State OF Tennessee Legislative Representative Susan Lynn's Week 6 Recap. February 28, 2025.
HB1156 - As introduced, deletes the responsibility of a parent or legal guardian to ensure that such person's child receives vaccines as recommended by guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the American Academy of Pediatrics. This is unrelated to school immunization requirements. This bill was rolled to next week's calendar due to the addition of an amendment.
HB1157 - As introduced, enacts the "Restore Trust in Public Health Messaging Act." This would require the Department of Health to adhere to product labels in their messaging of FDA regulated products.
HB1154 - As introduced, specifies that if the occupant of a self-service storage facility does not sign a written rental agreement revision and continues to use the facility for not less than 30 days from the date of receipt of the agreement, then the occupant is considered to have accepted the rental agreement revision; makes other changes related to self-service storage facilities.
HB0412 - As introduced, changes the sponsoring entity for safety and handling training classes needed to satisfy the education requirement for a liquefied petroleum gas dealer license from only the National Propane Gas Association to any state or national association representing the liquified petroleum industry.
HJR0149 - Supports efforts to make Tennesseans healthy again.
State Announces Funding for Rural Healthcare Initiatives.
$10.7 Million in Grants Will Fund Health-Related Workforce Development in All Rural Counties.
NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD) has awarded $10.7 million in grant funding to support rural healthcare initiatives across the state.
Beginning July 1, 2025, 38 organizations across Tennessee will receive funds to strengthen healthcare workforce development in every rural county in the state.
Through the Rural Healthcare Initiatives Program, local partners will use these funds to bolster 51 health-related occupations across 91 of Tennessee’s 95 counties that are not considered metropolitan areas. This initiative aims to expand the state’s healthcare workforce by leveraging existing training structures and increasing apprenticeship opportunities. This investment in workforce development will help ensure rural communities have access to skilled healthcare professionals, improving the quality and availability of care statewide.
“The Rural Healthcare Initiatives Program is a critical step toward building a sustainable healthcare workforce in Tennessee’s rural areas,” said TDLWD Commissioner Deniece Thomas. “This initiative provides financial resources to support training, certifications, and apprenticeships.”
The program’s financial support will be directed to sponsoring entities, which will facilitate training programs, certification courses, and apprenticeships. Additionally, grant funding will help address essential ancillary costs such as transportation, childcare, and examination fees, factors that often prevent workforce entry and advancement.
“Our goal is to remove barriers and create opportunities for individuals to enter and excel in healthcare careers in Tennessee’s rural communities,” Commissioner Thomas explained. “We know a healthy Tennessee is a vibrant Tennessee and nowhere is that more important than in our rural communities.”
Through the Rural Workforce Initiatives, TDLWD remains committed to supporting local efforts that enhance training opportunities and expand employment options in rural Tennessee.
To ensure the continuation of this critical component of rural workforce development, Gov. Bill Lee has included a second year of funding for the program in his proposed budget for the 2025 – 2026 fiscal year.
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State OF Tennessee Legislative Representative Susan Lynn's Week 7 Recap. March 7, 2025.
HB1157 - As introduced, enacts the "Restore Trust in Public Health Messaging Act." This would require the Department of Health to adhere to product labels in their messaging of FDA regulated products. This bill was rolled to next week's calendar due to the addition of an amendment.
HJR0149 - Supports efforts to make Tennesseans healthy again.
HB1158 - As introduced, requires the director to take such actions as the director deems necessary to enable the bureau to make available to an enrollee in Part A of the Katie Beckett program the option to use the wrap-around home and community-based services funds allotted to the enrollee by means of a health reimbursement arrangement, including seeking a waiver amendment or new amendment.
HB1154 - As introduced, specifies that if the occupant of a self-service storage facility does not sign a written rental agreement revision and continues to use the facility for not less than 30 days from the date of receipt of the agreement, then the occupant is considered to have accepted the rental agreement revision; makes other changes related to self-service storage facilities.
HB0412 - As introduced, changes the sponsoring entity for safety and handling training classes needed to satisfy the education requirement for a liquefied petroleum gas dealer license from only the National Propane Gas Association to any state or national association representing the liquified petroleum industry.
Republicans Seek Protections Against Dangers of Fentanyl,
Several proposals to protect Tennesseans from the dangers of fentanyl moved through the House of Representatives this week.
