Legislative Update, February 20, 2021

 

Tennessee General Assembly information, click HERE. For information on State Senators, including phone numbers and email addresses, click HERE; for House members, click HERE. For information on legislation, click HERE.
Don't forget that you can now watch the Senate committee meetings and floor sessions online by going HERE; House committee meetings and floor sessions online HERE.
Phone calls can go to the legislative Switchboard at 615-741-3011 or to the Toll Free number 1-800-449-8366+1 last four digits of office phone number (available online).

 

It does not take a majority to prevail... but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men. --Samuel Adams

FOR YOUR PRAYER LIST:
When you take this kind of 'header' off your horse in the ring, you end up with two broken wrists.  Please pray for Sen. Paul Bailey as he undertakes this healing process.  He also took a blow to his head in the fall.
Of course you will want to continue to pray for Rep. Mike Carter and his treatment for pancreatic cancer and Rep.David Byrd and his continued recovery from Covid. 





 

Legislative Update, February 13, 2021.
Please check out last week's Update and if you didn't make the appropriate contacts please do so before Tuesday. 

 

Winter storm shuts down Tennessee Legislature for week.

Well, my goodness, it certainly did.  In my 34 years there I don't ever remember that happening before.  I guess there is a first time for everything--all that 'global warming' dontcha know!!!

Since no committees met and no business was done, I thought I would take this opportunity to review some bills that Tennessee Eagle Forum will be involved in this year. This is not an exhaustive list as there have been 1617 bills introduced in the Senate and 1355 introduced in the House. Given the legislative limitations, there are only so many bills we can be closely involved in because of the time required to properly lobby a piece of legislation.

In addition to the bills covered in last week's Legislative Update (see link above and be sure to ACT), we will be involved in these:



THIS IS AN TENNESSEE EAGLE FORUM BILL:

WHAT IS SEXUAL HARASSMENT?
SB 1124 by *White--HB 1006 by *Doggett
Juvenile Offenders - As introduced, expands the unruly act of illegal use of a communication device by a minor to include possessing or transmitting an image of sexual activity involving a minor.

 
PROTECTING CHILDREN FROM MUTILATING SURGERY:
SB 0657 by *Bowling - HB 0578 by *Ragan , WEAVER
Children - As introduced, prohibits the provision of sexual identity change therapy to prepubescent minors; prohibits the provision of sexual identity change therapy to minors who have entered puberty unless a parent or guardian has written recommendations for the therapy from at least three physicians; punishes violations as child abuse; designates violations by healthcare professionals as professional misconduct


PRIVACY FROM THE OPPOSITE SEX:
SB 1238 by *Pody - HB 1177 by *Sexton J
Criminal Offenses - As introduced, specifies, for the offense of observation without consent, that a person has a reasonable expectation of privacy from members of the opposite sex in a single-sex multi-person use bathroom, locker room, dressing room or shower; defines a person's sex as the sex listed on the person's birth certificate and makes other related changes


RESOLVING SURPRISE MEDICAL BILLING:
SB 0001 by *Watson , Crowe - HB 0002 by *Smith
Health Care - As introduced, establishes independent dispute resolution procedures for emergency services and balance bills
                     (In case you are wondering why I would want to be involved in this issue:  When my husband was in the hospital some time back, he was seen by a 'hospitalist' --someone who didn't know squat about Ron, his health, background, etc.,who spent less than five minutes in the room -- and we later got a steep bill for his 'services' and learned that his 'services' were not covered by our insurance. Believe me the next time Ron was in the hospital and a 'stranger' showed up at his door, I stopped him and asked if his services were covered by our insurance.  When he said 'yes' I let him in the room. This 'problem' happens a lot with visits to the Emergency Room when many  ERs are staffed by doctors who are independent contractors and not covered by insurance.)




Secretary of State Tre Hargett is holding a parade for the Tennessee Constitution

Natalie Allison Nashville Tennessean February 12, 2021

Among the first public festivities being scheduled in Nashville for 2021: A parade for the Tennessee Constitution.

Yes, you read correctly. Secretary of State Tre Hargett is holding a first-of-its-kind procession, complete with a marching drum line, color guard and some of the state's top officials making their way around the Capitol to transport the prized state documents.

The March 1 event will be a ceremonial procession to move the state's three copies of the constitution — first written in 1796 and revised twice over the next 75 years — from the current Tennessee State Library and Archives building to a brand new facility that will open this spring.

"Moving the constitution is a big deal," Hargett said. "We just thought it would be a great way to raise awareness about the kinds of things we house at the Tennessee State Library and Archives," which he oversees.
The state library is home to an array of hand-drawn maps dating back to the would-be State of Franklin in 1785, along with other original documents like correspondence from Tennessee's past governors, Civil War diaries and historic photographs.

The three constitutions are valued at $12 million, according to Chuck Sherrill, the state's librarian and archivist, though Hargett described them as "priceless documents."








 

Pro-life medical association to appeals court: TN’s law protecting women deserves to stand

ADF attorneys file friend-of-the-court brief in favor of state law ensuring women have critical health information

Wednesday, Feb 17, 2021

CINCINNATI – Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys representing a pro-life medical association filed a friend-of-the-court brief Tuesday, asking the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit to reverse a federal district court decision ruling unconstitutional a 2015 Tennessee law protecting women. The brief, filed on behalf of the Christian Medical and Dental Associations, explains that the U.S. Supreme Court has already upheld similar laws requiring a waiting period before abortions can be procured.

 

Tennessee Senate Education Committee Recommends Passage of Legislation Enabling Governor to Override School Closures .

 

Dolly Parton: No thanks to Tennessee Capitol statue .

Tennessee Signed Contract With Consulting Firm While Also Investigating It For Role In Opioid Epidemic .

Tennessee Legislators Propose Empowering General Assembly to Scrutinize Presidential Executive Orders for Constitutionality .

Registry of Election Finance changes unlikely amid FBI probe .

Former State Rep. and Sr. Advisor to Governor Lee, John DeBerry Talks About His New Role and a Very Different Democratic Party .




With all the legislative restrictions this session, please know that you can, AND SHOULD, watch the committee meetings as well as the floor session.  You can see the Senate HERE;  and the House HERE.