(NASHVILLE) April 22, 2022 – The state budget led a host of important bills approved by lawmakers this week as the 2022 legislative session begins to close. The General Assembly, which is looking to adjourn next week, has completed the majority of its business with most of the remaining action pending on bills that were behind the budget due to their cost.

This year’s no-debt budget highlights lawmakers’ continuous efforts to cut taxes for Tennesseans, maintain fiscal responsibility, ensure public safety and prioritize education. It invests $52.58 billion in the state of Tennessee for the 2022/2023 fiscal year, with total legislative initiatives making up $84.1 million recurring and $570.8 million in non-recurring expenditures.

To maintain fiscal responsibility, lawmakers are making a $250 million investment in the state’s Rainy Day Fund, which serves as Tennessee’s savings account to withstand economic downturns. This allocation raises the fund to a historic level of $1.8 billion. Another key conservative component of this budget is that $1.3 billion of Tennessee’s $3 billion revenue surplus is set aside for future use.  Additionally, the budget uses the surplus for many one-time expenditures to prevent the growth of state government but still provide resources and relief to important initiatives.

“Because of Tennessee’s record of fiscal responsibility, all expenditures in the budget are paid for with cash,” said Senator Bo Watson (R-Hixson), Chairman of the Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee. “Budgets in lean times are difficult. Budgets in times of great prosperity are even more difficult because you have to make real decisions about the best use of our dollars when there is an abundance of money. I am proud of the work we have done on this budget and am confident we are making sound investments that will benefit the state of Tennessee for decades to come.”

In this budget, Republican lawmakers continued their commitment to Tennessee taxpayers by ensuring citizens can keep more of their hard-earned money. With additional tax and financial relief appropriated by the General Assembly, Tennesseans will be able to recognize a total of $281 million in tax and financial savings in the 2022/2023 fiscal year.

“Many years of sound fiscal management have strengthened Tennessee’s economy and propelled the state into a strong fiscal position,” said Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson (R-Franklin). “We have been able to cut taxes year after year while state revenues continue to go up, which is remarkable. Our commitment to being a low-tax state has been a driver in economic growth, and I am proud we are able to return $281 million to Tennessee taxpayers this year.”

Everyday Tennesseans will benefit from the financial and tax relief provided in this year’s budget. As proposed by Governor Lee, it includes $80 million for a grocery sales tax holiday for August 2022. Lawmakers also wanted to ensure there was financial relief in the budget that only Tennesseans could take advantage of and not out-of-state residents who shop and do business in Tennessee, so the budget provides $121.6 million to eliminate the state’s $29 license plate registration fee for one year.

Lawmakers allocated $9 million to continue their multi-year commitment to eliminate the professional privilege tax. This appropriation will remove the annual $400 tax physicians pay in order to practice their profession. In 2019, lawmakers passed legislation eliminating the professional privilege tax for 15 licensed professions.

Another significant tax cut includes $68 million for a sales tax reduction on broadband supplies. This tax reduction will incentivize companies to accelerate the deployment of needed broadband services to rural communities.

Other reductions in taxes added by the legislature are $2.8 million to reduce sales tax on agricultural machinery and equipment to mirror tax reductions that manufacturers in Tennessee currently receive and $360,000 to eliminate a tax on gold, bullion and silver.

Because Republican lawmakers take great care when allocating taxpayer dollars to large initiatives, after much consideration the Senate voted to remove a budget item proposed by Governor Lee to issue a $500 million bond to help complete a new covered stadium that would be home to the Tennessee Titans. Senate Republicans expressed concerns about the wisdom of such a large investment in a sporting venue. Ultimately, the proposal was added by the House of Representatives and the final version of the budget included the $500 million bond authorization for the Titans stadium and $55 million recurring to cover the debt service.

“The Senate was always uncomfortable with the Titans bond authorization. That was clear both on the floor and in committee. But ultimately, with a $52 billion budget you cannot let perfect be the enemy of good,” said Lt. Governor Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge). “This budget continues the fiscally responsible tradition Tennessee is known for across the nation. We have fully funded the priorities of our people while providing much needed tax relief. Our rainy day fund stands at historic levels. We are well positioned not only for today but also well prepared for whatever awaits us in the future. This is a budget all Tennesseans can be proud of.”

Education

Education remains a top priority in the 2022/2023 budget. It includes the largest increase in K-12 education funding in the history of Tennessee. With an additional $1 billion in K-12 funding, Tennessee is investing a total of $6.5 billion in K-12 education. This includes $750 million for the Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement (TISA) Act, along with $125 million to increase teacher salaries. The General Assembly also provided $20 million for Humphrey County Schools to cover losses from devastating floods last year.

