TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Julia Wilburn on Mar 15, 2024

A bill blocking local governments from passing police reform on traffic stop policies is heading to Gov. Bill Lee's desk after it passed the Senate. The Commercial Appeal reports that the bill passed with 26 "yes" votes and six "no" votes along party lines, with all Memphis and Nashville Democrats voting against it. The bill would directly nullify an ordinance passed by the Memphis City Council in the wake of Tyre Nichols being fatally beaten by now-former Memphis Police Department officers. The ordinance prevents police from conducting low-level traffic stops, often called "pretextual traffic stops." Nichols' parents have objected to the bill throughout the legislative process. According to the Daily Memphian, they now have requested a meeting with Lee and asked him to veto the bill.