TBA Law Blog

TBA Law Blog

Gun Reform Advocates Protest at Capitol as Special Legislative Session Begins

Posted by: Julia Wilburn on Jan 28, 2025

Hundreds of students, parents and advocates gathered outside the Tennessee State Capitol on Monday, calling for gun reform after the Jan. 22 fatal shooting at Antioch High School in Nashville, where 16-year-old Josselin Corea Escalante was killed. According to the Nashville Post, attendees, including members of Escalante’s family, criticized the lack of school safety discussions in the special legislative session that began the same day. The Tennessean reports that the special session will consider $470 million in Hurricane Helene relief, a $447 million statewide school choice voucher program and new a state immigration enforcement entity. In preparation for the session, House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, named six special committees to consider seven bills that have been filed, according to the Tennessee Journal. The Senate plans to keep its existing committee structure for the special session. During debate on the special session rules, Democrats criticized the adoption of a "flow motion" proposal, allowing bills to potentially go from committee to a vote in the same day, claiming the shortened timeframe does not provide enough time to review proposals. The session is set to wrap up by the end of the week, with the House scheduled to return to normal operations by Feb. 3. The Senate plans to reconvene on Feb. 10 in time for Gov. Bill Lee's State of the State address.

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