House Bill 751, sponsored by House Majority Caucus Chairman Jeremy Faison, R-Cosby, will enhance the penalty to a Class E felony for knowingly placing a child in danger of death or injury by possessing any amount of fentanyl or its derivatives in their presence. It would a Class B felony if the child exposed to the dangerous drug is under eight years old.
“One of the things that my (district attorney) and the Opioid Abatement Council all looked at is the notion that we have parents or adults who have the analogues and all the stuff that goes into making fentanyl and high-powered drugs that are killing people in front of children,” Faison said.
Poison centers in the United States managed 539 cases of children under six years old being exposed to fentanyl in 2023, an increase from 10 cases in 2016, according to America’s Poison Centers.
House Bill 573, sponsored by State Rep. Clay Doggett, R-Pulaski, would lower the amount of fentanyl that would be deemed a Class A felony in Tennessee from 150 grams to 50 grams.
Offenders accused of selling, manufacturing or possessing 50 grams or more of fentanyl or a derivative would face a Class A felony with a fine of up to $500,000, according to House Bill 573.
Both bills advanced out of the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee this week and are scheduled to be heard for consideration in the House Judiciary Committee on March 12.
Caring for Caregivers Act Advances.
The House Health Subcommittee this week unanimously advanced legislation supporting caregivers of Alzheimer’s and related dementia patients.
The Caring for Caregivers Act, sponsored by State Rep. Renea Jones, R-Unicoi, creates a grant fund to help caregivers with lost wages and expenses related to caring for their loved one.
“House Bill 717 was inspired by a constituent who shared his family’s experience caring for his grandfather with Alzheimer’s,” Jones said. “Caregivers can lose more than $36,000 annually in wages and expenses looking after their loved one. This legislation lays the foundation to support approximately 360,000 caregivers statewide.”
More than 11 million Americans provide unpaid care for a family member or friend with dementia, a contribution to the nation valued at nearly $350 billion, according to a 2024 report by the Alzheimer’s Association.
This bill establishes a three-year pilot program with the Tennessee Department of Disability and Aging to provide $6,000 grants to families and caregivers of individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
Several states, including Georgia, Missouri and South Carolina, have similar programs to help caregivers with out-of-pocket expenses. House Bill 717 is scheduled to be heard in the House Health Committee on March 11.
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State OF Tennessee Legislative Representative Susan Lynn's Week 8 Recap. March 14, 2025.
HB1157 - As introduced, enacts the "Restore Trust in Public Health Messaging Act." This would require the Department of Health to adhere to product labels in their messaging of FDA regulated products.
HB1153 - As introduced, requires local boards of education to establish a program to provide free school breakfast and lunch to disadvantaged students; subject to funding, requires the state to reimburse LEAs for providing such free breakfasts and lunches after all federal funds have been applied.
HJR0149 - Supports efforts to make Tennesseans healthy again.
HB1158 - As introduced, requires the director to take such actions as the director deems necessary to enable the bureau to make available to an enrollee in Part A of the Katie Beckett program the option to use the wrap-around home and community-based services funds allotted to the enrollee by means of a health reimbursement arrangement, including seeking a waiver amendment or new amendment.
HB0411 - requires TennCare coverage of treatment of pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections (PANDAS) and pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS).
HB1154 - As introduced, specifies that if the occupant of a self-service storage facility does not sign a written rental agreement revision and continues to use the facility for not less than 30 days from the date of receipt of the agreement, then the occupant is considered to have accepted the rental agreement revision; makes other changes related to self-service storage facilities.
HB0412 - As introduced, changes the sponsoring entity for safety and handling training classes needed to satisfy the education requirement for a liquefied petroleum gas dealer license from only the National Propane Gas Association to any state or national association representing the liquified petroleum industry.
House Passes Bill Promoting Merit-Based Hiring Practices.
A Republican bill that promotes fair hiring practices in Tennessee passed in the House of Representatives this week.
House Bill 1237, sponsored by House Deputy Speaker Jason Zachary, R-Knoxville, prohibits excluding people from state regulatory and health-related boards based on immutable characteristics like race, color, ethnicity and national origin.
“The very genesis of this bill is to ensure that merit is the qualification – the best possible people to serve on these boards,” Zachary said on the House floor.
If passed, state boards could not establish or operate under race-based policies relating to membership, ensuring Tennessee is complying with the 2023 United States Supreme Court decision in Students for Fair Admissions Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College. The bill establishes a private cause of action against boards for violating the provisions of this legislation.