Many significant investments in higher education were made including:

• $200 million for TCAT infrastructure improvements
• $643,500 to increase middle college scholarships from $1,250 to $2,000 per semester
• $19.4 million to alleviate TCAT Waitlist
• $500 million to CTE grants for high school and middle school students
• $88 million for GIVE and HOPE expansions bringing the scholarship award to $5,700 per year for juniors and seniors and $4,500 per year for freshman and sophomores
• $90 million for the outcomes-based funding formula
• $66.3 million for a 4% salary increase within higher education
• $18 million to build a new TEST hub at UT Martin

Public Safety

To ensure Tennessee remains a great place to live, work and raise a family, lawmakers made significant investments in public safety. A $25 million appropriation was included in the budget for key legislation protecting victims of violent crimes and providing true accountability for those who commit crimes. This “truth in sentencing” legislation requires a person convicted of certain violent offenses to serve 85% to 100% of their sentence before becoming eligible for release.

Lawmakers added $7.5 million in one-time money to the $500,000 proposed by the governor for competitive grants to be awarded to volunteer fire departments and rescue squads for equipment and supplies, bringing the total to $8 million. Also added by the legislature was $6 million to increase the per day rate paid to local jails from $39 per inmate per day to $41.

Other investments in public safety include:

• $365 million for the law enforcement training academy
• $100 million for crime prevention
• $43.2 million to increase correctional officers’ salaries to $44,520
• $16 million for 100 new state troopers
• $4.2 million for 20 additional TBI agents to help combat human trafficking, cyber security, narcotics, and more
• $25.3 million for evidence-based programming in seed grants
• $9 million for educational technology in local jails
• $1.2 million total to add 11 more assistant district attorneys general
• $800,000 to raise the retirement benefits for highway patrol and commissioner officers
• $3.6 million for security measures and personnel at TCATs

Health and Welfare

Taking care of the most vulnerable populations in Tennessee continued to top the list of priorities for the General Assembly in 2022. The budget allocates funds for mental health treatment centers, drug rehabilitation, the adult health care safety net and Alzheimer’s and dementia caregivers.

Details on these budget initiatives include:

• $5.5 million for mental health treatment centers
• $2 million for Naltrexone which has been an effective treatment in drug courts
• $5 million for the adult health care safety net
• $1 million per year for a 3-year pilot program for respite care for Alzheimer’s and dementia caregivers
• $3 million to establish an education and dental safety net fund pilot program that will serve 33 counties devoid of dental services
• $9.7 million for salary raises for DCS caseworkers to combat hiring challenges
• $1 million to the Jason foundation to address suicide rates

Grants 

The budget also includes $17 million for grants to be distributed statewide for important initiatives. These include:

• $1 million to senior centers
• $900,000 to the Epilepsy Foundation
• $500,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters
• $3 million to county fairs
• $5 million to Volunteer Fire Departments (repeated from public safety)
• $2 million to search and rescue squads (repeated from public safety)
• $1 million to DIDD for universal changing tables
• $10 million to the Winds of Liberty Museum for military veterans

In Brief…

Expanding opportunities for state investment through proposed Constitutional Amendment

A resolution to allow the state of Tennessee to expand its investment opportunities and maximize the value of revenues from Tennessee taxpayers was given approval from the Tennessee Senate on Wednesday. After three readings on the floor of the Senate, Senate Joint Resolution 913, sponsored by Senator Ferrell Haile (R-Gallatin), received unanimous approval, exceeding the minimum two thirds supermajority of votes required to pass, which is the first step to enshrining the law to the Tennessee Constitution.

Currently, the Tennessee Constitution prohibits the state from investing in stocks or funds. Therefore, the state can only invest its funds in debt instruments, such as U.S. bonds, notes and treasury bills. An amendment to the Tennessee Constitution is necessary in order to change this law and recognize greater returns on investments of taxpayer dollars.

The resolution will now go to the House of Representatives for approval. If it is passed by the General Assembly this year, it would need to pass by a two-thirds majority again in the 113th or 114th General Assemblies, in order to appear on the ballot for a statewide referendum in November 2026. The amendment would become part of the state constitution if adopted by a majority vote in the governor’s election.

Protecting the U.S. southern border and building the wall — The Senate this week passed House Joint Resolution 652 urging congress to complete a secure border wall on the U.S. southern border. The resolution states the General Assembly “strongly support[s] the completion of the secure border wall across our nation’s southern border and strongly urge[s] the United States Congress to immediately act to fund the construction of such border wall without delay.”

