(NASHVILLE, Tenn.), March 4, 2022 — Tennessee currently offers a compensation program for families of first responders killed in the line of duty. Senate Bill 278, passed by the Senate this week, expands the definition of a law enforcement officer in the program to also include deputy jailers, retroactive to March 1, 2020.

Under the program, families of first responders killed in the line of duty receive a $250,000 annuity paid over five years in $50,000 installments.

“Deputy jailers risk their lives to serve Tennessee and their families deserve compensation in the unlikely event of a tragic loss of life,” said Sen. Paul Rose, (R-Covington), the bill’s sponsor. “That compensation will go a long way to helping those families adjust to their new normal.”

The estimated fiscal impact of the bill is “not significant” because the Finance Administration Committee budgets for seven deaths of law enforcement officers in the line of duty each year, Rose said. He noted there were two deputy jailer deaths while on duty in 2020 and none between that year and 1996 in Tennessee.

Residency requirement for U.S. Senate, House of Representatives passes in Senate

The Senate this week voted to establish an immediate three-year residency requirement to run in Democratic or Republican primaries for U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.

The Tennessee State Constitution requires seven years of residency in the state to run for Governor, five years of residency to run for judge or district attorney, and three years of residency to run for the State Senate or House. But the state and U.S. Constitution are silent in regard to residency for U.S. Senate or House of Representatives candidates, according to Sen. Frank Niceley (R-Strawberry Plains), who sponsored the bill.

“The constitution is silent on this issue,” Niceley said. “When the constitution is silent, the states can do what they want to do.”

Senate Bill 2616 does not prohibit anyone from running for U.S. Senate or House of Representatives; it only applies to primary elections for those offices.

A proposed House amendment to the bill would make the residency requirement take effect after the upcoming general election.

Committee advances “strongest anti-BDS legislation in the country”

Legislation described as the “strongest anti-BDS legislation in the country” received unanimous approval by the State and Local Government Committee this week. The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement promotes boycotts, divestments and economic sanctions against Israel.

Senate Bill 1993 prohibits a public entity from entering into a contract with a company unless the contract includes a written certification that the company is not currently and will not for the duration of the contract be engaged in a boycott of Israel. The bill includes an exemption for contracts with a total value less than $250,000 and contractors with fewer than 10 employees.

“This legislation is vital because there is an effort here in the United States and in the state of Tennessee to have our taxpayer dollars subsidize the movement to boycott Israel,” said Ari Morgenstern, senior director of policy and communications for Christians United for Israel, who testified before the committee Tuesday. “Before you is the strongest legislation of its kind in the United States.”

The bill next goes to the full Senate for consideration.

Bill would allow TEMA to use drones for emergency response

The Judiciary Committee on Tuesday passed a bill that would allow the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) to use drones to aid in emergency response efforts. Current state law prohibits the agency from doing so.

Senate Bill 2428 would permit TEMA to use drones to survey the scene of a catastrophe or other damage, coordinate a disaster response, conduct damage assessments of property and infrastructure following a disaster, and help with search and rescue efforts.

“This is a very necessary bill,” said Sen. Kerry Roberts (R-Springfield), a co-sponsor of the bill. “Drones are an efficient, low-cost quick-response tool. This will help Tennessee complete damage assessments faster and enable requests for federal assistance to be completed quicker.”

The bill would allow images captured for damage assessment to be retained no more than one year unless the disaster has been declared a major disaster by the president of the United States, in which case the images may be retained for a designated period of time by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for data related to the assessment, according to Roberts.

Legislation seeks to repeal R&D amortization provision in Tax Cuts and Jobs Act

A bill proposing to repeal the research and development amortization provision in the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act advanced through the Finance, Ways and Means Committee this week.

Since 1954, the revenue code has allowed businesses to deduct research and development expenses in the year in which they were incurred. But that changed in January of this year, when the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act took effect. That law requires companies to amortize research and development costs over five years instead of deducting them immediately each year.

“Businesses investing in research activities will experience a higher liability on the short term and frankly it will significantly impair private investment into research and development,” Sen. Ken Yager (R-Kingston) said of the federal amortization provision. “It could have a chilling effect on the economies of communities where research and development is prominent.”

Senate Bill 2397 would allow companies to continue the current practice of deducting research expenses as incurred.

Bill would lower tuition costs for out-of-state military

Passed by the Education Committee this week, Senate Bill 2486 would allow active-duty military and veterans living outside of Tennessee to be eligible for in-state tuition rates.

The bill specifically authorizes the boards of state universities to choose to offer in-state tuition to veterans. Current law requires veterans to live in the state, though their formal residence may be out of the state, to receive in-state tuition.

The bill would apply to active-duty military, U.S. Army Reserve, members of the National Guard and Reserve Officers’ Training Corps cadets.

“The bill would provide public universities the opportunity to decrease out-of-pocket tuition costs for military students and increase their own ability to recruit these students from across the country,” said Sen. Richard Briggs (R-Knoxville), the sponsor of the bill.

Committee paves way for impact fee in Maury County

The State and Local Government Committee this week passed legislation allowing Maury County, the fastest growing county in the state and fourth fastest growing county in the country, to impose an impact fee on new residential development in the county.

Senate Bill 1840 stipulates revenue from the impact fee would have to be spent on construction or renovation of schools, public facilities or other related infrastructure. The fee could be up to $3 per square foot, and could be raised every four years.

“The bill only applies to Maury County because they need help funding schools and infrastructure because of their rapid growth,” said Sen. Joey Hensley (R-Hohenwald), the sponsor of the bill. “The impact fee will help pay for costs expected to be incurred by the new development.”

A county legislative body seeking to impose an impact fee must approve a resolution by a two-thirds vote of the body at two regular meetings held at least 90 days apart.

Two other counties in the state have imposed an impact fee, including neighboring Williamson County, according to Hensley.

In Brief

Human trafficking — Passed by the Senate this week, Senate Bill 1378 changes the age of a victim of a Class A felony offense of trafficking for a commercial sex act from under 15 years of age to between the ages of 13 and 17. It also creates a Class A felony offense of aggravated trafficking for a commercial sex act, and requires those convicted to serve 100% of any sentence imposed.

