS (Ensuring Likeness Voice and Image Security) Act puts in critical safeguards to protect the humanity and artistic expression of Tennessee innovators and creators from theft through AI-generated media.

$393 million to deliver tax cuts and provide $1.5 billion in nonrecurring funds to simplify franchise tax

$36 million to help distressed counties and rural communities with economic development initiatives for community asset improvements, marketing and downtown revitalization grants

Education: The budget adds $261 million in new recurring dollars for K-12 education, bringing the total base Tennessee Investment in Achievement (TISA) budget to $6.8 billion and the overall budget for public education to $8.55 billion. The new dollars will cover medical insurance premiums, retirement for teachers, and funding for teacher raises to bring the annual starting base salary up to $50,000 by 2026.

$30 million for summer learning programs

$3.2 million for AP courses to students across rural and urban Tennessee

$2.5 million to strengthen students’ reading and phonics skills

Protected students from political indoctrination in the classroom (HB1605)

Ensuring AI regulations in education (HB1630)

Allow college students to protect themselves on campus (HB1909)

Improved school safety by allowing school faculty and staff to participate in voluntary training programs for crisis management

Children and Families:

Enshrined parental rights in state law (HB2936)

Increased protections for children online from accessing pornography (HB1614)

Protected children from abortion trafficking (HB1895)

Required parental consent for minors using social media (HB1891)

Conservation:

$59 million for Tennessee State Parks capital projects

$51 million to the Heritage Preservation Fund to preserve land across this state

$20 million to expand blueways trail access with new recreational access points

$10 million to improve water quality at rivers, lakes and streams across the state

$10 million to expedite the Bill Dance Signature Lakes initiative

$5 million to protect and enhance scenic beauty along our major highways

$3 million to make state parks more accessible to Tennesseans with disabilities.

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Death penalty option for child rapists heads to governor’s desk

The General Assembly this week approved legislation allowing the state to seek the death penalty as an option for those convicted of raping a child under the age of 12.

In order to be eligible for the death penalty, biological evidence must be presented during a trial linking the defendant to the crime, and serious bodily injury must have been caused to the victim.

“If we are going to have the death penalty for any offense, it should be an option for these offenses. Not in every single case, but in those cases where there are aggravating circumstances… it should at least be an option for a jury for the worst of the worst offenders out there.” said bill sponsor House Majority Leader William Lamberth, R-Portland.

House Bill 1663 builds on the General Assembly’s efforts in recent years to improve public safety, reduce recidivism rates, and hold criminals accountable through smart-on-crime justice reforms. The General Assembly in 2022 passed truth in sentencing laws that increased penalties for the most violent of crimes and now requires offenders to serve 85-100 percent of their sentences.

House Bill 1663 will now head to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk to be signed into law. It will take effect July 1, 2024..

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Debbie and Marie Domestic Violence Protection Act approved

The General Assembly this week passed landmark legislation significantly increasing protections for domestic violence victims in Tennessee.

The Debbie and Marie Domestic Violence Protection Act, sponsored by State Rep. Clay Doggett, R-Pulaski, requires aggravated assault suspects in certain domestic violence cases to wear a GPS monitoring system if they are released on bond. A GPS service provider must notify a victim’s cell phone if their alleged attacker is within a certain proximity of their location. The company must also notify local law enforcement if a defendant violates the terms of their bond conditions.

“Tennessee has struggled in recent years with a high number of domestic violence cases, As a former law enforcement officer, I have seen firsthand the devastating effects these crimes can have in our communities. Strengthening public safety and support for victims across our state remains a top priority. The Debbie and Marie Domestic Violence Protection Act will undoubtedly save lives, and I appreciate my colleagues in the General Assembly for their support.” Doggett said.

The legislation is named in honor of Debbie Sisco and her daughter Marie Varsos. Both women were killed in 2021 by Varsos’ estranged husband who was out on bond after being arrested for strangling his wife and threatening to shoot her a month earlier. Statewide, there were 61,713 domestic violence cases reported in 2022, according to the most recent data from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Of those victims, 71 percent were female.

The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence estimates that nearly 40 percent of women in Tennessee will experience some form of domestic violence in their lifetime. House Bill 2692 will now head to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk to be signed into law. It will take effect July 1, 2024. .

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Expanding TennCare access for disabled Tennesseans

The General Assembly this week unanimously approved legislation expanding TennCare access for employed Tennesseans with disabilities.

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The TennCare for Working Individuals with Disabilities Act allows qualified disabled individuals to pay a premium to access Medicaid’s long-term support services, even if their income exceeds the current Medicaid eligibility requirements.

“This bill is an important priority for the disability community and opens up a brand-new horizon for Tennesseans with disabilities to go to work, sustain their families and live their lives,” said bill sponsor State Rep. Tim Hicks, R-Gray.

House Bill 2940 prohibits income, resources or maximum age from being factors in restricting eligibility for the program. A monthly premium must equal five percent of a participant’s countable income, according to the bill. Currently, disabled Tennesseans who wish to work risk losing access to certain TennCare programs, making them choose between adequate health care or increased income levels through employment. Forty-six other states have passed similar legislation improving the quality of life and health care options for disabled individuals. House Bill 2940 will now head to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk to be signed into law.

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Briefly…

Protecting Tennessee farmland: Legislation further protecting property in Tennessee from being purchased by hostile foreign nations was approved by the General Assembly this week. House Bill 2553, sponsored by State Rep. Jay Reedy, R-Erin, strengthens an existing ban on prohibited foreign parties designated by the federal government from owning or acquiring property in the state unless certain conditions are met. Prohibited entities that currently own land in the state will be required to divest themselves from the property within two years, according to the bill. The legislation also requires those prohibited foreign parties or business that hold an interest in property to register with either the Department of Agriculture or the Secretary of State beginning Jan. 1, 2025. Of the 26.4 million total acres in Tennessee, there were 427,288 acres of agricultural land and 434,268 acres of non-agricultural land owned by a foreign country or investor as of December 2020, according to a report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Attorney General’s office would take legal action if a required divesture did not occur, and violations could result in a Class A misdemeanor. House Bill 2553 will now head to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk to be signed into law.

Violation of bond conditions: The General Assembly this week approved legislation to strengthen the penalty for individuals who violate their bond conditions. House Bill 1641, sponsored by House Majority Leader William Lamberth, R-Portland, makes it a Class A misdemeanor for a defendant who violates the conditions of their pre-trial release. The change allows law enforcement to arrest individuals who are suspected of violating their bond conditions instead of having to wait for the district attorney’s office to file a motion and schedule a court hearing beforehand. The new law will take effect July 1.

School alert systems: The General Assembly this week passed legislation establishing a pilot grant program to help fund the installation of safety alert systems in Tennessee public schools. House Bill 2528, sponsored by State Rep. Ron Gant, R-Piperton, will provide $48,000 annually to assist local school districts and public charter schools with the installation of rapid response devices. The systems can pinpoint the exact locations of an emergency and directly notify law enforcement in situations such as a medical emergency, unauthorized intruder, or other crisis. The Department of Education would be in charge of administering the grant program and funds must be awarded to two schools from each of the state’s three grand divisions. Several school districts in the state already use similar mobile panic alarm systems. House Bill 2528 will now head to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk to be signed into law.

Electronic medical records: Legislation protecting Tennesseans’ access to their electronic medical records and streamlining the transfer of that information between health care providers passed unanimously in both chambers of the General Assembly this week. House Bill 2011, sponsored by State Rep. Kevin Vaughan, R-Collierville, prohibits health care professionals from contracting with a person or entity that restricts patients or their representatives from accessing their electronic health records. It also specifies that certain test results should be held for 72 hours so that the health care provider is able to speak with the patient before it publishes to the online portal. House Bill 2011 will now head to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk to be signed into law.

Judicial redistricting: Legislation reallocating two circuit court judgeships in Tennessee was approved by the General Assembly this week. House Bill 2002, sponsored by State Rep. Andrew Farmer, R-Sevierville, provides the 4th and 19th judicial districts each with an additional judge that has been needed for several years. The 4th Judicial District includes Cocke, Grainger, Jefferson and Sevier counties while the 19th Judicial District includes Montgomery and Robertson counties. Once signed into law, the judges will begin their terms on Sept. 1.

School safety: The General Assembly this week unanimously passed legislation establishing guidelines for public schools in Tennessee that choose to use electronic mapping of their facilities. House Bill 2283, sponsored by State Rep. Kirk Haston, R-Lobelville, provides consistency in digital school mapping for first responders to use during an emergency. House Bill 2283 will now head to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk to be signed into law.

Vaping: The General Assembly this week unanimously passed legislation aimed at learning more about the effects of vaping on young Tennesseans. House Bill 2433, sponsored by State Rep. Bryan Terry, R-Murfreesboro, directs the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations to identify the prevalence of vaping among individuals under the age of 21, and include things such as health outcomes, enforcement of underage sales and how to address usage on school grounds. House Bill 2433 will now head to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk to be signed into law.

Bail discretion: The General Assembly this week passed a proposed amendment to the Tennessee Constitution that would increase public safety by allowing bail to be denied for more violent crimes. Senate Joint Resolution 919 would expand a judge’s ability to deny bail for certain violent crimes, including terrorism, second-degree murder, aggravated rape and grave torture. The proposed amendment would also increase judicial transparency by requiring a judge or magistrate to explain their reasons for allowing or denying bail for a defendant. Any proposed amendment to the Tennessee Constitution must first be approved by two separate General Assemblies before it can be placed on the ballot for voters to decide.

