TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Stacey Shrader Joslin on Nov 12, 2021

Gov. Bill Lee signed new pandemic restrictions into law today, but will seek changes in the next legislative session, the Tennessean reports. Among its many provisions, the bill limits when mask mandates can be applied in public schools, prevents businesses from mandating vaccines, and allows hospital visitation for COVID patients who are nearing the end of their lives. Lee says that the hospital provision needs to be clarified to make sure it reflects the intent of the General Assembly. Though lawmakers intended to limit the provision to patients near death, it was written to apply to all hospitalized patients. Other affected industries opposed to specific components of the bill did not push for a veto, instead turning their focus to making amendments to the legislation next year.