Enhancing integrity of elections — The Senate this week gave final approval to a bill aimed at enhancing the integrity of elections. Senate Bill 2675 by Leader Jack Johnson (R-Franklin) revises and expands the manner in which the Secretary of State and county election commissions must audit state and local elections. Under the bill starting in 2024, the secretary of state must randomly select at least three counties to audit after the August election; and after each November election, the secretary of state must randomly select at least six counties to audit. The bill also includes a provision that requires hand recount audits of paper ballots in Williamson County, which uses ballot marking devices that allow voters to cast their vote on a machine that prints out a paper ballot. The Heritage Foundation has ranked Tennessee third in the nation on a recently released election integrity scorecard. With the help of this legislation and other efforts, the state is working on claiming the top spot.

Truth in Sentencing — The Senate this week passed truth in sentencing legislation that requires a person convicted of certain violent offenses to serve 100% of the sentence imposed before becoming eligible for release. Senate Bill 2248, sponsored by Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally (R-Oakridge) and Senator Jon Lundberg (R-Bristol), ensures criminals convicted of 9 different offenses including first degree murder, criminally negligent homicide, aggravated vehicular homicide, especially aggravated kidnapping would have to serve 100% of their sentence undiminished by any sentence reduction credits for which the person is eligible or earns. A person convicted of one of these 9 offenses could still earn credits that can be used for increased privileges, reduced security classification, or for any purpose other than the reduction of the sentence imposed by the court. Under the legislation, another 16 offenses require 100% of the sentence to be served unless the inmate earns a satisfactory program performance. In these cases, a person can receive credits for a GED or job training. These credits would be used for parole eligibility once a person has served a minimum of 85% of their sentence. Last year, state lawmakers approved truth in sentencing reform for 31 crimes historically targeting women and children.

Strengthening protections for police and service animals — The Senate this week passed legislation known as Joker’s Law that would strengthen the penalty for anyone who harms a law enforcement or service animal in Tennessee. Sponsored by Sen. Mike Bell (R-Riceville), Senate Bill 2013 increases the penalty for anyone who knowingly and unlawfully kills a police dog, fire dog, search and rescue dog, service animal or police horse. Offenders would now be charged with a Class B felony. Anyone between the ages of 14 and 17 who kills or causes serious injury to one of those animals could also be tried as an adult. Under present law, killing a law enforcement service animal is a minimum Class E felony. The bill is named in honor of Joker, a K-9 with the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office who was seriously injured after being shot during a pursuit last year.

Restitution for children of victims of DUI offenders — Legislation that provides restitution for minor children when a parent is killed by a drunk driver now heads to the governor’s desk for his signature. Passed by the Senate this week, Senate Bill 2103 by Sen. Bell requires the convicted offender to pay restitution in the form of child maintenance to each of the victim’s children until each child reaches 18 years of age and has graduated from high school. The bill requires the court to determine a reasonable payment after considering factors including the financial needs of the child and the financial needs of the surviving parent, among other criteria.

Cracking down on mail-order abortions — The Senate this week voted to approve legislation that creates criminal and civil penalties for anyone who provides abortion-inducing drugs through telemedicine and subsequently supplies those drugs via courier, delivery or mail service. Abortions via mail have become increasingly common since the Federal Drug Administration approved telehealth and mail distribution of abortion-inducing drugs in 2020. Current law in Tennessee already bans mail-order abortions. Senate Bill 2281 by Sen. Bell strengthens current law and patient safety measures by putting further restrictions on the use of telemedicine and courier delivery. The bill intends to keep patients from developing serious, life-threatening complications during an unsupervised chemical abortion at home. The bill creates a Class E felony for anyone who intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly violates this act. Failure to comply with this act provides a basis for a civil action against a healthcare provider.

Streamlining reporting system for dangerous road conditions — The Senate passed a bill this week that aims to make it easier for citizens to report road hazards and settle claims with the state when vehicles are damaged on state-maintained highways. Sponsored by Sen. Becky Massey (R-Knoxville), Senate Bill 2678 requires the state treasurer to work with the Tennessee Department of Transportation to develop and implement a centralized information system for the reporting of dangerous road conditions. It expands the authority of the state treasurer to settle citizens’ claims when personal property is damaged by road hazards such as potholes. The state received 1,800 claims for pothole and road hazard damage in 2021 and of those, only 12 were settled.

Banning dangerous drug sales — Sponsored by Sen. Bell, Senate Bill 1997 bans in Tennessee the sale of tianeptine, which is marketed as an antidepressant and attaches to the receptors in the brain similar to opioids. Also known by its street name ‘Zaza Red’, the drug creates withdrawal similar to heroin, and has not been approved by the Federal Drug Administration for use in any way. The legislation was drafted to apply to all possible substances meant to replicate tianeptine. The bill cleared the Senate this week.