Road safety — The Senate unanimously approved the Hannah Eimers Memorial Tennessee Roadside Safety Hardware Act (Senate Bill 1671), which requires robust safety testing of crash cushions and guardrail end terminals located on public highways and roads.

The bill is named after 17-year-old Hannah Eimers, who was tragically killed in 2016 in a car crash involving a guardrail on Interstate 75 in McMinn County. That particular guardrail design saw insufficient safety testing and has since been removed in the state.

COVID-19 liability protection — The General Assembly in 2020 passed Gov. Lee’s Tennessee Recovery and Safe Harbor Act, which provides COVID-19 liability protection to businesses, schools, churches and other entities. Senate Bill 2448, passed by the Senate this week, extends the termination date of the act from July 1, 2022 to July 1, 2023.

Constables — All law enforcement has a mechanism to address criminal or unethical conduct among the ranks, except constables. Senate Bill 1782, approved by the Senate this week, establishes a mechanism to do just that. Under the bill, whenever a constable is arrested or indicted for a felony or specific misdemeanors, a court judge may put the constable on administrative leave or even remove them from office. The constable would be provided a right to a hearing, and the right to appeal by a court of appeals.

Opioid antagonists — Senate Bill 2572, passed by the Senate, enables a broader distribution of opioid antagonists such as naloxone, which are used to reverse drug overdoses. Roughly 40 states have passed similar bills, according to sponsor Sen. Rusty Crowe, (R-Johnson City).

Fentanyl-test strips — The Senate voted in favor of Senate Bill 2427, which would legalize fentanyl-test strips to prevent drug overdoses. Such devices, which are used to determine if a sample contains the opioid, are currently classified as “drug paraphernalia” in Tennessee.

Proposed by Gov. Lee, the bill would be in effect for three years, at which point lawmakers would determine if it has been effective and will remain on the books or not.

Foster youth — A bill aimed at enhancing the support system for youth in foster care cleared the Senate this week. Senate Bill 2398 proposes the state reimburse eligible relatives of foster youth to support the cost of raising the child. It would also expand eligibility to ages 18-21 for foster youth who are transitioning from state custody to adulthood to access services.

Coal — The Senate on Thursday adopted a joint resolution requesting the Tennessee Valley Authority maintain operation of its coal-fired plants until a reliable backup to the power grid is developed.

Wakesurfing — The Senate this week approved regulations on wakesurfing outlined in Senate Bill 2107. The bill prohibits wakesurfing between sunset and sunrise, on a body of water that is less than 50 acres in size and within 200 feet of any shoreline, among other new rules.

“This bill makes wakesuring safer, it doesn’t abolish it,” said Sen. Ken Yager (R-Kingston), the sponsor of the bill. “Large wakes can at times be very dangerous. They’re contributing to substantial soil erosion along many of our riverbanks and the shorelines of our lakes, they’re damaging many docks along the rivers and lakes of Tennessee, and in fact there are many instances of people in the water in front of their property who have been injured by these large wakes.”

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(NASHVILLE, Tenn.), February 24, 2022 – Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and Tennessee Department of Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn on Thursday released the details of the Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement (TISA) Act (SB2396) that would transition Tennessee’s K-12 public schools to a student-based funding approach. Starting in the 2023-24 school year, the TISA would invest an estimated $9 billion in education funding for the state, including state and local funds, which includes $1 billion in new recurring state funds and $750 million in one-time state funds this year.

The TISA will update the way Tennessee funds public education for the first time in over 30 years to empower each student to read proficiently by third grade, prepare each high school graduate for postsecondary success, and provide resources needed to all students to ensure they succeed. Under the TISA districts would receive more than they would under the BEP should enrollment remain stable. Access an overview PowerPoint presentation of the TISA and associated bill language here. To learn more about the student-based funding formula go here.

“The Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement formula will be a powerful tool the state can use to ensure we are putting all students on a path to success,” said Gov. Lee. “By serving our students well and giving the public greater insight into how their tax dollars are supporting students, the TISA represents an exciting opportunity to improve educational outcomes, strengthen our workforce and propel Tennessee forward.”

“Updating our public education funding model is an investment in our state’s students and our state’s future,” said Commissioner Penny Schwinn. “Months of public feedback highlighted how committed Tennesseans are to strengthening how we fund public education, and the TISA puts the focus of education funding right where it belongs – on students.”

The Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement is a student-based funding formula that will include the following proposed investments for each of these components:

• $6.6 billion for base funding for every public school student.
• $1.8 billion in additional funding to be allocated based on weights to address specific student needs.
• $376 million in direct funding for students to receive additional funding allocations to support specific programs, like tutoring.
• $100 million in outcomes funding to be awarded based on achievement to empower schools to help all students reach their full potential.

Additionally, the TISA has reporting and district accountability requirements, including an annual TISA report delivered to the Tennessee General Assembly by the department and individual district-level accountability reports to be submitted by local school boards to the department to establish goals for student achievement in the current school year, explain how the goals can be met within the local budget, and describe how the local budget and expenditures for prior school years enabled districts to progress student outcomes.

Computer science requirement gets committee approval

Legislation that would require all Tennessee public schools to offer computer science training was approved by the Education Committee this week.

“I think we’d all agree there are very few jobs out there today and certainly into the future where you will not be working with computers in some form or fashion,” said Senate Leader Sen. Jack Johnson (R-Franklin). “Furthermore, we know from our employers in the state and jobs we’re recruiting — we have a real lack of people going into the computer science field. I think it’s good to get these kids at a younger age exposed to computer sciences and those interested may choose to pursue it further.”

Senate Bill 2406 would require the State Board of Education to adopt comprehensive computer science education standards by the 2023-2024 school year. It would require every high school student to complete a full year of computer science education in order to graduate, starting with freshmen in the 2024-2025 school year. Additionally, every middle school student would be required to receive at least one course in computer science education while elementary students would be required to receive age-appropriate computer science education.

At the high-school level, the legislation intends for the computer science requirement to be in lieu of — not in addition to — an existing math or science requirement to be determined by the Board of Education.

Johnson said computer science courses may include rudimentary coding as well as lessons on how computers work and the technology behind them.

Currently about half of Tennessee public schools offer computer science training, Johnson said. As stipulated in the bill, the other half of schools not currently offering such training would be provided the resources to do so for free by the Department of Education.