The companion version of House Bill 1237 is still making its way through the Senate.
Bill Seeks to Individualize TennCare Medical Necessity.
Legislation that will personalize TennCare’s medical necessity determinations moved through the House of Representatives this week.
Emma’s Bill, sponsored by State Rep. Rebecca Alexander, R-Jonesborough, requires TennCare to consider the patient’s overall condition when determining funding and medical services, even if it does not result in the least costly course of diagnosis or treatment.
“These are our most vulnerable people, and they need every bit of care that we can possibly give them,” Alexander said. “We’re not asking (TennCare) for much, just look at what the patient needs. That’s what we’re here for.”
House Bill 364 was inspired by a young constituent who, after experiencing a spontaneous series of seizures, was left paralyzed, non-verbal, unable to eat independently and reliant on a ventilator at night. Emma’s TennCare funding was reduced in 2023 because she no longer used the ventilator for 12 hours a night, leading to the loss of her overnight nursing care despite needing 24-hour care due to her tracheostomy and regular turning every two hours.
House Bill 364 will require TennCare to review a patient's mobility, cognitive awareness, need for nursing supervision, and requirement for life-sustaining equipment, like a ventilator, when determining medical necessity, regardless of usage hours.
Emma’s Bill passed unanimously in both the House TennCare Subcommittee and House Insurance Committee. The bill has been placed behind the budget to be considered at a later date.
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State OF Tennessee Legislative Representative Susan Lynn's Week 9 Recap. March 21, 2025.
HB1153 - As introduced, requires local boards of education to establish a program to provide free school breakfast and lunch to disadvantaged students; subject to funding, requires the state to reimburse LEAs for providing such free breakfasts and lunches after all federal funds have been applied.
HJR0149 - Supports efforts to make Tennesseans healthy again.
HB1158 - As introduced, requires the director to take such actions as the director deems necessary to enable the bureau to make available to an enrollee in Part A of the Katie Beckett program the option to use the wrap-around home and community-based services funds allotted to the enrollee by means of a health reimbursement arrangement, including seeking a waiver amendment or new amendment.
HB1159 - As introduced, requires a voter to designate on the voter registration record a political party with which the voter is affiliated in order to vote in primary elections for such political party.
Republicans Expedite Completion of Tennessee Road Projects.
The General Assembly this week passed legislation that will help expedite the completion of road projects in Tennessee. Sponsored by House Majority Leader William Lamberth, R-Portland, and carried by House Transportation Committee Chairman Dan Howell, R-Cleveland, House Bill 1320 builds on the Transportation Modernization Act of 2023, which invested more than $3.3 billion in Tennessee’s infrastructure.
House Bill 1320 aims to improve the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT)'s use of alternative delivery methods like Design-Build (DB), Construction Manager/General Contractor (CM/GC), and Progressive Design-Build (PDB), which have successfully delivered complex projects.
The Transportation Modernization Act of 2023 expanded these methods, making it possible to quickly rebuild bridges following the devastation of Hurricane Helene in September 2024.
Currently, CM/GC and PDB proposals are scored independently, leading to irregularities. The bill would allow collaborative scoring to improve evaluations, ensure consistency in selection, and grant TDOT the ability to use these contracts in emergency situations, similar to traditional Design-Bid-Build contracts. House Bill 1320 ensures a high-quality evaluation process and continuity in procedures. The legislation now heads to the governor’s desk for his signature.
Bill Creates Offense of Human Smuggling, Harboring Illegals.
A proposal to improve public safety in Tennessee by cracking down on human smuggling and illegal immigration advanced in the House this week.
House Bill 322, sponsored by State Rep. Chris Todd, R-Madison County, will create the Class E felony offense of human smuggling, which includes encouraging or inducing someone to enter or remain in Tennessee by concealing, harboring or shielding them from detection. The offense would also include transporting one or more persons for commercial advantage or private financial gain while intending to conceal them. The bill creates the Class A felony offense of aggravated human smuggling when a victim is less than 13 years old.
“President Joe Biden failed the American people for four years when he opened our border and allowed millions of illegal immigrants to move throughout our nation,” Todd said. “Not only has his dereliction of duty placed an immense financial and public safety burden on states, but it also helped fuel a heartbreaking human smuggling and trafficking crisis affecting men, women and children. This legislation will improve public safety in Tennessee by protecting victims, prosecuting the evil people driving the multi-billion-dollar industry and holding people accountable for harboring illegal immigrants.”