Establishing task force on judicial redistricting — The Senate this week voted to approve Senate Bill 2011 by Sen. Bell, which establishes an advisory task force that will recommend a proposed statewide redistricting plan every 10 years. The task force will be appointed by the Speakers of the Senate and House, and consist of 14 members, including trial court judges, district attorneys, public defenders, and citizen members as well as the chairs of the Senate Judiciary Committee and House Civil Justice Committee. The task force must be established by July, 2025 and submit its findings by January, 2027 in order for the legislature to be able to address judicial redistricting before the next judicial election in 2030.

Ensuring judicial integrity — To ensure the integrity of judges in Tennessee, Senate Bill 2478 by Sen. Bell adds two new qualifications for the job. The first is being in good standing with the Board of Professional Responsibility, and the second is not having been publicly censured, suspended or disbarred from the practice of law by the Board of Professional Responsibility within 10 years before the judge’s term of office for dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation. The bill applies to judges of the Supreme Court, court of appeals, chancery courts, circuit courts, criminal courts and others, and is set to take effect Oct. 1, 2022.

Keeping obscene materials off school computers — Present law requires students to be prohibited from accessing pornography and other obscene materials on school computers. Senate Bill 2292, sponsored by Sen. Bell and approved by the Senate this week, ensures vendors that contract with schools comply with the law and take steps to block inappropriate content. If a provider fails to comply with the bill, then a local education agency (LEA) may withhold further payments to the provider and ultimately consider non-compliance a breach of contract. The bill also requires each local board of education to establish a mechanism for parents to report a failure of the technology selected by the LEA to prevent access to harmful materials, and submit an annual report to the state board of education on the successes or failures of the technology. The bill applies to all future contracts.

Funding for ambulance services — The Senate this week passed Senate Bill 1872 by Sen. Ken Yager (R-Kingston), which extends the ground ambulance assessment for another year through June 30, 2023. The bill could generate over $20 million for local ground-based ambulance services throughout the state.

(NASHVILLE) – April 14, 2021 – The Senate continued to wind down its business as many important bills received final approval this week. The Judiciary Committee completed its last meeting, where it approved two judicial appointments to the Court of Criminal Appeals and one to the Court of Appeals. Next week, the Finance, Ways and Means Committee – the final Senate committee to remain open – is expected to present the Senate’s amended state budget.

On Tuesday, the Senate passed Governor Bill Lee’s proposal to establish the Institute of American Civics at Tennessee’s largest public university.  Senate Bill 2410, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson (R-Franklin) and carried by Senator Brian Kelsey (R-Germantown) locates the institute within the Howard H. Baker, Jr. Center for Public Policy on the campus of the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. Governor Lee announced the proposal during his State of the State address in January and has included $6 million for the project in his proposed budget.

There are seven objectives for the institute listed in the bill, including:

• Foster a deeper understanding of the structures and institutions of federal, state, and local government.
• Further the understanding of the principles that contributed to the foundation and development of the United States and the state of Tennessee.
• Enhance education in the fields of politics, economics, philosophy, American history, American government, and other related fields.
• Foster civic engagement through full and fair discussions that promote civil dialogue among those holding conflicting points of view.

“It’s really the first and foremost duty of any education to ensure we are creating a new generation of active citizens who can believe in and support American democracy,” said Sen. Brian Kelsey (R-Germantown). “It’s designed to serve as a robust marketplace of ideas for all students and faculty.”

Members of the board of fellows for the institute will include professors or administrators, former elected officials affiliated with different political parties, and members of the board of the Howard H. Baker, Jr. Center.

Senate votes to remove roadblocks to obtain a Commercial Driver License

Consumers everywhere have felt the effects of the backlog in moving freight across the country. The American trucking association currently estimates that the United States is 80,000 truck drivers short, causing supply chain issues across Tennessee and the nation. To address this issue, the Senate approved legislation this week, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson (R-Franklin) and Senator Paul Bailey (R-Sparta), to help increase the number of Commercial Driver Licenses (CDLs) issued to Tennesseans by expanding eligibility, implementing a quicker turnaround for issuing CDLs and creating a program within the Department of Safety to train qualifying incarcerated individuals and prepare them for a job in the trucking industry.

“I am very proud of this legislation,” said Bailey. “We have worked over the past year with the Department of Safety, the Department of Corrections and TCATs to help solve the shortage of truck drivers in the state of Tennessee by removing roadblocks to obtain a CDL, and I am confident this bill will alleviate some of the issues in our state.”

Senate Bill 2399 creates a program to enable qualifying incarcerated individuals who will return to society to receive a CDL prior to or after their release. Inmates with certain criminal convictions will not be eligible for this training program.