Eminent domain: Legislation increasing protections for Tennessee property owners from eminent domain was approved by the General Assembly this week. House Bill 2120, sponsored by House Republican Caucus Chairman Jeremy Faison, R-Cosby, removes recreational facilities, recreational purposes and parks from the definition of public use for eminent domain. House Bill 2120 will now head to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk to be signed into law.

Parental accountability: The General Assembly this week approved legislation allowing juvenile courts to issue orders of restitution of up to $1,000 to a parent if their child is found delinquent for a second or subsequent act. The Parental Accountability Act, sponsored by State Rep. John Gillespie, R-Memphis, applies to parents, legal custodians, and guardians of a delinquent child. Parents would pay restitution of at least $250 to a law enforcement agency for expenses incurred responding to delinquent acts. The fine can be substituted by community service if a person is found indigent. There were 1,288 juveniles were adjudicated delinquent in Tennessee during the 2022-23 fiscal year. A 2021 report found that 11.8% of juvenile delinquents were adjudicated for an additional act within a year. House Bill 1930 will now head to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk to be signed into law.

Supporting truckers: The General Assembly unanimously passed legislation requiring the Tennessee Department of Revenue to issue refunds to families of deceased freight motor vehicle operators for vehicle registration fees. The Ethan Wade Walls Act, sponsored by State Rep. Ed Butler, R-Rickman, directs the department to issue prorated refunds on commercial tags for trucking companies with less than three trucks. House Bill 1805 is named in honor of Ethan Wade Walls, a 30-year-old who died after the dump truck he was driving veered off a narrow roadway and rolled. The tragedy occurred just months after fulfilling his dream of owning and operating his own trucking company. Walls left behind a wife and two sons. House Bill 1805 will now head to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk to be signed into law.

Ocoee River: Legislation allowing the Ocoee River Recreation and Economic Development Fund Board to work with the deputy commissioner of state parks to negotiate with the TVA for additional water release days during the rafting season was approved by the General Assembly this week. House Bill 1946, sponsored by State Rep. Dan Howell, R-Ocoee, is expected to bring more tourists and rafting enthusiasts to the region. The bill will also designate the Ocoee as an Olympic River in keeping with the Tennessee Scenic Rivers Act. Permit holders who wish to retire or sell their business to transfer permits will be allowed to under the legislation. The Ocoee River, part of the Tennessee state park system, boasts Class III-IV rapids and was the venue for the 1996 Summer Olympics canoe slalom event. More than 220,000 paddlers take to its waters each year, contributing almost $44 million annually to the region and providing more than 600 jobs.

Indecent exposure: The General Assembly this week approved legislation enhancing the penalty for indecent exposure by prisoners. House Bill 1924, sponsored by State Rep. Ed Butler, R-Rickman, enhances the indecent exposure offense from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony with a mandatory minimum sentence of 14 days if the person was confined in a penal institution and the inmate intended to abuse, torment, harass or embarrass a guard or staff member. The bill now awaits Gov. Bill Lee’s signature.

Drag racing: The General Assembly this week passed legislation improving safety on Tennessee roads by deterring illegal street racing. House Bill 2814, sponsored by State Rep. John Gillespie, R-Memphis, enhances the penalty for drag racing from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony. House Bill 2062, sponsored by State Rep. Mike Sparks, R-Smyrna, creates a task force to study how to deter illegal street racing in this state. The task force is required to report its findings to the General Assembly by Jan. 15, 2025. Both bills now head to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk to be signed into law.

School zone safety: The General Assembly this week passed legislation improving traffic safety at schools in Tennessee. House Bill 1623, sponsored by State Rep. Michael Hale, R-Smithville, allows cities and counties to hire employees or appoint volunteers to direct traffic on public roads within a school zone. Traffic directors would be required to undergo training and use the appropriate safety apparel and equipment. The legislation would apply at schools only during the times necessary for picking up and dropping off students. Drivers who knowingly disobey traffic warnings within the marked school zone could be charged with a Class C misdemeanor punishable by a fine of $50. House Bill 1623 will now head to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk to be signed into law.

Illegal immigration: Legislation requiring the District Attorney General Conference to collect data and cost statistics on the number of illegal immigrants incarcerated in the United States was approved by the General Assembly this week. House Bill 2774, sponsored by State Rep. Jake McCalmon, R-Franklin, will provide the Tennessee Attorney General with adequate resources to bring suit against the federal government for their failed border policies. The legislation will be repealed on July 1, 2032. House Bill 2774 will now head to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk to be signed into law.

Fentanyl: The General Assembly this week passed legislation that aims to reduce fentanyl overdose deaths in Tennessee. House Bill 2301, sponsored by State Rep. Dan Howell, R-Ocoee, gives district attorneys broader discretion when prosecuting drug dealers. This legislation moves from Tennessee’s criminal code to drug code the language that allows alleged drug dealers to be charged with second-degree murder if a fentanyl overdose death occurs. The bill seeks to clarify Tennessee law and clean up prosecutions of certain drug offenses. House Bill 2301 will now head to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk to be signed into law.

Hospital support: The General Assembly this week approved legislation providing financial relief for hospitals in Tennessee. The Annual Coverage Assessment Act of 2024, sponsored by State Rep. Patsy Hazlewood, R-Signal Mountain, increases the coverage assessment rate from 4.87 percent to 6 percent. The legislation is expected to bring $3 billion in additional federal funding for TennCare, which will benefit rural and safety net hospitals and help prevent cuts to the program. The legislation also ensures funding for critical asset hospitals in the state. House Bill 1723 will now head to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk to be signed into law.

Republicans Increase Protections for Children From Adult Content Online

Republicans passed legislation that will further protect children from accessing pornography online in Tennessee..

The General Assembly this week passed the Protect Tennessee Minors Act, sponsored by State Rep. Patsy Hazlewood, R-Signal Mountain. The act requires websites to implement an age-verification process if a substantial portion of their content is harmful to minors.

“We do not allow minors to go into adult establishments. We do not allow minors access to written materials that are inappropriate. This bill would do the same thing in the cyber world. There is a great deal of in-depth research and data that shows exposure to these kinds of materials at a young age is very damaging to our children.” Hazlewood said.

The legislation requires website owners with adult content to match a user’s photo to a valid form of identification issued in the United States. Stored data must not include any personal identifying information and the active user must remain anonymous after access has been granted. Search engines, internet service providers and public interest broadcasts and publications are excluded from the age verification requirement. Any website owner or operator found to be in violation of the law would face a Class C felony. A national survey found that 73 percent of teen respondents between the ages of 13 and 17 admitted to having viewed pornography online. House Bill 1614 will now head to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk to be signed into law. It will take effect Jan. 1, 2025.

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General Assembly Approves Penalties for Abortion Trafficking

The General Assembly this week approved legislation further protecting the unborn in Tennessee.

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House Bill 1895, sponsored by State Rep. Jason Zachary, R-Knoxville, makes abortion trafficking a minor a Class A misdemeanor. The legislation seeks to prevent anyone from attempting to circumvent the state’s current abortion law by helping to facilitate an abortion for a minor without parental consent.

“The legislation that you have in front of you ensures that parents can make the best decision for their children. (It) is critically important because the recruitment and transporting of a minor to facilitate an abortion is happening in our state.” Zachary said.

The legislation also allows any adult who illegally transports a minor for an abortion to be held civilly liable for the wrongful death of the unborn child. Republicans in the General Assembly in 2019 laid the groundwork to ensure life is protected at conception in Tennessee should the U.S. Supreme Court ever reverse its decision to legalize abortion. The General Assembly that year passed the Human Life Protection Act, a conditional trigger law written to go into effect 30 days following the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe vs. Wade. When the high court overturned its 1973 decision on June 24, 2022, the Human Life Protection Act became law and automatically made abortion for any reason a felony in Tennessee. House Bill 1895 will now head to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk to be signed into law. It will take effect July 1, 2024..

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LEGISLATIVE UPDATE (WEEK 14) – APRIL 19, 2024

General Assembly Passes $52.8 Billion Budget

Budget highlights supermajority’s efforts to keep taxes low and remain fiscally conservative.

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Members of the 113th General Assembly on Thursday fulfilled their constitutional duty with the passage of a $52.8 billion balanced budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year. This year’s budget highlights lawmakers’ continuous efforts to keep taxes low and remain fiscally responsible while prioritizing the needs of Tennesseans. The zero-debt budget is a spending plan that advances Republicans’ efforts to strengthen families, improve public safety, advance education, and create new opportunities for businesses to grow.

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“This budget addresses a diverse range of needs across our state while continuing our tradition of good fiscal governance. Crafting this budget was a challenge because we are facing increasing demands due to rising inflation. Tennessee remains a model for economic prosperity because we’ve managed our spending limits and planned well for the future”, said House Finance Chair State Rep. Patsy Hazlewood (R-Signal Mountain).

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Total legislative initiatives make up nearly $21 million in recurring investments and $141.5 million in nonrecurring expenditures. While revenues have slowed considerably, Tennessee continues to be among the most fiscally stable states in the nation with no state income tax and low tax burden overall. The slate of budget and legislative priorities includes significant investments in rural and behavioral health care with $303 million in new dollars directed to 17 programs. These funds will help to expand bed capacity, fund infrastructure projects for children’s hospitals and expand access to behavioral health inpatient care. The budget adds $261 million in new recurring dollars for K-12 education, bringing the total base Tennessee Investment in Achievement (TISA) budget to $6.8 billion and the overall budget for public education to $8.55 billion. The new dollars will cover medical insurance premiums, retirement for teachers, and funding for teacher raises to bring the annual starting base salary up to $50,000 by 2026.