Bill proposes to legalize fentanyl-test strips

The Judiciary Committee this week approved a bill that would legalize fentanyl test strips to prevent drug overdoses. Such devices, which are used to determine if a sample contains the opioid, are currently classified as “drug paraphernalia” in Tennessee.

“Senate Bill 2427 is very important for Tennessee, especially East Tennessee, where we’ve had a very large number of deaths from drug overdoses,” said co-sponsor Sen. Richard Briggs (R-Knoxville). “This bill legalizes a tool that can help save lives from drug overdoses in our state.”

Briggs said studies show that when fentanyl test strips are distributed, roughly 80% of those who use them discover the drug they’re intending to use contains fentanyl, which can be lethal in small doses. The studies show many of those people then modify their behavior by discarding the drug, taking a smaller dose or pursuing other safety measures, Briggs said.

Proposed by Gov. Lee, the bill would be in effect for three years, at which point lawmakers would determine if it has been effective and will remain on the books or not.

Per the bill, fentanyl test strips would still be considered illegal drug paraphernalia if found on those involved in selling or manufacturing controlled substances.

Briggs said 10 states have legalized fentanyl test strips, 15 other states never classified the devices as “drug paraphernalia” while another group of states is actively considering similar legislation.

Committee advances Hannah Eimers Roadside Safety Act

The Transportation and Safety Committee this week passed the Hannah Eimers Memorial Tennessee Roadside Safety Hardware Act. Senate Bill 1671 would require robust safety testing of crash cushions and guardrail end terminals located on public highways and roads.

The bill is named after 17-year-old Hannah Eimers, who was tragically killed in 2016 in a car crash involving a guardrail on Interstate 75 in McMinn County.

Bill sponsor Sen. Becky Massey (R-Knoxville) said there was no independent safety testing of the guardrail that killed Eimers. While that particular guardrail design has since been replaced throughout Tennessee, the bill ensures there is adequate safety testing moving forward.

“We don’t want to have something like this happen ever again,” said Massey. “We want to make sure we’re doing everything we can to have reliable testing and safety for our roads in Tennessee.”

The bill requires safety testing according to the standards established by the federal highway administration. Also, if the manufacturer makes a change to a crash cushion or guardrail end terminal that’s been installed, it must notify the state for a safety retest.

Legislation would create Tennessee Center for Nursing Advancement

A bill advancing through the committee process would create the Tennessee Center for Nursing Advancement to address nursing workforce needs. The center would be within East Tennessee State University in conjunction with Ballad Health.

Proposed by Gov. Lee, Senate Bill 2401 allows the center to collect and aggregate data on nursing turnover, reasons for nursing turnover and successful recruitment practices. The data would be published in reports while maintaining confidentiality, and could lead to future public policy considerations. There is currently no common database for nursing shortages.

“The national shortage of nursing is a major public health threat,” said Sen. Rusty Crowe (R-Johnson City), a co-sponsor of the bill. “I am so proud that our region is leading the effort to develop data-driven solutions for the nursing shortage so we can take care of the people in our state. I believe the Tennessee Center for Nursing Advancement at ETSU will become a national resource.”

ETSU/Ballad have already pledged $10 million for the startup of the center, and Gov. Lee’s proposed budget includes $1 million a year for management of the center.

The Education Committee passed the bill this week. Next it will be reviewed by the Finance, Ways and Means Committee.

In Brief:

COVID-19 vaccine exemptions — The Senate also passed a bill that will codify medical and religious exemptions for COVID-19 vaccine mandates.

Last year, President Joe Biden issued an executive order requiring healthcare workers at facilities participating in Medicare and Medicaid to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The order, which was initially enjoined by federal courts before being upheld as constitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court, included provisions that compel applicable employers to honor religious and medical exemptions.

Senate Bill 1823 proposes to codify into state law the executive order’s medical and religious exemptions for COVID-19 vaccination mandates. The bill also goes a step further in assisting those seeking such an exemption by providing a state enforcement mechanism.

Age-Appropriate Materials Act of 2022 — The Senate this week passed the Age-Appropriate Materials Act of 2022 (Senate Bill 2407) requiring public schools to post online a list of the materials in their libraries. The bill also creates a required standardized review framework to ensure school library collections are periodically evaluated for age-appropriateness.

Should a school find a material is not age-appropriate based on student, parental or employee feedback, then the school would have to remove it. The decision is ultimately up to the school in conjunction with the school board.

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(NASHVILLE, Tenn.), February 17, 2022 – The Education Committee this week passed legislation requiring public schools to post online a list of the materials in their libraries. Proposed by Gov. Bill Lee, the Age-Appropriate Materials Act of 2022 (Senate Bill 2407) now goes to the full Senate for consideration.

“This bill simply sets forth a framework for all of our public school libraries to use to make sure parents and other stakeholders, including teachers and school board members, have a way to find out what is in the public school libraries,” said Senate Majority Leader Sen. Jack Johnson (R-Franklin), the bill’s sponsor. “This bill ensures public school libraries contain only materials that are age-appropriate for students across Tennessee.

“This bill does not ban any book. It does not compel any board or any school to ban a book,” Johnson continued. “Many schools already publish lists of their library materials. This is widely acknowledged to be a best practice.”

The bill also creates a required standardized review framework to ensure school library collections are periodically evaluated for age-appropriateness. Currently, classroom textbooks and instructional materials used in Tennessee public schools are vetted for age-appropriateness and standards alignment through the textbook review, approval and adoption process. But there is no such standardized process for the review of public school library collections.

The bill requires each local board of education and public charter school governing body to adopt a policy establishing procedures for the review of school library collections. Each policy must include a procedure for schools to receive and evaluate feedback from students, parents, and school employees about materials in the library collection.

Should a school find a material is not age-appropriate based on student, parental or employee feedback, then the school would have to remove it. The decision is ultimately up to the school in conjunction with the school board.

“If it passes, this bill sends a message that the General Assembly believes in the ability of parents to know and to be able to review those materials in a library and then have an appropriate framework through which they can provide feedback,” Johnson said.

Judiciary Committee advances legislation supporting foster youth

The Judiciary Committee this week unanimously passed legislation aimed at enhancing the support system for youth in foster care.

Senate Bill 2398 proposes the state reimburse eligible relatives of foster youth to support the cost of raising the child. It would also expand eligibility of 18- to 21-year-olds who are transitioning from state custody to adulthood to access services.