“At my trucking company we have hired formerly incarcerated individuals, and they are some of our best drivers,” said Bailey, who owns a trucking, freight and shipping company. “They appreciate freedom and the ability to have a job. This training program with the Department of Corrections will yield positive results for the trucking industry, formerly incarcerated individuals and public safety. Giving these individuals jobs prevents them from returning to a life of crime and steers them towards a life of productivity.”

This bill will increase the resources and staff for the Department of Safety to allow for a quicker turnaround time for scheduling a commercial driving skills tests and will expand options for third party partners to conduct more commercial driving skills tests on the department’s behalf.

Because many local school districts are having a hard time obtaining school bus drivers, the legislation will also provide more flexibility for school bus endorsement testing and ensure safer school bus drivers as well.

Finally, it lowers the age for those who can receive a CDL in the state. Under the bill, Tennesseans ages 18 – 20 can receive a CDL to drive in the state.

Legislation to prohibit camping on local public property and protect public safety passes in Senate

Legislation enabling local governments to prevent homeless populations from camping on public property was passed by the full Senate on Wednesday. Senate Bill 1610 will encourage homeless individuals to relocate to safer areas and receive needed assistance, including mental and physical health care.

“This bill focuses on public safety and human dignity,” said Senator Paul Bailey, sponsor of the legislation. “Allowing individuals to sleep under bridges and near roadways is not compassionate. It is unsafe. Through this bill we hope to give local governments the ability to protect public safety and connect homeless populations with the resources they need to restore their dignity and improve their living situations.”

Similar to the Equal Access to Public Property Act of 2012 which prohibited camping on state public property, this legislation prohibits camping on local public property. It would give local governments a legal mechanism to remove homeless camps from local public land. If it becomes law, each local governing body could decide how or if they want to enforce the legislation.

Under the legislation, the penalty for camping on public property after an initial warning is a Class C misdemeanor offense punishable by either 20 to 40 hours of community service or a $50 fine. The bill lists camping on the shoulder, berm, or right-of-way of a state or interstate highway or under a bridge or overpass, or within an underpass of a state interstate or highway as punishable offenses.

In Brief…

Ensuring age-appropriate materials in school libraries — Legislation was approved this week that requires the State Textbook and Instructional Materials Quality Commission to issue guidance for local education agencies (LEAs) and charter schools to use when reviewing materials in a library to ensure that the materials are appropriate for the age and maturity levels of the students who will access them. Senate Bill 2247, sponsored by Sen. Jon Lundberg (R-Bristol), will also ensure that the materials are suitable and consistent with the educational mission of the school. The measure also expands the Commission by adding two librarians appointed by the Speaker of the Senate and the Speaker of the House. Working together with Governor Lee’s Age-Appropriate Materials Act of 2022, this legislation will ensure students learn with materials appropriate to their age and grade level.

Cracking down on child abusers during Child Abuse Prevention Month – National Child Abuse Prevention Month recognizes the importance of families and communities working together to strengthen families to prevent child abuse and neglect. Member of the Senate wore blue on Thursday to raise awareness for child abuse and show their support for services that protect children and produce thriving families. On Thursday, the Senate also approved legislation that strengthens penalties for emotional and mental abuse or neglect of children at an unlicensed child care facility. It addresses an incident in East Tennessee, when 23 children were found at an unlicensed child care facility, in a garage and restrained in car seats and high chairs for most of the day. Because no physical abuse had occurred, the punishment for those operating this facility was not as severe as it should have been. Senate Bill 2748, sponsored by Senator Dawn White (R-Murfreesboro), enhances the penalty to a Class E felony for any person operating an unlicensed child care facility and found guilty of abuse, neglect or endangerment of a child.

Senate votes in favor of transparency and accountability to campaign finance laws – The full senate voted to provide common sense measures that will increase transparency and accountability in the political process. Senate Bill 1005, sponsored by Lt. Governor Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge) and Senator Ferrell Haile (R-Gallatin), will require state candidates to report all contributions and expenditures regardless of the amount.  It will also require all in-kind contributions to be reported. Under the legislation, any PAC that registers must submit a valid government photo ID to the Registry for each officer, treasurer of the committee, and at least one person who directly controls expenditures. This change would go into effect July 1, 2022. The additional sunshine this bill provides will increase accountability for campaign operatives and offer more transparency for voters so they can make truly informed decisions.

Teaching virtues of capitalism in Tennessee schools – Senate Republicans gave final approval Tuesday to legislation that requires students to be taught the virtues of capitalism and the constitutional republic form of government of the United States and Tennessee. Senate Bill 2728, sponsored by White, calls for these forms of government to be compared to other political and economic systems such as communism and socialism.

