On the Hill: April 15-19
The focus of the week was on passing the state’s more than $52 billion budget through both chambers.
Democrats voice concern regarding unknown franchise tax, school voucher legislation
However, the House and Senate still couldn't agree on the specifics of what Republicans are billing as the largest tax cut to businesses in Tennessee history — which of course is the removal of the property tax provision of the franchise tax.
In addition, there was still no conclusion on school voucher legislation — called Education Freedom Scholarships in the budget. But while those discussions have yet to wrap with the end of session looming, several other pieces of legislation saw movement.
Guns
The week began with a student protest of a bill that would allow public school teachers and staff to be armed with guns. The Senate passed the legislation April 9, with the House expected to take up the bill next week. Covenant School parent and activist Sarah Shoop Neumann also penned an open letter this week opposing the bill. That letter has gained signatures from more than 4,000 Tennesseans.
Local students and Covenant parents on watch as conceal carry bill for teachers nears a vote in the House
'Jillian’s Law'
On Monday, “Jillian's Law” was passed by the House and Senate and is expected to soon be signed by Gov. Bill Lee. The bill passed the House with 92 “yes” votes and four votes of “present.” In the Senate there was one “present” vote with 28 “yes” votes.
The bill was named for the late Jillian Ludwig, an 18-year-old Belmont University student who was killed by a stray bullet in November. Police arrested 29-year-old Shaquille Taylor, who had previously been found mentally incompetent and couldn't stand trial following a 2021 shooting.
The legislation would require someone who has been found mentally incompetent by a criminal court to be committed to a mental institution and lose the right to possess or purchase a firearm.
“This bill will absolutely save lives in the great state of Tennessee,” said bill sponsor and House Majority Leader William Lamberth (R-Portland).
“If this bill had been on the books a year ago, many of you would probably have never heard the name Jillian Ludwig, because she would still be in school at Belmont. And her parents wouldn't have come all the way to Tennessee to see that justice be done on a man who should have been in jail instead of killing their baby girl.”
Grocery tax
The Senate passed a bill (SB2520/HB2641) that would authorize cities to reduce a tax on food to a lesser rate than the municipality’s tax on other goods. If every city in the state decided to reduce the tax, Tennesseans could see $500 million in tax reduction. The bill received 28 affirmative votes with Sens. Charlane Oliver (D-Nashville) and London Lamar (D-Memphis) voting “present.” Democrats, including Oliver, have been proponents of a statewide cut to the grocery tax. The House already passed the bill in March, and it awaits the signature of the House speaker before moving on to the governor.
Consumer protection
HB1832/SB1894, which would require a business that automatically bills for services to receive approval from the consumer, passed the House. If a consumer agrees to a discounted initial rate, the business would have to send an email to get consent for the regularly recurring higher rate at least 60 days before the charge. The bill previously passed the Senate and now awaits action from Lee.
East Bank
The bill that would create an authority to oversee development on the East Bank has been pushed back yet again. After the bill switched sponsors in the Senate, Sen. Heidi Campbell (D-Nashville), who now sponsors the legislation, rolled it to Monday’s calendar after the long week of budget talks across the chambers.
Health care
Part of a pattern of "vaccine freedom"-related bills this session, HB2452/SB2641 passed the House floor on Monday and awaits action in the Senate. It removes a declaration that parents have a responsibility to vaccinate their children based on guidelines from either the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the American Academy of Pediatrics. Instead, it encourages parents to look to their “trusted health care provider.”
On Thursday, a bill that would create a maternal mortality advisory board passed the House after having passed the Senate in March. The four new board positions would focus on community-based maternal health experts.
A bill that would change the state’s certificate of need program passed the House on Tuesday and awaits action in the Senate. It would eliminate permitting requirements for some medical facilities and lighten restrictions for others. Nashville-based hospital giant HCA Healthcare supports the bill, while the Tennessee Hospital Association issued a joint statement opposing the bill with 16 Tennessee hospitals including Ascension Saint Thomas and Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
This article was first published by our sister publication, the Nashville Post.