“There’s a motto here in our state that Tennessee fosters hope and this bill does just that,” said Sen. Page Walley (R-Bolivar), a co-sponsor of the bill. “This bill is a step in the right direction I believe for our kids, our families and our state.”

There are many relatives of foster youth who would like to care for the child, but lack the means to do so, according to Walley. To keep foster children in the care of relatives in such situations, this bill proposes reimbursing the relative caregiver 50% of the full foster care rate for the care of the child if certain conditions are met.

“This would keep these kids in family without them coming into state custody and experiencing the trauma that ­can occur,” said Walley.

The second provision of the bill expands eligibility for state services among foster youth who have aged out of the foster care system at age 18 and until the age of 21. Under present law, foster youth between those ages can continue to receive services provided they are in school. This bill would allow youth in the job market to also be eligible for those benefits. The move would extend benefits to as many as 300 additional foster youth a year, according to Walley.

“The traditional college-bound journey doesn’t apply to many if not the vast majority of youth who are in this situation,” he said. “These kids want to work and can work and want to remain connected with the support and wrap-around services the Department of Children’s’ Services provides.”

Bill seeks to codify medical, religious exemption for COVID-19 vaccine

Last year, President Joe Biden issued an executive order requiring healthcare workers at facilities participating in Medicare and Medicaid to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The order, which was initially enjoined by federal courts before being upheld as constitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court, included provisions that compel applicable employers to honor religious and medical exemptions.

Senate Bill 1823 proposes to codify into state law the executive order’s medical and religious exemptions for COVID-19 vaccination mandates. The bill also goes a step further in assisting those seeking such an exemption by providing a state enforcement mechanism.

Under the federal order, those wishing to obtain an exemption must hire an attorney and work with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to challenge the requirement, according to Senate Majority Leader Sen. Jack Johnson (R-Franklin), the bill’s sponsor. This bill would allow those seeking an exemption to also work with the Attorney General, who could then take civil action against that employer if they fail to honor the exemption.

Johnson said the medical exemption can be obtained via a note from a Tennessee physician while the religious exemption can be obtained simply by declaring a strongly held religious reason for not getting vaccinated.

“That’s where it ends and then the employer must honor that request,” Johnson said. “The bill puts some teeth to make sure these employers in Tennessee are honoring the exemption request as provided for in the executive order.”

TISA Legislation Launches on Feb. 24 with Presentation from Gov. Lee and Commissioner Schwinn

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and Tennessee Department of Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn will share legislation for the new student-based funding formula, known as the Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement formula (TISA), on Thursday, February 24. Tennesseans will have access to a livestream presentation that breaks down key aspects of the legislation and funding proposal. Details about the presentation will be announced next week.

“After an extensive process with input from thousands of Tennesseans, we are on the cusp of achieving an updated approach to public education that prioritizes students and invests in the future of Tennessee,” said Gov. Lee. “I thank our partners in the General Assembly who have worked with us for months to improve the way we fund public schools, and I have every expectation that we will get this done during the current legislative session.”

“From the start of the public engagement process, Tennesseans from across the state have weighed in and developed a strong vision for how to best fund public education,” said Commissioner Penny Schwinn. “Under the TISA, we will put the funding focus on students and give Tennesseans clear information to understand how districts and schools are using funding to help our students thrive.”

For the first time in over 30 years, the TISA will update the way Tennessee invests in public education by moving to a student-based funding formula, including the following components:

• Student-based funding starts with a base funding amount for every public-school student.
• Additional funding may then be allocated based on weights to address individual student needs.
• Direct funding is another opportunity for students to receive additional funding allocations to support specific programs, like tutoring.
• Outcome incentives are awarded based on student achievement to empower schools to help all students reach their full potential.

In January, Gov. Lee and Commissioner Schwinn released a draft framework for the new student-based K-12 funding formula, which incorporated input from thousands of Tennesseans. Starting last fall, the Department of Education and the General Assembly convened 18 funding subcommittees, organized a legislative steering committee, and provided over 1,000 opportunities for the public to engage, including 16 public town halls and local match conversations across the state.

To learn more about student-based funding, Tennessee’s recent public engagement process and subcommittee recommendations, and to access additional resources, visit the Department of Education’s website.

Senate approves ranked choice voting ban

A ban on ranked choice or instant runoff voting in state and local elections (Senate Bill 1820) was passed by the Senate this week.

Ranked choice voting is a voting method in which voters rank candidates by preference. The candidate with a majority of first-preference votes wins. If no candidate wins a majority of first-preference votes, then the candidate with the lowest preference is eliminated and their votes are redistributed among the remaining candidates. The process repeats until a winner is identified.

“It’s a very confusing and complex process that ultimately leads to lack of confidence in the vote totals,” said Sen. Brian Kelsey (R-Germantown), who sponsored the bill. “It also leads to reporting results in a process that’s difficult, slow and costly.”

To that point, Kelsey said the Oakland 2010 mayoral election, which utilized ranked choice voting, had 10 recounts, 11% of ballots were thrown out, and the winner still didn’t get 50% of the vote. New York City’s mayoral election last year, which also used ranked choice voting, saw eight recounts, 13% of ballots thrown out, and the winner won with just 31% of the votes cast.

“This bill does away with that process and ensures that confusion doesn’t come to Tennessee,” Kelsey said.

In Brief:

Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss Memorial Highway — The Transportation and Safety Committee passed Senate Bill 2038, which names a segment of the Tazewell Pike in Knox County as the “Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss Memorial Highway.”

A Knoxville native, Knauss made the ultimate sacrifice on Aug. 26, 2021 in Kabul, Afghanistan. He was tragically killed while helping American citizens and Afghan refugees escape the country amid the withdrawal of American forces and personnel.

“He was a true hero,” said Sen. Becky Massey (R-Knoxville). “Many Tennesseans regularly travel this road, and when we do we’ll think of Ryan and the sacrifice he made.”

New state song — The Senate named “I’ll Leave My Heart in Tennessee” by Bluegrass group Dailey and Vincent, written by Karen Staley, as an official state song. It is Tennessee’s 11^th official state song.

Human Trafficking training — The Senate voted in favor of Senate Bill 1670, which requires all school personnel, instead of only teachers, be trained at least once every three years on the detection, intervention, prevention, and treatment of human trafficking in which the victim is a child.