Among new investments in public safety, are a $17 million investment for 60 new Tennessee State Trooper positions and $750,000 in security grants for houses of worship. The budget includes a $36 million investment to help distressed counties and rural communities with economic development, such as community asset improvements, marketing and downtown revitalization grants.

It also makes a $100 million deposit in the state’s Rainy-Day Fund, which serves as the state’s savings account to help withstand economic downturns, bringing the fund to a historic balance of more than $2.15 billion.

Tennessee is among the lowest-taxed states in the nation and collects zero income tax. Tennessee holds the highest bond rating issued by all three of the nation’s credit rating agencies, which reflects extreme confidence in the Volunteer State’s preparedness in meeting financial commitments in tough economic times.

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House Approves CON Reform to Increase Health Care Access, Lower Costs

The House chamber this week approved legislation allowing for additional health care services to be more quickly and easily accessible in Tennessee.

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House Bill 2269, sponsored by State Rep. Clark Boyd (R-Lebanon) would gradually phase out the Certificate of Need (CON) permit requirements needed to provide nearly a dozen various health care services in the state during the next five years.

The Tennessee Health Facilities Commission currently regulates the health care industry statewide through the CON program. This process, which can be lengthy and costly, requires a permit to be issued for the establishment or modification of a health care institution, facility or service at a designated location.

“It is essential that every community in Tennessee has access to vital health care facilities and services. This legislation represents the culmination of years of diligent work by various stakeholder groups from across Tennessee committed to ensuring that happens. These reforms will not only improve access to potentially lifesaving medical services in our state, but they will help reduce costs for patients as well", Boyd said.

The timeline for removal of CON permit requirements includes:

July 1, 2025: Freestanding emergency departments not located within 10 miles of a competing acute care hospital or other freestanding emergency department would no longer need a CON. Additionally, any county without an actively licensed acute care hospital would also not require a CON for any services except rehabilitation hospitals, home health agencies, hospice, methadone clinics and nursing homes.

Dec. 1, 2025: Intellectual disability institutional habilitation facilities, burn units, neonatal intensive care units, magnetic resonance imagining services and positron emission tomography

Dec. 1, 2027: Ambulatory surgical treatment centers, linear accelerator procedures and long-term care hospitals

Dec. 1, 2029: Open heart surgery

The bill requires rehabilitation hospitals, home health agencies, hospices, methadone clinics, and nursing homes to continue operating under CON in all 95 counties. Cardiac catheterization services, outpatient diagnostic clinics, acute care hospitals, and organ transplants will, for now, remain under CON in counties that currently have a licensed acute care hospital. The companion version of House Bill 2269 is expected to be heard on the Senate floor next week.

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General Assembly Makes Voter Registration Process More Secure

Legislation making the voter registration process more secure in Tennessee was approved by the General Assembly this week.

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House Bill 1955, sponsored by State Rep. Tim Rudd, R-Murfreesboro, prohibits people and organizations from pre-filling out voter registration applications. The legislation also requires third-party voter registration organizations to register with the Secretary of State’s office and prevents certain felons from handling applications.

“The last thing we need is someone who’s been convicted of voter fraud, perjury or abuse of a senior citizen is having senior citizens’ Social Security numbers. The legislation states that it’s presumed the date an applicant signs a voter registration application is the date the person or organization received or collected the application. It also ensures no alterations to the voter registration form are made without the applicant’s consent. The state election commission can impose civil penalties of up to $5,000 for violations of bill. The legislation now heads to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk to be signed into law", Rudd said.

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Parental Notification Required for Gender Affirmation Accommodations

Legislation expanding parental rights in Tennessee public schools was approved by the General Assembly this week.

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House Bill 2165, sponsored by State Rep. Mary Littleton, R-Dickson, requires parents and school administrators to be informed if a student makes a request for an accommodation to affirm their gender identity.

The legislation also prohibits school employees from knowingly giving false or misleading information to parents regarding their child’s gender identity or their intention to transition to a gender that differs from their biological sex. Accommodations could include the student asking to be called a name not on their school registration forms or using pronouns that do not correspond with the sex listed on the child’s birth certificate. A student’s parent may also bring civil action against a non-compliant school system, according to the legislation. House Bill 2165 will now head to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk to be signed into law.

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LEGISLATIVE UPDATE (WEEK 13) – APRIL 12, 2024

Greetings from the Capitol!
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As we enter the last few weeks of this General Assembly we are now transitioning from committee work to more time on the House floor hearing and voting on bills.
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I personally am coming to an end on my legislative package for the year, with my last 2 bills being brought to the floor this upcoming Tues

Greetings from the Capitol!
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As we enter the last few weeks of this General Assembly we are now transitioning from committee work to more time on the House floor hearing and voting on bills.
. . .

I personally am coming to an end on my legislative package for the year, with my last 2 bills being brought to the floor this upcoming Tuesday. The largest of these two bills is a reform to Tennessee’s certificate of need program. Certificate of need is a program that limits certain healthcare practices, equipment, and facilities from being built due to demographic data (this was a big issue in 2020 when hospitals were attempting to secure more respirators to treat COVID-19 patients). It is my hope that with the passage of this legislation, we will begin to see healthcare facilities across the State offer more services and for patients to pay less for their services .

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As always, feel free to contact me with questions or concerns at rep.clark.boyd@capitol.tn.gov or at 615-741-7086.

Constitutional amendment gives judges more discretion for bail

A proposed amendment to the Tennessee Constitution that would increase public safety by allowing bail to be denied for more violent crimes advanced out of the House Finance, Ways and Means Subcommittee this week.
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House Joint Resolution 869, filed by House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville), would expand a judge’s ability to deny bail for certain violent crimes, including terrorism, second-degree murder, aggravated rape, and grave torture. Current law limits judges’ ability to deny bail to first-degree murder charges.
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“Expanding the option for a judge to deny bail for violent offenders helps ensure the safety of all Tennesseans. By keeping individuals charged with violent crimes in custody, there is a reduced risk of them posing a threat to all Tennesseans” said State Rep. Kip Capley (R-Summertown), who is guiding passage of the legislation.
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The proposed amendment would also increase judicial transparency by requiring a judge or magistrate to explain their reasons for allowing or denying bail for a defendant. The Tennessee General Assembly in 2022 passed truth in sentencing reform, which requires offenders convicted in eight categories of violent crimes to serve 100 percent of their court-imposed sentences before their release. That same year, murders declined 14.6 percent statewide while rapes declined 10.6 percent and kidnappings fell nearly 12 percent when compared to 2021, according to the TBI.
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House Joint Resolution 859 will now go to the Finance, Ways and Means Committee for further consideration. Any proposed amendment to the Tennessee Constitution must first be approved by two separate General Assemblies before it can be placed on the ballot for voters to decide.

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Lawmakers protect financial aid eligibility for nursing students

The Tennessee House of Representatives this week unanimously passed legislation ensuring students in licensed practical nursing (LPN) programs can still qualify for federal financial aid assistance.

House Bill 2378, sponsored by State Rep. Esther Helton-Haynes (R-East Ridge), requires the Tennessee Board of Nursing to set a minimum of 1,296 clock hours, or an equivalent number of credit hours, for practical nursing programs offered at public institutions of higher education in the state. A minimum of 980 hours is currently required.

Beginning July 1, colleges that offer LPN programs longer than the minimum set by state law or regulatory board will no longer qualify for federal financial aid. House Bill 2378 will ensure students enrolled in the Tennessee Board of Regents’ (TBR) LPN programs, which exceed the current state minimum requirement, remain eligible to receive financial assistance.

“It is essential that Tennesseans have opportunities to pursue a career in health care here at home. This legislation will ensure students can continue to afford to attend one of the many LPN programs offered across our state. This will not only benefit them professionally, but it will improve overall health care in Tennessee.” Helton-Haynes said.

Private institutions would still be able to maintain their current curriculum lengths in accordance with the Board of Nursing’s rules, according to the legislation. The Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT), operated by the TBR, is the single largest provider of LPNs in the state. During the 2022-23 academic year, 1,186 new LPNs graduated statewide. Tennessee faced a shortfall of 15,700 registered nurses in 2021, according to a report from the Tennessee Hospital Association. The shortage is expected to lead to increased demand for LPNs statewide. House Bill 2378 was unanimously approved by the House chamber on April 8. The companion version of the legislation is still advancing in the Senate.

. . .

Bill establishes high-demand workforce readiness grant program

The General Assembly is considering legislation aimed at improving workforce readiness in Tennessee for careers in high demand.

House Bill 2178, sponsored by State Rep. Mark White (R-Memphis), would establish a grant program to provide financial assistance to students enrolled in a qualified private, nonprofit technical school or public institution of higher education that offers workforce programs for high-demand, high-wage fields.

“One of the issues that we struggle with a lot of times is a lot of our workforce will go to a community college or a trade school and they just don’t hang in there for a year… or two years. To get somebody and give them a credential where they can get out and get a job is highly valuable.” White said.

Earning a credential is much quicker than a degree, often taking between eight to 14 weeks to complete. Students would receive half of their grant after completing 20 percent of a course with the remaining funds being awarded after completion of the program. House Bill 2178 has been placed behind the budget to be considered for funding at a later date.

