The Tennessee House of Representatives has decided to allow the public into its hearing rooms as it resumes business this week, but restrictions will be in place to safeguard against the COVID-19 virus, WPLN reports. House GOP spokesperson Doug Kufner said House committee rooms will only sit about 20 visitors and are available on a first come, first served basis. Visitors are required to have their temperatures checked and wear masks and only three people are allowed on the elevators at one time. Lawmakers’ desks and the dais and podium area in the House chamber have been separated by plastic Lexan barriers. The Senate has decided not to allow public into its committee rooms or chamber and is limiting the number of staff on the Senate floor.

Two bills that would have paved the way for student-athletes to be compensated for use of their names, images and likenesses failed to pass the General Assembly yesterday, the Daily Memphian reports. Legislation from Rep. Joe Towns, D-Memphis, that would have prevented universities from being penalized if student-athletes received gifts or benefits from boosters, failed on a voice vote after an hour-long debate. A similar bill from Rep. Antonio Parkinson, D-Memphis, which would have allowed those athletes to be paid for their names, images and likenesses, failed after a 4-4 vote. One opponent of the legislation, Rep. Kevin Vaughan, R-Collierville, said he supports pay for student-athletes, but worries state universities could be punished for paying their athletes since the NCAA has not put new rules into effect. Neither bill is scheduled to be considered by the Senate.

When lawmakers return to Nashville on June 1 to grapple with the state budget, they will not have much to work with other than the obvious reality that revenues are way down, the Daily Memphian reports. The legislature also is facing conflicting opinions on how much work it should undertake. The Senate reportedly is set to concentrate on budget and virus-related legislation, while the House is open to considering other legislation. The leaders also have not agreed on whether the general public should be allowed to return to the Cordell Hull Building and the House and Senate chambers, though Gov. Bill Lee says he plans to continue keeping the general public out of public spaces in the Capitol “through the foreseeable future.” News broke last week that state revenues collected in March were $693.8 million less than budgeted because of the COVID-19 crisis, while general fund revenues were down by $651 million and sales tax collections were down $61.2 million. The June session will start with House committee hearings the final week of May. In related news, TN Journal reports that the State Funding Board has canceled a meeting for this week to assess the impact the pandemic is having on state finances. 

Gov. Bill Lee has signed several election law bills passed by state lawmakers just before they recessed due to the COVID-19 outbreak, WRCBtv reports. Lee signed off on changes that eliminate fines for submitting too many incomplete voter registration forms and remove the misdemeanor penalties for not completing certain administrative requirements. Several groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union, filed suit over the voter registration laws last year and a federal judge blocked the news laws from taking effect. Another change that Lee signed allows use of emergency supersites if polling places are rendered unusable. That change came largely in response to Super Tuesday tornadoes. Efforts to expand absentee voting during the pandemic were defeated.

Two of the state House’s most conservative Republicans announced their retirements soon after the legislature passed a budget and left town last week, the Nashville Post reports. Rep. Martin Daniel, R-Knoxville, and Rep. Andy Holt, R-Dresden, both said they would not seek another term in 2020. Daniel was originally elected in 2014 and chairs the House Government Operations Committee. Holt was first elected to the House in 2010 and chaired the Finance Subcommittee during former Speaker Glen Casada's brief tenure. This year he is chairing the Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee. Attorney and Democrat Virginia Couch announced she would run for Daniel’s seat earlier this month. James Corcoran, an attorney who finished third in a crowded 2016 Republican primary against Daniel, has filed to seek the seat as well.

In light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, state lawmakers recessed last night after passing an amended, bare-bones budget, the Tennessean reports. Lawmakers are scheduled to return on June 1. Not surprisingly, the newly passed budget looks very different from the budget proposed earlier in the year. The scaled back budget establishes a $150 million fund to cover public health issues related to the pandemic, makes a $350 million contribution to Tennessee's reserve fund, and includes $37 million to start the governor's signature voucher initiative, all while making $401 million in reductions from Lee's initial proposal. Many items were cut, including funds that would have allowed the professional privilege tax to be eliminated or reduced, and money to increase spending for indigent representation.

Before the early adjournment, the TBA’s adoption bill (SB1769/HB1676) was signed into law and the TBA’s business law legislation (SB1990/HB1886) passed the House and Senate and was sent to Gov. Lee on March 17. All other pending legislation is on hold for now. The TBA will continue to work with lawmakers on legislation during the recess and will be ready to go on June 1 or whenever the legislature reconvenes.

A special episode of Legislative Updates recorded today reviews how the legislature is responding to the COVID-19 virus in Tennessee. The TBA’s Berkley Schwarz and Adams and Reese attorney and TBA lobbyist Brad Lampley walk us through the budget lawmakers are looking to pass before an early adjournment. Catch the full episode on Facebook Live by liking the TBA’s Facebook page.  

Gov. Bill Lee, state House Speaker Cameron Sexton and state Senate Speaker Randy McNally announced an “unprecedented” plan Monday to expedite the legislature’s business as the new coronavirus continues to spread. The legislature will pass a budget as quickly as possible, likely by Wednesday, and then recess, the Nashville Post reports. The move comes after Gov. Bill Lee closed the state Capitol to visitors and Sexton and McNally closed legislative offices to everyone but members, media and staff. Those actions were raising concerns from open government groups, the Tennessean reports.

Former Tennessee Agriculture Commissioner Jai Templeton is running for the state Senate seat being vacated by retiring Republican Sen. Dolores Gresham, the Nashville Post reports. Templeton, a farmer and former McNairy County mayor, served as agriculture commissioner from 2016 to 2019. Gresham, who is chair of the Senate Education Committee, announced last week that she would not seek another term. District 26 includes Fayette, Haywood, Hardeman, Chester, McNairy, Hardin, Henderson and Decatur counties in West Tennessee.

Republican state Sen. Dolores Gresham of Somerville will not seek re-election this year, the Nashville Post reports. Gresham, who also serves as chair of the Senate Education Committee, has managed several of Gov. Bill Lee’s legislative initiatives, including an education savings account proposal and an anti-abortion bill. A U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Gresham first served in the state House before being elected to the Senate in 2008.