Residency requirements — Senate Bill 2616 would prohibit a person from being nominated as a candidate for U.S. Senator or member of the U.S. House of Representatives unless the person has voted in the three previous elections in this state. The bill cleared the State and Local Government Committee this week.

The Tennessee State Constitution requires seven years of residency in the state to run for Governor, five years of residency to run for judge or district attorney, and three years of residency to run for the State Senate or House. But the state and U.S. Constitution are silent in regards to residency for running for a seat in the U.S. Senate or House of Representatives, according to Sen. Frank Niceley (R-Strawberry Plains), who sponsored the bill.

“The constitution is silent on this issue. When the constitution is silent, the states can do what they want to do,” Niceley said.

Disabled license plates – Passed by the Transportation and Safety Committee, Senate Bill 2301 requires the design of disabled license plates to incorporate the color scheme, base design, and details used on the standard registration and license plate.

“Integrating the standard registration plates with disabled license plates will bring the state into compliance with the most integrated setting regulations of the ADA, which enables individuals with disabilities to interact with non-disabled persons to the fullest extent possible and really doesn’t set them apart as far as identifying it separately,” said Sen. Becky Massey (R-Knoxville), who sponsored the bill.

The bill would become effective Jan. 21, 2023.

State Park maintenance – The Energy, Agriculture, and Natural Resources Committee this week signed off on Senate Bill 2418, which establishes the State Parks Hospitality Maintenance and Improvement Fund. Each fiscal year, the bill would require at least 2% of the gross revenue created by park facilities to be deposited into the fund, which will be used for maintenance expenses.

“The fund will allow the Department of Environment and Conservation to sustain maintenance and replacement costs through self-funding rather than requesting regular allocations from the general fund for those expenses,” said Sen. Steve Southerland (R-Morristown), a co-sponsor of the bill. “We’re trying to make the parks self sufficient.”

Sen. Janice Bowling (R-Tullahoma) said: “There had been no designated funding to do the routine maintenance and we have found ourselves behind the curve with so many of our premier state parks. This bill will help fix that problem.”

Tourism – Senate Bill 2436 authorizes the commissioner of tourist development to develop and implement activities, grants, and programs that foster the growth of tourism in Tennessee. Passed by the Energy, Agriculture, and Natural Resources Committee, the bill also designates the department of tourist development as the department responsible for the implementation and administration of all marketing and promotion, tourism partner services, and economic development projects.

Local Education Agencies — The Senate this week passed Senate Bill 503, which entitles Local Education Agencies to reimbursement for the cost of providing health or medical services to eligible students. Payment will come from the Department of Finance and Administration.

“This will help stop a hemorrhage of funds from our LEAs,” said Sen. Ken Yager (R-Kingston), a co-sponsor of the bill. “This is really a good piece of legislation that will help the kids and our school districts.”

Crime — Senate Bill 1807 adds rape to the list of offenses for which a defendant is not eligible for probation under the Tennessee Criminal Sentencing Reform Act of 1989. The bill was passed by the Judiciary Committee this week.

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(NASHVILLE, Tenn.), February 10, 2022 – The Senate Education Committee this week passed a bill requiring all school employees to be trained to detect and prevent human trafficking of children.

Currently, only teachers are required to take the training. Senate Bill 1670 seeks to expand that requirement to all other personnel that aren’t contractors, including bus drivers, janitors or cafeteria workers, every three years.

“A lot of times these students who’ve been abused — a school nurse may see it or maybe a janitor may see what’s going on first,” said Sen. Todd Gardenhire (R-Chattanooga), the bill’s sponsor. “This bill ensures they know what to do if that happens.”

The training course would be online and last roughly 45 minutes to an hour, Gardenhire said.

Commerce and Labor Committee passes “New Markets Development Act”

The Commerce and Labor Committee unanimously approved legislation that would create a tax credit program to encourage economic growth in rural and low-income areas. The bill will be reviewed by the Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee next.

The program created by the “New Markets Development Act” would fund small businesses located in Tennessee through insurance premium tax credits. Variations of the program have been implemented in 14 other states and on the federal level.

“We would see the benefits across the whole state potentially pretty quickly,” said Sen. John Stevens (R-Huntingdon). “In my district and others, we desperately need access to capital, which is difficult to get for businesses that want to expand. This legislation will help make that happen.”

Through the program, investment groups would receive tax breaks if they offer loans or invest in businesses or developments in low-income or rural areas. The program could raise and invest up to $100 million into Tennessee small businesses.

“This is an investment strategy that has been useful at the federal level and there have been a number of states that have been doing this for at least a decade with huge success,” said Sen. Bo Watson (R-Hixson), a co-sponsor of the bill. “The operational theory here is this will increase investment in Tennessee into areas that investors don’t always look to. I think it’s a good step forward.

Ranked choice voting ban advances to Senate

Legislation banning ranked choice or instant runoff voting in state and local elections was passed by the Senate State and Local Government Committee this week.

Ranked choice voting is a voting method in which voters rank candidates by preference. The candidate with a majority of first-preference votes wins. If no candidate wins a majority of first-preference votes, then the candidate with the lowest preference is eliminated and their votes are redistributed among the remaining candidates.

“Instant runoff voting has been proven to increase voter confusion, decrease voter turnout and confidence, and produce results that leave no candidate with a majority of total votes,” said Sen. Brian Kelsey (R-Germantown), the bill’s sponsor.

Senate Bill 1820 will next be considered by the full Senate.

Education Committee approves equal pay for Board of Education members

A bill that would make compensation for school board members equal to that of county and municipal legislators was approved by the Senate Education Committee this week.

According to Sen. Todd Gardenhire, who sponsored Senate Bill 1679, a majority of school boards members in Tennessee are paid less than the members of the local governing bodies, with about 80% of school board members paid below $3,000 a year to serve.

“Most school board members work the same amount of time and sometimes longer hours than their counterparts on the local governing bodies,” said Gardenhire. “They ought to be compensated the same amount.”

Gardenhire noted in Hamilton County, commissioners receive around $25,394 per year plus benefits while school board members are paid just $3,265 per year.

“I’ve never heard a person that’s running for the school board say gosh I’m going to increase my pay by being on the school board,” Gardenhire said. “But after one, two or three terms they say I just can’t afford to do this.”