Increasing transparency in sentencing — Passed by the Senate this week, Senate Bill 2183, sponsored by McNally, will better inform victims and their families about how much time an offender will serve at the time of sentencing. The bill requires all Tennessee courts to place on the record the estimated number of years and months to be served before a criminal is eligible for parole. Currently, when a criminal defendant is being sentenced, it is unknown when that criminal defendant is going to be released unless they are required to serve a 100% sentence without credits.

Taking action against abortion advocacy in public schools — The Senate this week passed Senate Bill 2158, sponsored by Hensley, which prohibits an LEA or public charter school seeking assistance in teaching family life from knowingly entering into an agreement with a person or entity that performs abortions, induces abortions, provides abortion referrals, or provides funding, advocacy or other support for abortions.

Ensuring fairness in school sports — The Senate this week passed two bills aimed at ensuring fairness in school sports. Sponsored by Hensley, Senate Bill 2153 prohibits biological males from participating in girls’ sports in public K-12 education. Also sponsored by Hensley, Senate Bill 1861 requires the Tennessee Department of Education to withhold a portion of state funds from public middle or high schools that fail or refuse to determine a student’s gender at the time of birth for participation in school sports.

Expanding defibrillator training in schools — Automated external defibrillator device training is currently required of teachers and staff across Tennessee schools. Passed by the Senate this week, Senate Bill 2824 encourages schools to also offer that training to school bus drivers. Defibrillators are used to prevent or correct arrhythmia by sending an electric pulse or shock to the heart to restore a normal heartbeat.

Increasing access to law enforcement officers at hospitals – The Senate approved legislation this week to help increase public safety at hospital facilities.  Senate Bill 2162, sponsored by Sen. Bo Watson (R-Hixson), gives hospitals the ability to employ and commission police officers to provide security and law enforcement at the hospital facilities. The measure seeks to meet a growing need for law enforcement at hospitals across the state, specifically in emergency departments which have had an increase in patient volume and emotionally charged patient admissions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the legislation, police officers hired by hospital facilities would only have law enforcement authority at the geographic location of the hospital.

Removing barriers for Foreign Medical Graduates to train in Tennessee – Senate Bill 1902, sponsored by Sen. Richard Briggs (R-Knoxville), passed the Senate this week to permit the Board of Medical Examiners and Osteopathic Board to issue a 90-day limited license to foreign staff and residents. The bill details qualifications needed for approval of the limited license and lists the training activities the visiting physicians are allowed to perform under the control and supervision of a Tennessee licensed physician. The bill prohibits the visiting physicians from using this license to obtain a medical residency in the United States or remaining in the state to  practice medicine beyond the expiration date of the license.

Preventing anti-Semitism in schools — The Senate this week passed Senate Bill 2684, sponsored by Sen. Paul Rose (R-Covington), which codifies the prohibition of anti-Semitism in public K-12 schools. The bill defines anti-Semitism and directs schools to use that definition as a guideline when investigating complaints. The legislation also specifies that it does not prohibit the discussion or use of instructional materials regarding the history of Jews, Judaism or the state of Israel that is part of a larger academic instruction.

Ensuring privacy of homeowners — Passed by the Senate this week, Senate Bill 2695, sponsored by Briggs, allows residential property owners to conceal their home address on searchable public databases. Homeowners must file a written request to the property assessor to have their first and last name appear as “unlisted” in the ownership field of online databases. The legislation ensures the privacy of Tennesseans, including law enforcement, who may not want their home address easily accessible.

(NASHVILLE) April 7, 2022 – As Senate committees continue to finalize their business for the 112th General Assembly, the Judiciary Committee approved legislation to enhance protections for victims of human trafficking and abuse. Important legislation to shine light on political organizations advanced in the Senate State and Local Government Committee this week, and Senators continued to present their proposals for budget appropriations amendments to the Appropriations Subcommittee. Additionally, the Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee heard testimony from the Tennessee Department of Education on how the Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement (TISA) Act, which has been proposed by Governor Lee to alter the state’s education funding formula, will affect the state’s finances.

State and Local Government Committee votes in favor of transparency and accountability to campaign finance laws

The Senate State and Local Government Committee voted unanimously to provide common sense measures that will increase transparency and accountability in the political process. Senate Bill 1005, sponsored by Lt. Governor Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge) and Senator Ferrell Haile (R-Gallatin), will require state candidates to report all contributions and expenditures regardless of the amount.  It will also require all in-kind contributions to be reported.

Under the legislation, any PAC that registers must submit a valid government photo ID to the Registry for each officer, treasurer of the committee, and at least one person who directly controls expenditures. This change would go into effect July 1, 2022.