House Bill 322 will make it a Class A misdemeanor to harbor or assist someone in harboring a known illegal immigrant in Tennessee, punishable by $1,000 for each harbored person. The bill also adds promoting the prostitution of a minor to the criminal offense of human trafficking. Finally, House Bill 322 permits the Tennessee Attorney General to bring action against any person or organization believed to be committing a human trafficking offense in the Volunteer State.
Human smuggling is a multi-billion-dollar industry that serves as a “gateway crime” for illegal immigration, gang activity, financial fraud and terrorism, according to United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
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State OF Tennessee Legislative Representative Susan Lynn's Week 10 Recap. March 28, 2025.
HB1153 - As introduced, requires local boards of education to establish a program to provide free school breakfast and lunch to disadvantaged students; subject to funding, requires the state to reimburse LEAs for providing such free breakfasts and lunches after all federal funds have been applied.
HB1158 - As introduced, requires the director to take such actions as the director deems necessary to enable the bureau to make available to an enrollee in Part A of the Katie Beckett program the option to use the wrap-around home and community-based services funds allotted to the enrollee by means of a health reimbursement arrangement, including seeking a waiver amendment or new amendment.
HB411 - As introduced, requires TennCare coverage of treatment of pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections (PANDAS) and pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS).
Children’s Emergency Care Alliance Receives Award from Department of Health.
Through the legislative commitment to the Rural Healthcare Resiliency Program (HRP), administered by the Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) your district is receiving the following investments:
• Children’s Emergency Care Alliance – $550,800.00; all rural TN counties eligible for services.
A transformative initiative designed to enhance pediatric emergency care and disaster preparedness for children with medical complexities throughout Tennessee.
These investments will go towards community-driven projects that improve health access for low-income, underserved, and vulnerable populations in rural communities. This was a very competitive process! 146 applicants applied, with over $332 million in request. Ultimately, just 23 projects were selected. These 23 projects touch every single one of the 89 rural counties. All 23 projects touch an At-Risk or Distressed County, and all 23 projects touch counties that have done a locally led County Health Assessment with their County Health Council.
Republicans Seek to Create State Penalties for Illegal Immigrants.
The House Departments and Agencies Subcommittee this week advanced legislation to further combat illegal immigration in the Volunteer State.
House Bill 177, sponsored by State Rep. Lee Reeves, R-Franklin, creates a criminal offense for those illegally present in the state and establishes procedures for deportation. “This bill is a measured, responsible step towards protecting Tennessee communities, enforcing the rule of law and demagnetizing our state (from) illegal immigration,” Reeves said.
The bill states that a person who is not lawfully in the United States and enters or remains in Tennessee would be committing a Class B misdemeanor offense on first violation and Class E felony offense on subsequent violations.
Individuals charged with violating this law would be ordered to leave the state within 72 hours. If convicted, they have 72 hours after the completion of their sentence to leave the state.
House Bill 177 is considered a trigger law, opposing the Arizona v. United States decision that barred states from criminally penalizing illegal immigrants. It would only go into effect if the decision is overturned or adjusted, a similar state law is enforceable for 60 days without legal challenge, or a U.S. constitutional amendment allows states to enforce or regulate immigration.
The bill is expected to be heard in the House State and Local Government Committee on April 2.
Lebanon– Wilson County Mayor and RTA Chair Randall Hutto is partnering with WeGo Public Transit to transport runners and supporters to the St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon on April 26.
The train to the marathon is a collaborative effort between WeGo, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and Wilson County. All ticket proceeds will benefit St. Jude. RJ Corman is supporting the special event train as this year’s corporate sponsor.
Tickets cost $15 plus a $2 processing fee and may be purchased with a credit card through TicketsNashville.com. Tickets will be on sale until 24 hours prior to departure or until tickets are sold out, whichever comes first. Children ages 4 and younger will not need a ticket to board; however, they are required to sit in a parent or guardian's lap. Anyone needing special accommodations to board is asked to contact WeGo Customer Care at 615-862-5950 prior to their trip.
The train will arrive at Riverfront Station at 6:00 a.m. The return train to Lebanon leaves Riverfront Station at 1:30 p.m.
WeGo Public Transit on social media (@WeGoTransit) and visit WeGoTransit.com. Customers can check mobile real-time information on the Transit App. The Transit App can be downloaded in your app store.