Gov. Lee Appoints Butch Eley as Deputy Governor

This week, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced the appointment of Butch Eley as Deputy to the Governor. Eley will continue serving in his current role as Commissioner for the Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration (F&A) and as a member of Gov. Lee’s cabinet. The position of Deputy Governor was previously held by Lang Wiseman who has returned to the private sector.

“For the past three years, Butch has played a pivotal role in our strong economic recovery and in maintaining Tennessee’s reputation for conservative fiscal management,” said Gov. Lee. “His extensive public and private sector experience will continue to add enormous value as we invest strategically in infrastructure, education and other priorities to serve Tennesseans and support our state’s growth.”

Eley previously served as Chief Operating Officer in the Governor’s office from January 2019 to May 2020, where he led the state’s first four-year strategic planning process. In his subsequent appointment as Commissioner of Finance and Administration, he has developed multiple state budgets and works closely with legislative leaders of the Financial Stimulus Accountability Group (FSAG) to oversee and allocate the influx of federal relief funds provided to Tennessee over the past two years.

Prior to joining the Lee Administration, Eley was a founder and CEO of Infrastructure Corporation of America (ICA). Headquartered in Nashville, ICA was one of the nation’s leading infrastructure asset maintenance management companies with comprehensive asset management contracts throughout the country.

Eley earned his bachelor’s degree and MBA at Belmont University. He and his wife Ginger reside in Nashville.

Gov. Lee Issues Statement on CMS Vaccine Mandate Lawsuit

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee late last week issued the following statement regarding the lawsuit filed in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana by Tennessee and 15 other states to vacate the CMS vaccine mandate:

“We are renewing a challenge to the CMS vaccine mandate in court so Tennessee health care workers have the right to private health care decisions. While this mandate represents the worst of federal overreach, it also threatens our ability to staff facilities and provide care for the elderly, disabled and other high-priority populations.”

Tennessee Forestry Commission testifies before committee

The Tennessee Forestry Commission testified before the Senate Energy, Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee concerning their annual report.

Summarizing the past year, TN Forestry Commission Chair Johnny Heard said the commission identified the need for more engagement with the USDA Farm Service agency, expressed concern about the retention and recruitment of qualified personnel, endorsed the 2020 Forest Action Plan, and encouraged an increase in timber sales from the state forest.

Heard said the commission suppressed 709 wildfires over 6,910 acres; safely conducted 232 prescribed fires across 12,100 acres; and deployed 215 personnel across 13 states to help them deal with wildfires and natural disasters, resulting in $2.6 million in revenue.

The commission evaluated 38 logging operations with water quality complaints and found 22 with issues that affected water quality. It provided technical assistance to bring them into compliance with the Water Quality Control Act.

The commission completed 24 timber sales of a combined 10.7 million board feet, generating nearly $3.5 million in revenue.

In Brief

Internships — The Senate this week unanimously passed Senate Bill 520, which expands internship opportunities for high school students starting in the 2022-2023 school year.

High school students are currently allowed to enroll in college courses at community as well as Tennessee College of Applied Technology colleges, some of which offer or require internships. High school students are typically under the age covered by workers compensation insurance without additional expenses so only large companies have been willing to absorb the risk, according to Sen. Richard Briggs (R-Knoxville), who sponsored the bill.

“What this bill does is it allows the medium and small-sized companies to be able to hire interns without unreasonable workers compensation insurance risks,” said Sen. Briggs.

Redistricting — Gov. Lee on Monday signed into law new Senate, House and congressional redistricting maps. For more information about the maps visit here.

Travel Insurance: Passed by the Commerce and Labor Committee this week, Senate Bill 1868 clarifies existing law that regulates travel insurance, which protects against risk associated with travel. Adopted by 18 other states, the bill also includes provisions offering savings to the consumer, and prohibits the automatic addition of travel insurance to a booking.

Cemetery Trust: Senate Bill 1934 allows cemeteries with small trust funds to share banking and trustee costs with other cemetery trust funds, and also provide cemeteries with a more stable way to determine the amount allowed for dispersing earnings for maintenance expenses.

“Both reforms will help provide financial stability for smaller cemeteries throughout Tennessee,” said Sen. Ed Jackson (R-Jackson). The Commerce and Labor Committee voted in favor of the bill this week.

Law enforcement: Per a bill passed in 2014, peace officers who die in the line of duty or suffer a career-ending injury are presented the Three Stars of Tennessee Award in a ceremony on or around Sept. 11 each year. Senate Bill 1751, which cleared the Judiciary Committee this week, allows a representative of the agency at which the peace officer served to receive the award on his or her behalf if there are no available next of kin.

Receiver of Estate: Senate Bill 1680 authorizes the court to appoint a public receiver to make a recommendation on the need for a temporary or permanent receiver over an estate. A receiver is an appointed custodian of a person or entity’s assets.

In explaining the intent of the bill, Sen. Todd Gardenhire described a situation in which a business owner passes away without a succession plan, and that business falls apart and loses significant value by the time the estate reaches the courts.

“If a judge can appoint a receiver on the front-end of the estate it might salvage that most significant asset that doles off income to beneficiaries,” Gardenhire said. The bill was passed by the Judiciary Committee.

Child abuse: Advanced by the Judiciary Committee this week, Senate Bill 1793 would require a court to revoke bail for a defendant who is convicted of continuous sexual abuse of a child. “Continuous” is defined roughly as three or more acts of abuse within 90 days.

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(NASHVILLE, Tenn.), February 3, 2022 – Tennessee Governor Bill Lee on Monday delivered his fourth State of the State address and presented budget and legislative priorities to a joint session of the General Assembly.

“Tennessee stands as a beacon to the rest of the country for how we can change lives when we control the size of government, prioritize efficiency, and make smart and responsible investments,” Lee said. “I am proud to propose a budget and America at Its Best policies that reinforce freedom, innovation, exceptionalism and optimism.”

The proposed $52.6 billion budget includes strategic investments in education, transportation infrastructure, law enforcement, rural communities, and more.

A detailed breakdown of the budget proposal can be found here. The State of the State address can be found here.

The proposed budget was the focus of a Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee meeting Tuesday.