. . .

Grant program helps solve violent crimes

Legislation offering additional support to solve more violent crimes in Tennessee advanced out of the Criminal Justice Committee this week.

The Tennessee Violent Incident Clearance and Technological Investigative Methods Support Act (TN-VICTIMS), sponsored by State Rep. Lowell Russell (R-Vonore), would provide grants to law enforcement agencies to fund strategies and initiatives aimed at improving violent crime clearance rates and supporting victims statewide.

“Keeping Tennesseans safe remains a top priority for Republicans in the General Assembly. The TN-VICTIMS Act will provide valuable assistance to law enforcement agencies across our state to ensure violent criminals are quickly brought to justice. This will improve public safety and provide victims with the support they deserve” Russell said.

The grant program would be developed by the Department of Finance and Administration’s Office of Criminal Justice Programs, in consultation with the Tennessee Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission, the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI). All law enforcement agencies in Tennessee would be eligible to receive funding. According to the most recent TBI data, 502,189 crimes were reported statewide in 2022. Of those cases, 179,960, or 35.8 percent, resulted in arrests. House Bill 2794 is scheduled to be heard in the Finance, Ways and Means Subcommittee on April 16, 2024.

. . .

General Assembly votes to expedite evidence collection in DUI cases

The General Assembly this week passed legislation allowing for faster and more effective collection of blood samples involving individuals suspected of driving under the influence in Tennessee.

House Bill 2386, sponsored by State Rep. Ron Gant (R-Piperton), allows an officer to execute a search warrant anywhere in the state for medical records or test to determine the alcohol or drug content of a person’s blood. The legislation also gives magistrates increased authority to issue warrants to recover evidence if at least one element of the crime occurred within their jurisdiction.

“Because evidence of alcohol and drugs metabolizes and dissipates from the bloodstream quickly, this bill… will provide for a timely or more efficient collection of blood evidence to support the effective prosecution of DUI, vehicular assault, and vehicular homicide offenses,” Gant said Monday.

Additionally, the bill encourages hospitals and health care providers to take a blood sample as soon as possible when a warrant is issued. The sample should also be provided to law enforcement expeditiously. There were 7,774 wrecks in Tennessee that involved impaired drivers in 2022, according to the most recent data from the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. There were 575 fatalities and 4,964 injuries as a result. House Bill 2386 will now head to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk to be signed into law

Attainable housing legislation advances

Legislation incentivizing developers to build more multi-family attainable housing in Tennessee advanced out of the House Finance, Ways and Means Committee this week.

House Bill 2363, sponsored by State Rep. Dale Carr (R-Sevierville), would give city leaders the opportunity to create a voluntary attainable housing incentive program to encourage developers to build in their area.

“This bill allows local planning commissions to reset the regulations if they want to, or need to, create more attainable multi-family housing in their city,” Carr said.

The legislation would allow city officials to work with property developers to adjust some of the typical building requirements, like the amount of parking spaces, so the developer can rent out at an economical rate. The multi-family housing accommodations must be designed for residential use, have at least five units per site, and not have detached units. House Bill 2363 is scheduled to be heard in the Calendar and Rules Committee on April 18, 2024.

Briefly…

Protecting taxpayer dollars: The General Assembly this week approved legislation protecting tax dollars from being used to pay for gender reassignment surgeries for inmates in Tennessee. House Bill 2619, sponsored by State Rep. John Ragan, R-Oak Ridge, prohibits the Department of Corrections from using state funds to pay for the procedures or any new hormone replacement therapy for incarcerated individuals statewide. Private funds can still be used to cover the cost of the surgeries and therapy. House Bill 2619 will now head to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk to be signed into law.

Human trafficking: The General Assembly this week approved legislation ensuring the prosecution of human trafficking crimes in Tennessee. House Bill 2611, sponsored by State Rep. Jason Zachary, R-Knoxville, allows a state or local law enforcement agency to submit evidence to another district attorney if one district attorney declines to pursue charges in a multi-jurisdictional human trafficking case. The legislation will now head to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk to be signed into law.

Mental health: The House chamber this week unanimously passed legislation aimed at getting mental health patients treatment more quickly in Tennessee. House Bill 827, sponsored by State Rep. Mike Sparks, R-Smyrna, requires the Department of Health to create a statewide psychiatric bed tracking system. Finding an available bed at a facility in Tennessee can currently take several days or longer. The companion version of House Bill 827 is still advancing in the Senate.

Elder abuse: A bill to prevent elderly and disabled adults from being exploited through marriage was unanimously approved by the General Assembly this week. House Bill 2420, sponsored by State Rep. Jody Barrett, R-Dickson, would prevent the surviving spouse of an elderly or disabled adult from any entitlement or benefit from their marriage if a court finds the marriage occurred deceptively or under certain exploitative circumstances. The victim’s family must prove that the surviving spouse entered into the marriage as part of a scheme involving neglect, sexual abuse, financial exploitation, abuse or theft. House Bill 2420 will now head to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk to be signed into law.

Illegal immigration: The House chamber on Monday passed legislation aimed at combating illegal immigration in Tennessee. House Bill 2304, sponsored by State Rep. Monty Fritts, R-Kingston, requires law enforcement agencies in the state to report every month to the Department of Safety information about each interaction with illegal aliens. The department would also be required to report that information to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the General Assembly. The companion version of House Bill 2304 is still advancing through the Senate.

Election integrity: The House chamber has approved legislation ensuring illegal immigrants do not vote in Tennessee elections. House Bill 835, sponsored by State Rep. Bryan Richey, R-Maryville, requires the coordinator of elections to compare statewide voter registration data with the Department of Safety to make sure all registered voters in the state are United States citizens. Current law allows for the data to be compared but does not require it. Tennessee is ranked No. 1 in the nation for election integrity. State law requires a valid Tennessee or federally-issued government photo identification to vote. The companion version of House Bill 835 is still advancing in the Senate.

Parks: The House chamber on Thursday passed legislation allowing property owners to combine their land with public land to create new public parks for outdoor recreation. House Bill 2859, sponsored by State Rep. John Ragan, R-Oak Ridge, also includes liability protections for land owners of at least 100 acres that has been made available to the public as a park. The bill will now head to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk to be signed into law.

School nurses: Legislation that would increase transparency of the number of school nurses in Tennessee passed the House chamber on Thursday. House Bill 2158, sponsored by State Rep. Elaine Davis, R-Knoxville, requires a school district that does not have at least one nurse for every 750 students to submit a report to the Department of Education explaining information on the nurse-to-student ratio. State law requires each school district to have at least one permanent, full-time school nurse. More than 450 schools across the state currently do not have one. House Bill 2158 is still advancing through the Senate.

Advertising transparency: The General Assembly this week unanimously passed legislation ensuring medical professionals provide accurate information in advertisements. The Healthcare Provider Advertising Law, sponsored by State Rep. Tom Leatherwood, R-Arlington, states that an advertisement that includes a practitioner’s name must prominently state the profession or license they hold. Individuals who violate the law are subject to disciplinary sanctions by the board that issued their license. House Bill 2451 will now head to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk to be signed into law.

School safety: Legislation establishing guidelines for electronic or digital school mapping advanced out of the Education Administration Committee this week. House Bill 2283, sponsored by State Rep. Kirk Haston, R-Lobelville, provides consistency in digital school mapping to assist first responders in an emergency. The legislation does not require districts to use digital mapping for their schools. House Bill 2283 is scheduled to be heard in the Finance, Ways and Means Committee on April 16.

State food: The General Assembly this week approved House Bill 2864 designating Memphis barbecue as an official state food in Tennessee. Memphis-style barbecue is made mostly from pork ribs and shoulders. The legislation will now head to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk to be signed into law

House Passes Massive Franchise Tax Cut, Adds Transparency Disclosure

The House chamber this week passed legislation cutting $400 million in taxes by simplifying Tennessee’s franchise tax on a business’ net worth.

. . .

House Bill 1893, sponsored by House Majority Leader William Lamberth (R-Portland), removes the property measure from the state’s franchise tax calculations and authorizes the Department of Revenue to issue refunds to taxpayers who have paid the tax based on property located in the state.

. . .

“We have businesses moving from all over the country and all over the world to Tennessee because of our low tax structure. The primary goal of this is to keep that strong business community here so that every hardworking Tennessean not only has a job, but has multiple jobs to pick from and can be competitive for those jobs and get higher wages” Lamberth said.

. . .

An amendment added to the House version of the bill requires any refunds to be made public. It also allows companies who wish to stay under the current tax structure for the tax period ending before Dec. 31, 2023 to do so. If a business applying for a refund has also received economic credits or incentives from the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, the credit amount would be applied to the refund first.

. . .

The Senate previously approved the legislation but declined to adopt the House amendment. A conference committee will be appointed to work out the differences between the bills in both chambers.

. . .

House Republicans Protect Parents’ Vaccine Decisions

Legislation further protecting medical freedom for parents in Tennessee was approved in the House chamber this week.

. . .

House Bill 2861, sponsored by State Rep. Michele Carringer (R-Knoxville), prohibits health care providers from coercing a person who has legal authority to make healthcare decisions for a child to consent to a vaccination. It also prohibits health care providers from misleading or misrepresenting that a vaccination or newborn screening is required by state law.

. . .

The legislation defines coercion as compelling a person to act by force, intimidation or threat. Any health care provider found to violate the act could have their license suspended, revoked or not renewed by their licensing authority. If approved by the General Assembly, House Bill 2861 would take effect July 1, 2024.