“For too long political action committees have been able to exploit loopholes and meager disclosure requirements to cloak their activities,” said Haile, who is carrying the bill. “If you are going to be a player in the process, voters need to know who you are and what you are doing. We require a government ID to vote; this bill requires a government ID to open a PAC. When mistakes are made and lines are crossed, those responsible must be held accountable.”

The additional sunshine this bill provides will increase accountability for campaign operatives and offer more transparency for voters so they can make truly informed decisions.

“I have been proud to work with Speaker Sexton, Speaker Pro Tem Haile and Rep. Whitson on this legislation to increase transparency and accountability in the realm of campaign finance,” said Lt. Governor McNally. “While no new legislation can prevent a bad actor from being deceitful or dishonest, I believe this bill will increase openness and accountability where it is badly needed. Voters deserve to know who is pushing the messaging they receive and whose money is behind it. This bill seeks to open up the political process and ensure voters have the information they need to make informed decisions.”

Senate works to halt human trafficking and aid victims

A series of bills aimed at preventing human trafficking and protecting victims of abuse advanced this week.

Passed by the Senate on Monday, Senate Bill 2793 requires the Department of Correction, Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, and the Department of Human Services to provide mandatory training on the identification, intervention, prevention and treatment of human trafficking victims. The training must be selected by the Human Trafficking Advisory Council and administered annually starting in 2023.

“Human trafficking, which is really modern-day slavery, is a major problem in Tennessee and exists in every county,” said bill sponsor Sen. Becky Massey (R-Knoxville). “We’ve been ranked among the best states in the country in addressing this issue, but there’s still more tools we can put in the toolbelt to fight this horrific crime.”

On average in the U.S., every two minutes a child is bought or sold for sex: 13 years or older is the average age a child is sold and the average lifespan of victims after entering slavery is seven years, Massey noted.

“It’s the second fastest growing criminal industry behind drug trafficking,” she said.

Passed by the Judiciary Committee and sponsored by Sen. Dawn White (R-Murfreesboro), Senate Bill 2740 requires the district attorneys general conference in collaboration with various state agencies to develop recommendations on the creation of multidisciplinary teams tasked with responding to child sex trafficking cases. The teams are intended to enhance services to victims of child sex trafficking, improve the coordination of investigations of such cases, and identify gaps in services.

Similarly, to ensure Tennessee has top-notch services for victims of sex trafficking, Senate Bill 2739 also sponsored by White, tasks the Department of Children’s Services and the Department of Human Services to identify existing resources and gaps in services for victims between the ages of 18 and 24.

Finally, the Senate this week passed Senate Bill 2815, sponsored by Sen. Kerry Roberts (R-Springfield). The bill requires all public school employees working directly with students to complete an annual child abuse training program identified by the Department of Education or that meets the guidelines established by the Department of Children’s Services. The requirement currently only applies to teachers.

In brief…

Working to increase wages for healthcare professionals – The Senate gave final approval to legislation creating a healthcare task force to review the reimbursement of healthcare professionals employed by healthcare agencies in the state. This task force would include studying fair market pay for direct support professionals (DSP), mental health providers, and children’s services workers. Senate Bill 2304, sponsored by Senator Becky Massey (R-Knoxville), works to address the worker shortages and staffing challenges many state providers face, largely due to compensation of these professionals. Massey says the state needs a long-term solution to these staffing challenges. This task force aims to be a part of the solution by doing a deep dive into data trends and compensation rates.

Expanding eligibility for CTE teachers in high schools – Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses have become an important aspect of preparing Tennessee’s high school students for quality, high-paying jobs upon graduating. However, it can be challenging to attract qualified CTE teachers. Senate Bill 2442, sponsored by Senator Mike Bell (R-Riceville), was given final approval this week in the Senate to make it easier for local schools to find CTE teachers. Current law requires CTE instructors to have five years of work experience within the last ten years and requires their license to be from the state of Tennessee.  The legislation allows a person to teach a CTE class if he or she has three years of relevant experience within the last five years and an industry certification from any state.

Increasing access to Tennessee Promise Scholarship – Overachieving students who graduate from high school early are not eligible to receive the Tennessee Promise scholarship upon their early graduation, under current law. The Senate approved Senate Bill 2631, sponsored by Senator Frank Niceley (R-Strawberry Plains), this week to allow hard-working students who graduate early to be eligible to receive the Tennessee Promise Scholarship, which provides students a last-dollar scholarship, meaning the Tennessee Promise will cover tuition and fees not covered by the Pell Grant, the HOPE scholarship, or TSAA funds.