“What we’re proposing is a very fiscally conservative budget. It is also one that ensures that we do not get ahead of ourselves as we look forward into the future,” Department of Finance and Administration Commissioner Butch Eley said during the meeting. “This is a balanced budget, it’s a budget with no debt, it’s a budget that prioritizes one-time expenses to mitigate uncertainties. It targets programs that work and are evidence-based, and most of all it invests in Tennessee.”

Eley said Tennessee is among the states with the lowest debt in the country, and noted the Volunteer State is ranked number one in the nation for long-term fiscal responsibility by U.S. News and World Report.

Sen. Kerry Roberts, State Rep. Michael G. Curcio and State Rep. Mary Littleton introduce Joe Clyde Daniels Act at press conference

State Sen. Kerry Roberts, (R-Springfield), State Rep. Michael G. Curcio, (R–Dickson) and State Rep. Mary Littleton, (R-Dickson) this week at a press conference announced SB 2223, which makes it more difficult for a convicted murderer to be granted parole if they do not reveal the location of their victim’s remains.

The Joe Clyde Daniels Act requires the board of parole to consider “the extent to which the offender obstructed or continues to obstruct the ability of law enforcement to recover the remains of the victim” when deciding cases involving an offender convicted of homicide.

“The murder of Joe Clyde Daniels is an unspeakable tragedy that has devastated our entire community and state,” Curcio said. “Victims deserve justice as well as a proper burial and this legislation will help ensure that is possible.”

The bill was prompted by the disappearance of 5-year-old Joe Clyde Daniels from his home in Dickson on April 4, 2018. His father, Joseph Daniels, was convicted of murder in June. However, the child’s remains have never been found.

“It is absolutely heartbreaking that this precious child has not gotten the proper burial he deserves,” Littleton said. “I hope that the Joe Clyde Daniels Act will help other families across our state find the closure they so desperately need.”

A trial for Krystal Daniels, the boy’s mother, has been postponed until March. She is charged with aggravated child abuse and neglect.

If approved and signed into law, the Joe Clyde Daniels Act would take effect July 1.

For more information visit here.

1,241 Senate bills filed at Feb. 3 deadline

Senate members worked hard this week to finalize their legislative proposals before the Feb. 3 bill deadline. In all, 1,241 Senate bills were filed and received by the Senate Clerk’s Office since the conclusion of the legislative session last year. Senate committees continue to meet as bills were being introduced and referred to their respective committees.

Tennessee’s economic output is back to pre-pandemic levels, while the state leads the nation in economic recovery

Tennessee’s economic output is back to pre-pandemic levels in terms of goods and services and is among the top states leading the nation in economic recovery, according to Marianne Wanamaker, executive director of the Howard Baker Center for Public Policy. Wanamaker, who spoke to the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee this week, is also an associate professor of economics at the University of Tennessee and served as chief domestic economist and senior labor economist at the White House Council of Economic Advisors during the Trump administration.

“From an output perspective, the economy is operating as though COVID never happened,” said Wanamaker. “This is true in the State of Tennessee where GDP in the third quarter of 2021 was 3% larger than in the fourth quarter of 2019. The U.S. economy was 1.4% larger in the third quarter of 2021 than at the end of 2019.”

“What I am not sure is appreciated is just how uncommon the U.S. experience is in international perspective,” she continued. “There is no major developed country that has come out of the pandemic with the strength of output we are experiencing in the United States — not Korea, not Japan, not any country in Europe and probably not China, although it is difficult to know for sure.”

She attributes the strength of the recovery in part to efforts made by U.S. states in facilitating the unemployment insurance programs, a critical piece of the Trump administration’s national COVID relief strategy. “Given what we know today, it is hard to conclude anything other than that the U.S. policy apparatus succeeded in stabilizing income, output and employment to an extent not any other country was able to accomplish.”

On labor shortages, however, the pandemic worsened workforce participation, which was already struggling due to aging workers and a slowed rate of population growth. “The labor shortage and lack of population growth are going to be a challenge with 100% certainty,” she said.

Tennessee is 1.4% short of February 2020 and 3% short of where the state would have been had the pandemic never happened, for a shortage of 95,000 jobs. This means the level of output was generated beyond what was produced pre-pandemic with a labor force that is substantially smaller. Wanamaker attributes this to full time workers who spent more hours on the job.

“So, hours worked are up which may explain why working Americans expressed feeling burned out and exhausted,” she said. “American labor supply took a beating during COVID and is still struggling to recover.”

The shift to retirement began immediately upon the outbreak of the pandemic, accounting for about half of the country’s labor force shortage in 2020. Wanamaker feels it is unlikely that the 2.1 million workers who left their jobs will return to the workplace and that the participation rate will return to pre-pandemic levels.

In Tennessee there is one-half of an unemployed person for every job opening in Tennessee, one of the lowest rates in the country. This can be compared to California where there is one unemployed person for every job opening.

“It is not that labor supply is greater in California that it is here,” she said. “It’s that labor demand in the South is really much higher than it is in other parts of the country, in part due to a full COVID recovery here in the South.”

In looking towards Tennessee’s economic future, Wanamaker said prospects for future economic growth are dependent on population growth. Tennessee already has a significant jump on this challenge. The state leads the nation in attracting working-age persons to locate in Tennessee due to many amenities offered here that other states cannot currently pursue.

The General Assembly will continue to focus on providing an environment that will boost Tennessee’s economy in the 2022 legislative session. These efforts are aided by the state’s low tax and light regulatory status. Tennessee consistently ranks in the top three states in the U.S. for best business climate. The Volunteer State has also ranked first for site readiness programs and energy availability and has seen its biggest surge ever in new business launchings. In addition, Tennessee was recently ranked the second fastest growing state in the nation for foreign direct investment.

Tennessee Supreme Court nominee advances

Tennessee Supreme Court nominee Sarah Campbell received a unanimous recommendation from the Senate Judiciary Committee this week. The full Senate will cast a vote next Thursday.

A graduate of Duke Law School, Campbell was a law clerk for Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito and Judge William Pryor Jr. of the Eleventh Circuit in Birmingham before joining the Tennessee Attorney General’s office in 2015. She currently serves in that office as Associate Solicitor General and Special Assistant to the Attorney General.

“The role of a judge in my view is to decide cases based on neutral objective principles that don’t lend themselves to any one particular outcome or another,” Campbell said during this week’s confirmation hearing. “My personal views on whether a law is good or bad will not matter if I’m confirmed to this position.”