. . .

General Assembly Votes to Expedite Evidence Collection in DUI Cases

The General Assembly this week unanimously passed legislation that will improve access to voting for visually impaired Tennesseans.

. . .

The General Assembly this week passed legislation allowing for faster and more effective collection of blood samples involving individuals suspected of driving under the influence in Tennessee.

. . .

House Bill 2386, sponsored by State Rep. Ron Gan (R-Piperton), allows an officer to execute a search warrant anywhere in the state for medical records or test to determine the alcohol or drug content of a person’s blood. The legislation also gives magistrates increased authority to issue warrants to recover evidence if at least one element of the crime occurred within their jurisdiction.

. . .

“Because evidence of alcohol and drugs metabolizes and dissipates from the bloodstream quickly, this bill… will provide for a timely or more efficient collection of blood evidence to support the effective prosecution of DUI, vehicular assault, and vehicular homicide offenses” Gant said Monday.

. . .

Additionally, the bill encourages hospitals and health care providers to take a blood sample as soon as possible when a warrant is issued. The sample should also be provided to law enforcement expeditiously. There were 7,774 wrecks in Tennessee that involved impaired drivers in 2022, according to the most recent data from the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. There were 575 fatalities and 4,964 injuries as a result. House Bill 2386 will now head to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk to be signed into law.

. . .

General Assembly Expands Newborn Safe Haven Program

The General Assembly approved legislation this week that protects foster parents’ religious and moral beliefs while ensuring the best interest of the child.

. . .

The General Assembly recently approved legislation expanding Tennessee’s newborn Safe Haven program.

. . .

House Bill 1922, sponsored by State Rep. Ed Butler (R-Rickman), adds participating emergency communications centers and nursing homes in counties without hospitals to the list of approved locations for safe haven baby boxes and drop-off locations.

. . .

“This is an important step in ensuring rural communities have access to newborn safe haven boxes. This program allows suffering mothers to safely surrender their child in a place where proper care can be given. Tennessee is a pro-life state and I encourage mothers to take the necessary steps to keep their children, born and unborn, safe and healthy in times of crisis. I thank my colleagues for supporting this life-saving legislation” Butler said.

. . .

House Bill 1922 would ensure emergency communications centers and nursing homes are subject to the same policies other facilities are bound by under Tennessee’s Safe Haven law.

. . .

Tennessee currently has three Safe Haven baby boxes, located at fire stations in Jackson, Knoxville, and Kingston. Baby boxes allow mothers to securely and anonymously surrender their child in a continuously monitored safety device that allows medical staff members to care for the baby quickly.

. . .

Current law allows mothers to surrender their newborn up to 14 days after birth without fear of prosecution at hospitals, birthing centers, community health clinics, walk-in clinics, EMS facilities, and 24-hour fire and law enforcement facilities.

. . .

More than 130 newborn babies have been safely surrendered in the state since the Safe Haven law was enacted in 2001, according to Secret Safe Place for Newborns of Tennessee. House Bill 1922 now heads to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk to be signed into law.

. . .

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE (WEEK 12) – APRIL 5, 2024

Greetings from the Capitol!
~ ~ ~

It was a busy week in your State's Government. On Monday the Appropriations Subcommittee, which I serve on, met to discuss miscellaneous budget appropriations for the year. There's no shortage of needs from around the State as is evidenced by the various requests by members of the General Assembly. Over

Greetings from the Capitol!
~ ~ ~

It was a busy week in your State's Government. On Monday the Appropriations Subcommittee, which I serve on, met to discuss miscellaneous budget appropriations for the year. There's no shortage of needs from around the State as is evidenced by the various requests by members of the General Assembly. Over the next few weeks, as we take a deeper dive into this year's leaner budget, we will decide which projects get funded.

~ ~ ~

As always, feel free to contact me with questions or concerns at rep.clark.boyd@capitol.tn.gov or at 615-741-7086.

Cassie Wright Act aims to help support struggling teens

Legislation that ensures parents are able to support their children who may be struggling with their mental health passed both chambers of the General Assembly this week.
. . .
The Cassie Wright Act, sponsored by Assistant House Majority Leader Mark Cochran (R-Englewood), was named in honor of a local teen who was seeking mental health care, but tragically took her own life. Due to her age and current Tennessee law, Cassie’s mother was not informed of her struggles.
. . .
Currently, if a child is 16 years old or older, they have the same rights as an adult when it comes to outpatient and inpatient mental health treatment, medication decisions, confidential information and participation in conflict resolution procedures.
. . .
“No child should ever suffer alone. Children need their parents support, especially if they are dealing with mental health crisis. I hope that by passing this legislation, parents are able to be involved in their child’s treatment when necessary and keep tragedies like this from ever happening again” Cochran said.
. . .
This legislation authorizes a child’s parent, legal guardian or legal custodian to have access to the minor’s prescription records in regards to their mental health treatment. It also requires any professional treating a child to report any suicidal ideations or thoughts of self-harm made by the child to the minor’s parent, legal guardian or legal custodian.
. . .
House Bill 2773 will now head to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk to be signed into law.

. . .

Bill establishes high-demand workforce readiness grant program

The General Assembly is considering legislation aimed at improving workforce readiness in Tennessee for careers in high demand.
. . .
House Bill 2178, sponsored by State Rep. Mark White (R-Memphis), would establish a grant program to provide financial assistance to students enrolled in a qualified private, nonprofit technical school or public institution of higher education that offers workforce programs for high-demand, high-wage fields.
. . .
“One of the issues that we struggle with a lot of times is a lot of our workforce will go to a community college or a trade school and they just don’t hang in there for a year… or two years. To get somebody and give them a credential where they can get out and get a job is highly valuable.” White said.
. . .
Earning a credential is much quicker than a degree, often taking between eight to 14 weeks to complete. Students would receive half of their grant after completing 20 percent of a course with the remaining funds being awarded after completion of the program. House Bill 2178 has been placed behind the budget to be considered for funding at a later date .

. . .

Promising Futures pilot program bolsters access to child care, literacy

Legislation aimed at increasing child care access and literacy skills in Tennessee advanced out of the Government Operations Committee this week.
. . .
House Bill 785, sponsored by State Rep. Mark White (R-Memphis), would create the Promising Futures pilot program to provide last-dollar scholarships for non-school-aged children to attend high-quality early care and learning programs to develop important language and literacy skills.
. . .
“The bill will help to tackle two major problems, early childhood literacy combined with child care affordability and availability. It would encourage more child care programs to use instructional practice that are proven to support early childhood literacy and learning. Without affordable, available child care in our state, it keeps many of our family members out of the workforce.” White said.
. . .
The Department of Human Services, in consultation with the Department of Education, would create and implement the four-year pilot program. It would be funded with $5 million each year from privilege tax collections on sports wagering.
. . .
Scholarships would be awarded to children who were not yet in kindergarten and whose household income was up to 100 percent of the state median income, which stands at $64,035 as of 2022, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
. . .
House Bill 785 is scheduled to be heard in the Finance, Ways and Means Subcommittee on April 10.

. . .

Bill allowing retired law enforcement to serve as SROs advances

Legislation aimed at helping fill school resource officer (SRO) vacancies in Tennessee was approved by the House chamber this week.

House Bill 2682, sponsored by State Rep. Clay Doggett (R-Pulaski), allows retired law enforcement officers to temporarily return to work without losing retirement benefits if certain conditions are met.
. . .
“Allowing these retirees to come back into the workforce to fill these voids hopefully will give opportunity for local departments to find qualified officers going forward after this two-year program,” Doggett said.
. . .
Law enforcement officers have to be retired for at least 60 days and can be re-employed for up to a year, with extensions possible. The General Assembly in 2023 allocated $230 million to enhance school safety, including $30 million for a school resource officer in every public school in the state.
. . .
The companion version of House Bill 2682 is still advancing through the Senate. If approved, the law would take effect July 1. It would be repealed on June 30, 2026 .

. . .

House celebrates Down Syndrome Awareness Day

The House of Representatives commemorated Down Syndrome Awareness Day in Tennessee on Thursday, March 21, 2024. Lawmakers were also joined by members from the Down Syndrome Association of Middle Tennessee who performed the song “True Colors.”
. . .
House Joint Resolution 968, sponsored by State Rep. Sam Whitson (R-Franklin), honors and commends the many achievements and valuable contributions from individuals with Down syndrome. It also highlights the need for further education, awareness and support for these individuals to ensure they have the dignity, success and inclusion they deserve. Down syndrome is a naturally occurring, lifelong genetic condition that occurs in one out of every 800 births worldwide.

. . .