Positioning Tennessee as a leader in blockchain technologies – The General Assembly passed legislation this week that positions Tennessee as an early leader in blockchain businesses. Senate Bill 2854, sponsored by Senator Paul Bailey (R-Sparta), allows for the creation and recognition of decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) in the state of Tennessee. A DAO is an organization represented by rules encoded as a computer program that is transparent, controlled by the organization members and not influenced by a central government. The legislation allows DAOs to engage in business in the state, while also positioning Tennessee as a hub for DAOs. Though DAOs are still in early phases of development, there are over $9.5 billion in DAO treasuries and over 5,000 DAOs across the world, with 1.3 million members. But most of these DAOs are not being formed in the United States. This bill seeks to provide clarity in the regulation in order to bring more of these DAOs to Tennessee.

Reinstating work requirements for SNAP benefits – The Senate Health and Welfare Committee voted in favor of legislation sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson (R-Franklin) to reinstate work requirements in order for individuals to receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, formerly known as food stamps. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the work requirements for SNAP benefits – which require able-bodied individuals between the ages of 18 and 49 to work, train or volunteer for at least 20 hours per week – were suspended. Senate Bill 2071 also makes clear that any waivers to the work requirement issued by the Department of Human Services must have just cause. The bill now moves to the Senate floor for final approval.

Recognizing military service for retirement credit / state employees – To honor the service and sacrifice of military veterans, the Senate State and Local Government committee approved a measure to expand retirement benefits for state employees who served in armed conflicts. At present, the state allows military veterans who served prior to 1975 to receive time served in the military credited to the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System (TCRS) for up to four years at no cost to the employee. Senate Bill 2057, sponsored by Senator Ferrell Haile (R-Gallatin), adds to the current law by allowing those who served in armed conflicts after 1975 to purchase up to four years of service credit in TCRS. Each year of service credited to TCRS would cost nine percent of their current annual pay. The bill advances to the Finance, Ways and Means Committee.

Offering veterans the day off on Veterans’ Day — Passed by the Senate this week, Senate Bill 2879 by Sen. Paul Bailey (R-Sparta) ensures veterans have the ability to take the entirety of Veterans Day off as a non-paid holiday. The bill defines a veteran as a former member of the armed forces of the United States, or a former or current member of a reserve or Tennessee national guard unit who was called into active military service of the United States.

Providing tax relief for victims of natural disasters – To help aid citizens who experienced damage to their properties following an array of natural disasters in West and Middle Tennessee in 2021, the Senate State and Local Government Committee approved legislation providing tax relief for these victims. Senate Bill 2821, sponsored by Sen. Kerry Roberts (R-Springfield), allows the local legislative bodies in Cheatham, Decatur, Dickson, Dyer, Gibson, Lake, Obion, Stewart and Weakley Counties to provide property tax proration to victims of natural disasters upon a two-thirds approval of its members. Additionally, the measure allows for a sales tax refund on major appliances, residential furniture and residential building supplies for those impacted by the floods in Humphreys County, upon a two-thirds approval of the local legislative body. The legislation uses guidance from previous state action following the 2010 floods in Middle Tennessee and the 2018 wildfires in East Tennessee.

Restitution for children of victims of DUI offenders — In the event a parent of a minor child is killed by an intoxicated driver, Senate Bill 2103 requires the convicted offender to pay restitution in the form of child maintenance to each of the victim’s children until each child reaches 18 years of age and has graduated from high school or the class of which the child is a member has graduated. The bill requires the court to determine a reasonable payment after considering factors including the financial needs of the child and the financial needs of the surviving parent, among other criteria. Sponsored by Sen. Mike Bell (R-Riceville), the bill advanced out of the Judiciary Committee this week. It next goes to the full Senate.

Increasing safeguards for residential child care agencies – Legislation was approved by the Senate this week that was a result of the joint study commission on refugee resettlement issues. Senate Bill 2730, sponsored by Sen. Dawn White (R-Murfreesboro), puts into place additional safeguards of reporting requirements for residential child care agencies (RCCAs). Under the legislation, RCCAs would be required to disclose all contracts in agreement with third parties to provide care, housing and placement for children in Tennessee in order to receive a new license or license renewal. Additionally, it requires the Department of Children’s Services to revoke the license of a facility that provides residential child care if more than two employees or three percent of employees have been charged with criminal offenses related to their job responsibilities and the children for which the agency cares. It also requires an annual report showing the reasons for transfers of children. Lastly, the legislation requires the child care facility to report the names of children who have escaped or disappeared from the RCCA.

Enhancing penalties for burglary — Passed by the Judiciary Committee, Senate Bill 2854 sponsored by Sen. Mike Bell (R-Riceville) increases the penalty for aggravated burglary from a Class C felony to a Class B felony if the home is occupied at the time of the offense. The bill also increases the penalty for an especially aggravated burglary, which is when a victim suffers serious bodily injury during the burglary, from a Class B felony to a Class A felony when the burglary is of a habitation.