Campbell said as judge she would adhere to the text of the law, but also consider context.

“My job as judge will be to interpret the laws that were enacted by the legislature. That will be where my inquiry begins and ends,” she said. “To determine the meaning of those words I will consider things like the context of the statutes so it’s not so restricted that you only look at the specific word or words that you’re being tasked with interpreting. You also look to the surrounding words in the statute and use that context to help determine what the meaning is.”

Campbell was also asked if she believes the U.S. and Tennessee constitutions are fixed principles or if they should be modified to fit modern issues.

“I believe that both The U.S. Constitution and Tennessee constitution should be interpreted and applied based on the plain meaning of those documents when they were enacted — how the public would have understood those documents at that time,” she said.

Sen. Kelsey, Rep. Gillespie announce bill allowing police to chase criminals

Senator Brian Kelsey (R-Germantown) and Rep. John Gillespie (R-Memphis) this week filed Senate Bill 2451 protecting police officers from liability for injuries to a third party caused during a police pursuit so long as the police officers’ conduct is not grossly negligent.

“This legislation will make our state a safer place to live. It will allow our police officers to do their jobs by protecting them from unjust lawsuits,” said Sen. Kelsey. “The current law discourages police officers from pursuing dangerous criminals. As we continue to experience record-breaking crime rates in Memphis, our officers should be able to protect our citizens as long as they are acting reasonably.”

“This legislation only protects law enforcement officers who follow the proper policies and procedures while pursuing a fleeing suspect,” said Rep. Gillespie. “It is important that officers and their departments still be held accountable for any third-party injuries caused by grossly negligent conduct.”

Corrections Commissioner updates lawmakers about efforts to improve public safety

Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC) Interim Commissioner Lisa Helton spoke to the Senate State and Local Government Committee this week, providing a wide range of important information regarding their efforts to improve outcomes for prisoners and enhance public safety for Tennesseans. Tennessee has 10 state-operated and four privately-operated prisons which house 19,287 inmates. Another 4,875 state inmates are serving sentences in local jails.

In addition, there are 75,030 supervised offenders who are on probation or parole in the state’s 44 Community Supervision offices in Tennessee.

In 2021, the General Assembly passed major criminal justice reform legislation to reduce Tennessee’s high recidivism rate. TDOC has been working diligently to put those reforms into action. The department is “reentry focused” with a variety of education and workforce development programs to help offenders get on the right path after prison.

After doing an initial diagnostic assessment, TDOC officials develop a case management plan that includes treatment programs, education, vocational training, and employment. The vocational program includes a partnership with the Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology (TCAT) and other workforce development partners to give inmates the skills they need to become productive citizens upon release to their communities.

Day Reporting Centers — About 283 of offenders on probation are in the state’s Day Reporting Centers (DRC), a supervised program that provides nonviolent offenders with substance use needs an alternative to incarceration. The successful DRC program provides an intensive nine to 12-month outpatient treatment program coupled with supervision. There are currently six centers in Tennessee located in Memphis, Jackson, Nashville, Murfreesboro, Knoxville, and Johnson City. Plans are in the works for additional centers in Columbia and Chattanooga.

The average daily cost of housing a prisoner is $74.51, while the same upkeep in a DRC is $47.74.  The fiscally responsible DRC program is based on best correctional practices and have been proven to enhance public safety. Since summer 2017, 250 participants have graduated across the state with another 283 currently enrolled in the program.

Correction Officers — Commissioner Helton also talked to committee members about efforts to recruit and retain correction officers at state prisons amid significant staffing challenges.  November 2021 hit a high mark of 47.5 percent in the number of officer vacancies in the state’s correction facilities. In December, Governor Lee announced a competitive 37% salary increase for new TDOC officers and a minimum of 15% pay increase for current employees. Since that time, the department fully hired more than 10 officers, with 110 others currently in the hiring process. Commissioner Helton said she is optimistic about the impact of the salary increases on turnover and recruitment.

“We have seen a 12% reduction in the statewide number of vacancies with five facilities exceeding a 16% reduction,” she said.

TDOC continues to work with the Governor’s office and other state agencies on recruitment and retention strategies for correctional officers. The budget proposal presented by Governor Lee on Monday continues the commitment to those salary increases. Committee members will continue to monitor the success of these efforts and work with state correction officials to help ensure Tennessee prisons are well staffed and safe.

Right On Crime — Finally, State and Local Government Committee members heard a presentation from Julie Warren from Right on Crime, a national campaign of the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Warren applauded the passage of Tennessee’s 2021 criminal justice legislation to improve inmate outcomes through evidenced-based sentencing alternative programs. She also talked about the tremendous success of Texas’ criminal justice efforts, which originated with former Governor Rick Perry. The Texas reform efforts have resulted in a significant decrease in inmate recidivism.

“I have looked several times at the Texas plan,” said State and Local Government Committee Chairman Richard Briggs (R-Knoxville). “It has been pretty incredible. Tennessee has as much potential to reduce recidivism, improve public safety, and reduce budgets in the Department of Corrections if we can implement something similar to the Texas plan. It really worked in a conservative state.”

In Brief

Standardized tests — The Senate Education Committee this week voted in favor of a bill that requires public universities to receive standardized test scores from incoming freshmen before they can enroll starting with the 2023-2024 academic year. In Tennessee, standardized testing requirements are currently the purview of the universities.

Sponsored by Sen. Brian Kelsey (R-Germantown), SB 1815 would require incoming freshman to submit a “nationally-recognized college admissions test” score, but would not require universities to use that score as part of its admissions process.

Veterans organizations — The Senate this week passed SB 1660, which extends protections that currently apply to various types of nonprofit organizations to nonprofit veterans organizations, technically classified as a 501(c)(19). Under this bill, the directors, trustees, or members of the governing body of 501(c)(19) nonprofit organizations will become immune from suit arising from the conduct of the affairs of the organization as long as that conduct does not constitute gross negligence.

Divorce — A bill authorizing a court to allow mediation between parties in a divorce proceeding to occur by video conference when appropriate was approved by the Senate on Monday.

Ear wax — Passed by the Senate this week, SB 665 requires certain coursework in order to administer ear-wax removal services to ensure the process is done safely.

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