Briefly…

Government transparency: The General Assembly this week unanimously passed legislation increasing transparency of state government meetings in Tennessee. House Bill 2934, sponsored by State Rep. Rush Bricken, R-Tullahoma, requires state boards, state commissions and state councils to make agendas available to the public at least 48 hours prior to a regular meeting. The agenda must “reasonably describe the matters to be deliberated or acted upon” during the meeting, according to the legislation. City and county legislative bodies are already required to do so. House Bill 2934 will now head to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk to be signed into law.
. . .
Second Amendment Financial Privacy Act: The House chamber this week passed legislation protecting the financial transaction data associated with legal firearm and ammunition purchases in Tennessee. House Bill 2762, also known as the Second Amendment Financial Privacy Act, prohibits a government entity from knowingly keeping a list, record or register of privately-owned firearms or their owners. The legislation, sponsored by State Rep. Rusty Grills, R-Newbern, also prohibits financial institutions like banks and credit card companies from requiring the use of a specific merchant category code (MCC) to identify transactions that occur at firearms retailers in the state. The bill would prevent legal purchases at the retailers from being denied based solely on the code as well as protect financial records of the transactions from disclosure unless required by law. Alleged violations of the law would be investigated by the Attorney General’s Office and could result in a civil penalty of up to $10,000 if necessary. If the Attorney General declines to investigate a case, a firearms retailer or customer could pursue an injunction in chancery court where the alleged violation occurred.
. . .
Illegal immigration: House committees this week advanced two pieces of legislation aimed at further combating illegal immigration in Tennessee. House Bill 1128, sponsored by State Rep. Ron Gant, R-Piperton, requires jails and arresting law enforcement agencies to collaborate to verify the citizenship status of a person arrested, booked or confined for any period of time. If a suspect is found to be in the country illegally, the district attorney is to notify the appropriate immigration and customs enforcement detention and removal operations field office. House Bill 1128 is scheduled to be heard in the Criminal Justice Committee on April 9. Additionally, House Bill 2304, sponsored by State Rep. Monty Fritts, R-Kingston, would require law enforcement agencies in the state to report every month to the Department of Safety information about each interaction it had with illegal aliens. The Department of Safety would also be required to report that information to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the General Assembly. House Bill 2304 is scheduled to be heard on the House floor on April 8.
. . .
College athlete compensation: The House Education Administration Committee this week advanced legislation that would provide additional protections for students, coaches and universities related to compensation for intercollegiate athlete’s name, image or likeness (NIL). House Bill 1059, sponsored by State Rep. Kevin Vaughan, R-Collierville, expands the definition of intercollegiate athlete to include current and perspective students, which would allow them to determine the value of their NIL in certain situations. The bill also makes clear that the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) cannot restrict an athlete’s ability to earn compensation or obtain representation to perform due diligence to determine the value of their NIL. Additionally, the legislation protects schools and their employees from potential litigation from any athlete who feels their market value was negatively affected by a lack of playing time. It also specifies that schools and their employees are not agents and are ineligible to receive compensation. House Bill 1059 will now go to the Calendar and Rules Committee before heading to the House floor for a vote.
. . .
Driving under the influence: House Bill 2302, also known as the Ben Kredich Act, establishes that a person can be charged with driving under the influence if they are suspected of impaired driving within 24 hours of being given an opioid overdose reversal drug like Narcan. The legislation, sponsored by State Rep. Dan Howell, R-Cleveland, also allows first-responders who administer Narcan to an individual experiencing an overdose to provide information to them about the risks associated with driving within a 24-hour period. The legislation is named after Ben Kredich, who was struck and killed by an impaired driver while walking near the University of Tennessee’s campus in Knoxville last summer. Prior to the crash, the driver had recently been given Narcan for a suspected drug overdose. House Bill 2302 is scheduled to be heard in the Criminal Justice Committee on April 9.
. . .
Protecting law enforcement: The House Criminal Justice Subcommittee this week advanced legislation enhancing the penalty for assaulting police officers in Tennessee. House Bill 1881, sponsored by State Rep. Kip Capley, R-Summertown, would make the offense of assault against a law enforcement officer a Class E felony punishable by a mandatory minimum 60-day sentence and a $10,000 fine. The crime is currently a Class A misdemeanor. There was an average of 440 arrests for simple assault against law enforcement officers during the last five years, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. House Bill 1881 is scheduled to be heard in the Criminal Justice Committee on April 9.
. . .
Juvenile offenders: House Bill 2702, sponsored by State Rep. Mary Littleton, R-Dickson, would require children 14 years old or older to be tried as an adult if they are accused of an stealing a firearm or using a firearm while committing what would be a felony. The legislation is scheduled to be heard in the Criminal Justice Committee on April 9.
. . .
Alcohol safety: House Bill 1870 requires an applicant for a server permit to be trained in understanding the role of alcohol in sexual assault and harassment along with the best practices for ensuring patron safety, recognizing the role of drugs in assault and strategies to prevent patron drugging in establishments. The legislation also requires the training to educate servers on recognizing and reporting the signs of human trafficking. House Bill 1870 was approved by the General Assembly this week and will now head to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk to be signed into law. It will take effect Jan. 1.
. . .
Workforce licensing: The House chamber this week passed legislation aimed at increasing workforce participation in Tennessee by providing individuals with criminal records a better chance at licensed work. House Bill 1859, sponsored by State Rep. Elaine Davis, R-Knoxville, will update Tennessee’s Fresh Start Act to ensure licensing agencies do not use vague terms like “good moral character” or “character and fitness” in a license application denial. The bill seeks to help individuals with criminal records successfully reapply in the future by giving them more clarity on the reasons for their rejection. The companion version of House Bill 1859 is still advancing through the Senate.
. . .
Vaping: Legislation aimed at studying the effects of vaping on young Tennesseans advanced out of the Health Committee this week. House Bill 2433, sponsored by State Rep. Bryan Terry, R-Murfreesboro, directs the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (TACIR) to identify the prevalence of vaping among individuals under the age of 21, and include things such as health outcomes, enforcement of underage sales and how to address usage on school grounds. The bill is expected to be heard in the Finance, Ways and Means committee on April 10.
. . .
School safety: The General Assembly this week approved legislation that will revoke the driving privileges for juveniles found to have made a threat of mass violence on school property or at a school related activity. House Bill 1698, sponsored by State Rep. Robert Stevens, R-Smyrna, adds loss of driving privileges or the ability to obtain a driver’s license for one year to those adjudicated juvenile’s dispositions. The bill will now head to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk to be signed into law. It will take effect July 1.

. . .

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE (WEEK 11) – MARCH 29, 2024

Greetings from the Capitol!
~ ~ ~

It was a busy week in your State's Government. On Monday the Appropriations Subcommittee, which I serve on, met to discuss miscellaneous budget appropriations for the year. There's no shortage of needs from around the State as is evidenced by the various requests by members of the General Assembly. Over t

Greetings from the Capitol!
~ ~ ~

It was a busy week in your State's Government. On Monday the Appropriations Subcommittee, which I serve on, met to discuss miscellaneous budget appropriations for the year. There's no shortage of needs from around the State as is evidenced by the various requests by members of the General Assembly. Over the next few weeks, as we take a deeper dive into this year's leaner budget, we will decide which projects get funded. This week I had the chance to meet with Leadership Wilson for their Day on the Hill. This was one of the largest groups we've had, with 65 student and adult participants. I was happy to be able to spend some time with them and tell them about what a day in the life of a legislator looks like.
~ ~ ~

I also met with Middle Tennessee Electric's Youth Leadership Summit. Each electrical co-op in the State sent two students. I met with Bailan Sanders and Shemiyah Crockett, who are both constituents from Wilson County. I am very proud of their efforts and for being a part of this program.
~ ~ ~

As always, feel free to contact me with questions or concerns at rep.clark.boyd@capitol.tn.gov or at 615-741-7086.

Rep. Boyd spoke to Leadership Wilson at the TN State Capitol during 9th week of TN State Legislature

Rep. Boyd spoke to Leadership Wilson at the TN State Capitol during the 10th week of the TN State Legislature

Rep. Boyd with Leadership Wilson on the steps of the TN State Capitol

Rep. Boyd with Leadership Wilson on the steps of the TN State Capitol with TN Rep. Susan Lynn, TN Senator Mark Pody, and TN Governor Bill Lee

General Assembly celebrates agriculture in Tennessee

Tennessee’s annual Ag Day on the Hill was held at the State Capitol in Nashville on March 19, 2024 and featured a variety of events, exhibits, activities and livestock along with producers and exhibitors from across the state. The event coincided with National Agriculture Week. In Tennessee, agriculture-related industries employ 324,000 people and contribute $89 billion into the economy. Among those in attendance were farmers, foresters, agriculture officials, legislators, 4-H and Future Farmers of America members. A $1,000 check was also presented to the Shooting Hunger Backpack program on behalf of the Farm and Forest Families of Tennessee organization.

. . .

Bill establishing stronger penalties for threats of mass violence advances

A bill currently advancing through the House would establish stronger penalties for those who threaten mass violence in Tennessee.
. . .
As amended, House Bill 2538 would make it a Class E felony to knowingly, through any means of communication, threaten to commit an act of mass violence. The punishment would increase to a Class D felony if the threat was made against a school, house of worship, or government facility. It could also be enhanced to a Class D if the defendant had a prior conviction for threatening mass violence, or they had taken a substantial step towards carrying out the crime.
. . .
“There aren’t a lot of great tools for a (district attorney) if someone calls and makes a credible, knowing threat of violence against a location, It’s either a misdemeanor charge or you can be charged with an act of terrorism… so this gives them another type of charge to go after in that type of situation”, said bill sponsor Assistant House Majority Leader Mark Cochran (R-Englewood).
. . .
The bill requires, as a condition of bail or other pretrial release, a court to order a defendant charged with threatening to commit an act of mass violence to undergo a mental health assessment to determine if emergency involuntary admission to a treatment facility is needed. It also authorizes a court to order a defendant to undergo a mental health evaluation to determine whether the defendant is competent to stand trial or the defendant’s mental capacity.
. . .
House Bill 2538 is expected to be considered in the Finance Ways and Means Subcommittee on March 27, 2024.

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Grant program would provide anti-choking devices to schools

The K-12 Subcommittee on Tuesday advanced legislation to increase the availability of anti-choking devices in Tennessee schools.

House Bill 2028, sponsored by State Rep. Greg Martin (R-Hixson), would require the Tennessee Department of Health to administer a grant program to reimburse public and private schools and first responders for anti-choking devices.
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“These devices safely remove food, candy, coins, balloons and (whatever) else might be stuck in an airway,” Martin said.
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Anti-choking devices help clear objects out of airways using negative pressure. The program would reimburse schools for the purchase of one device for each cafeteria in a school and medical first responders for one device in each emergency response vehicle.
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More than 12,000 children in the United States are taken to the hospital every year for choking on food. It is the fourth leading cause of unintentional death in children younger than five. House Bill 2028 is scheduled to be heard in the Education Administration Committee on March 27, 2024. If approved, the three-year grant program would take effect July 1, 2024.

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General Assembly increases support for sexual assault victims

Legislation that gives sexual assault victims more time to file a civil lawsuit against their attacker has been unanimously approved by the Tennessee General Assembly.

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House Bill 2216, also known as Danielle’s Law, will extend the statute of limitations from one year to three years for civil lawsuits relating to a sexual assault injury or illness. The time would increase to five years if a police report was filed.
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“This allows survivors to have time to process the trauma and navigate the legal process, There have been cases where rape kits have not been processed within a year of the assault occurring, leaving survivors with no option to pursue civil action”, said bill sponsor State Rep. Sam Whitson (R-Franklin).
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The legislation is named after Nashville resident Danielle Pyle, who found out 13 months after filing a police report that the local district attorney’s office had declined to pursue charges against her alleged rapist. Existing state law prevented her from taking civil action since it had been more than one year since the crime occurred. House Bill 2216 will now head to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk to be signed into law.

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House celebrates Down Syndrome Awareness Day

The House of Representatives commemorated Down Syndrome Awareness Day in Tennessee on Thursday, March 21, 2024. Lawmakers were also joined by members from the Down Syndrome Association of Middle Tennessee who performed the song “True Colors.”
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House Joint Resolution 968, sponsored by State Rep. Sam Whitson (R-Franklin), honors and commends the many achievements and valuable contributions from individuals with Down syndrome. It also highlights the need for further education, awareness and support for these individuals to ensure they have the dignity, success and inclusion they deserve. Down syndrome is a naturally occurring, lifelong genetic condition that occurs in one out of every 800 births worldwide.

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Briefly…

Child safety: The House chamber this week passed legislation to increase the punishment for putting young children in danger. House Bill 1817, sponsored by State Rep. Mary Littleton (R-Dickson), would increase the punishment for negligently placing a child 8 years of age or younger in imminent danger of injury or death to a Class B felony. The crime is currently a Class D felony. The legislation seeks to prevent young children from being exposed to illegal and potentially deadly drugs like fentanyl. The companion version of the legislation is still advancing in the Senate. If approved, the new law would take effect July 1, 2024.
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Domestic abuse victims: Legislation to increase protections for domestic abuse victims in Tennessee was unanimously approved by the House chamber this week. House Bill 2168, sponsored by State Rep. Mary Littleton (R-Dickson), would require an order of protection related to allegations of domestic abuse to remain in effect during an appeal unless it expires. The companion version of the legislation is still advancing through the Senate.
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Substance-abuse treatment: The House chamber this week passed House Bill 2363, sponsored by State Rep. Michele Carringer (R-Knoxville), which would require anyone convicted of vehicular homicide or aggravated vehicular homicide due to intoxication to attend substance-abuse treatment if released on parole. The individual must also not possess or consume alcohol or a controlled substance without a valid prescription during that time. Failure to do so would result in a parole violation. The requirement would only apply to individuals convicted of the crimes prior to July 1, 2022. Anyone convicted of vehicular homicide or aggravated vehicular homicide due to intoxication after that time must serve 100 percent of their sentence before being released. The companion version of the legislation is still advancing through the Senate.
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Debanking: The House on Monday approved legislation to protect Tennesseans from discrimination by financial institutions for their personal beliefs. House Bill 2100, sponsored by State Rep. Jason Zachary (R-Knoxville), would prohibit financial institutions and insurers from discriminating, denying or canceling services to Tennesseans based on political opinions, religious beliefs, social credit scores and other factors. The practice is commonly referred to as “debanking.” The companion version of the bill is still advancing in the Senate. If approved, House Bill 2100 would take effect July 1, 2024.
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Juvenile offenders: The House Children and Family Affairs Subcommittee on Tuesday advanced legislation requiring a child admitted to a juvenile detention facility to be allowed at least one phone call per day before being adjudicated. House Bill 2665, sponsored by State Rep. William Slater (R-Gallatin), would also require an alleged juvenile offender to receive one half hour in-person visit per day with a parent or guardian. The legislation will now head to the Civil Justice Committee for further consideration.
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Ocoee River: House Bill 1946, sponsored by State Rep. Dan Howell (R-Cleveland), would allow for additional days of water releases on the Ocoee River for whitewater rafting. The legislation also designates a portion of the Ocoee as an Olympic River because of its role in the 1996 Summer Olympics. House Bill 1946 is scheduled to be heard in the Finance, Ways and Means Subcommittee on March 27, 2024.

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LEGISLATIVE UPDATE (WEEK 9) – MARCH 15, 2024

Lab Grown Meat Bill is set to be heard in the Agricultural and Natural Resources Subcommittee Next Week

Rep. Lynn is pleased to inform you that HB2860 is up in committee on Tuesday, March 19, 2024. This office will update you as the bill moves through the committee process. Open Meetings Act Bill is Set to be heard in the State Government Committee Next Week. Rep. Lynn is also pleased to inform you that HB2176 is up in committee on Wednesday, March 20, 2024.

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Protect Tennessee Minors Act Advances

The Criminal Justice Subcommittee this week advanced legislation to further protect children from accessing pornography online. The Protect Tennessee Minors Act, sponsored by State Rep. Patsy Hazlewood (R-Signal Mountain), would require website owners to implement an age-verification process if 33.3 percent or more of their total content was harmful to minors.

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“We don’t allow those under 18 to go into adult entertainment establishments and we don’t allow them to access certain materials. Unfortunately, in the cyber world it is much easier for children to access it. All of us are aware of the exponential increase in mental health issues, particularly with our children, and I sincerely believe that this is one of the causes,” Hazlewood said.

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A national survey found that 73 percent of teen respondents between the ages of 13 and 17 admitted to having viewed pornography online. The legislation would require owners of websites with adult content to match a user’s photo to a valid form of identification issued in the United States. Stored data must not include any personal identifying information and the active user must remain anonymous after access has been granted. Search engines, internet service providers and public interest broadcasts and publications would be excluded from the age verification requirement. Any website owner or operator found to be in violation of the law would face a Class C felony. House Bill 1614 is scheduled to be heard in the Criminal Justice Committee on March 19, 2024.

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Republicans Fight to Combat Illegal Immigration in Tennessee

Legislation that would allow illegal immigrants convicted of violent crimes in Tennessee to receive life in prison without parole advanced out of the Criminal Justice Subcommittee this week.

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House Bill 1872, sponsored by State Rep. Monty Fritts (R-Kingston), would allow a judge to sentence an illegal immigrant to life without parole if convicted of a violent crime or a deadly weapon was involved in the offense. The bill also authorizes the same enhancement for adults convicted of a violent crime on school property.

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“Our justice system routinely enhances penalties when one or more crime is committed at the same time as another. Illegal aliens, by entering our country, have committed a crime. If they commit another crime, especially a violent crime, those penalties should be enhanced.” Fritts said.

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The arrest of an illegal immigrant and all subsequent convictions must be also reported to the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. The data will be used to help understand the impact to Tennessee. The Department of Homeland Security has reported more than 6 million encounters along the southern border since 2021. An additional 1.7 million individuals entered the country illegally and successfully evaded authorities. House Bill 1872 is scheduled to be heard in the Criminal Justice Committee on March 19, 2024.

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Bill to prevent illegal immigrants from being transported in Tennessee advanced out of the Criminal Justice Subcommittee

House Bill 2078, sponsored by State Rep. Bryan Richey (R-Maryville), would make it a Class A misdemeanor to knowingly or recklessly transport an illegal immigrant in the state. It is currently a crime to transport an illegal immigrant for commercial advantage or private financial gain.

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“The crisis at our southern border has made every state a border state. Thousands of people are illegally making their way into our country every day as a result of the Biden administration’s inaction. This common-sense bill will prevent illegal immigrants from being unlawfully transported into our state. Tennessee Republicans are committed to ensuring we don’t become a haven for illegals because of the federal government’s dereliction of duty.” Richey said.

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The legislation would also increase the fine from $1,000 to $5,000 for each person illegally transported. House Bill 2078 is scheduled to be heard in the Criminal Justice Committee on March 19, 2024.

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LEGISLATIVE UPDATE (WEEK 8) – MARCH 8, 2024

General Assembly Passes "ELVIS" Act

Tennessee first in the nation to protect ‘voice’ from AI misuse

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The General Assembly this week unanimously passed first-of-its-kind legislation protecting artists’ identity and work from misuse of artificial intelligence (AI).

The Ensuring Likeness Voice and Image Security (ELVIS) Act, sponsored by House Majority Leader William Lamberth, R-Portland, now heads to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk for his signature.

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“As technology advances, we must ensure intellectual property and humanity is protected. Consumers should be fully informed when they encounter artificial content. The ability of artificial intelligence to replicate someone else’s legitimate voice and likeness should deeply concern us all. The ELVIS Act sets critical safeguards that protect creators against harm, exploitation and theft”, Lamberth said.

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While Tennessee’s existing law protects name, image and likeness, it does not address new, personalized generative AI cloning models and services that enable human impersonation and allow users to make unauthorized fake reproductions in the image and voice of others. The emergence of artificial intelligence threatens the careers of artists whose image, likeness, and voice are replicated, as well as the future of the music industry and the jobs it supports. Tennessee is home to more than 68,000 songwriters. The state ranks No. 1 in the nation for music industry employment, with jobs growing by 21 percent over the last five years. Overall, Tennessee’s music industry supports nearly 62,000 jobs across the state, contributes $5.8 billion to gross domestic product (GDP) and fills more than 4,500 music establishments.

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The ELVIS Act is the first legislation of its kind in the nation to build upon existing state rule protecting against the unauthorized use of someone’s likeness by adding “voice” to the realm it protects. Once signed by the governor, the legislation takes effect July 1, 2024.

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Republicans Fight to Combat Illegal Immigration in Tennessee

The House State Government Committee this week advanced Republican legislation that seeks to combat illegal immigration in Tennessee.

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House Bill 2124, sponsored by State Rep. Rusty Grills (R-Newbern), would ensure all law enforcement in the state notify the appropriate federal authorities if an individual they come into contact with is found to be in the country illegally. Notification is currently not required under state law.

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“The federal government continues to put the safety of every Tennessean at risk by not properly securing our nation’s borders. We are either a nation of laws or we are a lawless nation. Until this crisis is over, we must ensure the proper authorities know about individuals who are found to be in this country illegally. This legislation will better protect our communities and make sure those wishing to come here do so the right way”, Grills said.

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There were more than 2.4 million encounters at the nation’s southwest border during the 2023 fiscal year, according to the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security. Since 2021, there have been at least 1.7 million individuals who illegally entered the country and successfully evaded authorities. House Bill 2124 is scheduled to be heard in the House chamber on March 11, 2024. The companion version of the legislation is still advancing through the Senate. If approved, the new law would take effect July 1, 2024.

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Additional Protections from Child Gender-Disfiguring Procedures Advances

Legislation to further protect children in Tennessee from gender-disfiguring procedures advanced out of the House Civil Justice Subcommittee this week.

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House Bill 2310, sponsored by State Rep. Bryan Richey (R-Maryville), seeks to stop anyone from knowingly taking a minor across state lines without parental consent in order to receive a prohibited medical procedure like the removal of the child’s healthy body parts in order for them to identify as a gender that is different from their biological sex.

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“This is just to prevent bad actors from coming in and taking our children to go somewhere else without that child’s parent or guardian giving them permission to do that,” Richey said.

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Any adult who recruits, harbors or transports a minor for a restricted medical procedure could be charged with a Class C felony and held civilly liable by the child’s parent or legal guardian under the proposed legislation. The General Assembly last year passed the Protecting Children from Gender Mutilation Act. The legislation provided the nation’s strongest protections against disfiguring gender mutilation surgeries and treatments on minors. House Bill 2310 is scheduled to be heard in the Civil Justice Committee on March 13, 2024.

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LEGISLATIVE UPDATE (WEEK 7) – FEBRUARY 29, 2024

House Advances School Choice, Bolsters Public Education

The plan gives families the power to use their tax dollars to choose the best school that meets the needs of their child.

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House Republicans this week unveiled a sweeping proposal to improve education in Tennessee by expanding school choice opportunities for families and strengthening existing public schools statewide. House Bill 1183 as amended, represents the culmination of months of diligent work by the chairs of the House education committees to ensure the needs of every student are met. The legislation advanced out of the K-12 Subcommittee on Tuesday after more than two hours of discussion.

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"We have been listening to our teachers, our superintendents and our students all across the state,” said State Rep. Mark White, R-Memphis, who is guiding passage of the bill. “This legislation before us is an opportunity to rethink education in our state.”

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The proposal would establish the Education Freedom Scholarships Act (EFSA), giving parents the power to use their tax dollars to choose the best school that meets the needs of their child. A total of 20,000 scholarships would be available to families for the 2024-25 school year. Priority would be given to students who are currently eligible for an Education Savings Account followed by those from households at or below 400 percent and 500 percent of the federal poverty level respectively. Recipients must be U.S. citizens and not enrolled in a homeschool program. Growth of the EFSA program would be limited to 20 percent of the number of scholarships awarded during the previous year. The Department of Education would also be required to submit an annual report on the utilization of the scholarships.

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“We’ve put caps on the growth of this to make sure that if it grows, it grows sensibly (and) it grows in a way that the General Assembly can afford as it moves forward,” said State Rep. Scott Cepicky, R-Culleoka. “It is driven by usage.”

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Additional funding, more flexibility for public schools. Tennessee public schools will also benefit from House Bill 1183 through additional funding, reductions in testing and evaluations along with increased flexibility in various other areas. “The bulk of this bill is what we’re trying to do for our public schools, because 90 percent of our children go to public schools,” White said. “We are trying to build up what our public schools are doing.” The General Assembly in 2022 approved the Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement (TISA) Act, which overhauled the way the state funds education to prioritize the individual needs of students. The proposed base funding for each public school student in Tennessee for the 2024-25 school year is $7,075. With House Bill 1183, the weighted allocation per student in small districts would increase by 3 percent while the amount for each student in sparse districts would increase by 1 percent. There would also be $75 in additional funding per student to address local school infrastructure needs. Additionally, the state would increase its health care plan contribution for districts from 45 percent to 60 percent. This would amount to an estimated $160 million in additional funding during the first year for districts to use at their discretion. The legislation would also reduce the number of K-12 standardized tests annually and align them more to federal requirements, adding approximately 300 hours of instructional time back into the classroom.

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"Time is the most valuable asset for our teachers,” Cepicky said. “If we can put more time into the classroom and still be able to gather the data we need to make sure our students are progressing, we all win.”

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Higher-performing teachers would be evaluated less frequently and license recertifications would occur every eight years instead of every five years under the proposal. Districts would also have increased flexibility regarding promoting students in grades 4 through 8. Other highlights of the legislation include: Protecting public school scores from being affected by late-transferring students. Flexibility for districts to choose either a traditional 180-day school year or equivalent hours-based schedule. Increasing district improvement plan submissions to every three years. Preventing athletic recruiting by aligning with current TSSAA policies regarding transfer eligibility. Dissolving the Achievement School District in 2026. House Bill 1183 is scheduled to be heard in the Education Administration Committee on March 6, 2024.

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House Approves Bill to Increase Private School Safety

The House of Representatives on Monday passed legislation aimed at increasing safety at more private schools in Tennessee. House Bill 1631, sponsored by State Rep. Gino Bulso, R-Brentwood, allows a private school with students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade to adopt a handgun carry policy for its campus.

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“All of our children in public school or private school deserve to be protected,” Bulso said Monday. “The most dangerous place to be in Tennessee, or any other state in this country, is in a gun free zone, and… if private schools want to have an armed response at the school to protect children, they should have that ability.”

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Existing state law only allows K-12 private schools to establish a handgun carry policy. The companion version of House Bill 1631 is still advancing through the Senate.

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Tennessee Businesses Against Trafficking Program Launches

Members of the Tennessee General Assembly this week joined Secretary of State Tre Hargett and community advocates for the launch of a new initiative to combat human trafficking statewide. Created through the passage of legislation in 2023, Tennessee Businesses Against Trafficking engages corporations and private entities in voluntary efforts to identify, prevent and combat human trafficking in communities across the state. Participants will be able to identify the warning signs of trafficking and assist in the reporting of suspected criminal activity to the authorities.

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“Through Tennessee Businesses Against Trafficking, businesses will be effective partners in the ongoing fight against trafficking crimes. While we have made considerable progress in Tennessee, we must all continue to do our part and stand with victims, survivors and their families” said State Rep. Debra Moody (R-Covington).

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Participating businesses will adopt a zero-tolerance policy and participate in training, public awareness and education campaigns. They will also encourage employees to participate and share best practices that effectively combat human trafficking with the Secretary of State’s office. Human trafficking is the second-fastest growing criminal industry in the United States, only behind drug trafficking, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. There have been cases of human trafficking crimes reported in all 95 Tennessee counties. Additional information about Tennessee Businesses Against Trafficking, including how to join the program, can be found online at tbat.tnsos.gov.

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Wilson Rides is hosting Volunteer Driver Training every month in both Lebanon and Mt. Juliet

Registration is required. Lebanon Wilson County Chamber of Commerce @ 11:30 - 1:00pm every 2nd Monday. March 11th is the next one. Mt. Juliet Chamber of Commerce @ 3:30 - 5:00pm every 2nd Wednesday. March 13th is the next one. Wilson Rides is also hosting "Curiosity & Coffee" on the 1st Friday of every month from 9:00am - 10:00am. Pop's Coffee Shop (Lebanon) on the 1st Friday in March, May, July, September & November. Just Love Coffee Cafe (Mt. Juliet) on the 1st Friday in April, June, August, October & December.

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"We are alternating between Lebanon and Mount Juliet. This is designed for those interested in learning more about Wilson Rides, joining or volunteering. Current volunteers are also welcome to attend to ask questions and share stories and experiences. Registration NOT required" said Gayle Lynn Wilson, WilsonRiders.org coordinator.

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