Questions from fellow lawmakers caused State Rep. Ron Travis to put on hold his bill (HB 0213/SB1377) that would allow fellow Tennessee legislators and almost 1,700 city or town council members the ability to solemnize marriages in Tennessee, the Chattanooga Times Free Press reports. Lawmakers fretted about coming under siege from couples wanting them to preside over their ceremonies, obligations to counsel couples and other issues. One socially conservative representative worried if she could become the target of a lawsuit for refusing to honor a same-sex couple's request.

Flags over the state capitol flew at half-staff on Saturday in memory of former State Rep. Ben West Jr., who died last week at 78. The longtime Nashville-area legislator served 26 years before stepping down in 2010, the Tennessee Journal reports. West's father was former Nashville mayor Ben West. His brother was the late Jay West, a former Metro council member and vice mayor.

A majority of House subcommittees are now closed and with full committees in both houses either on their final calendars or closed for business, the end of the session is in site. Leaders continue to aim for a May 1 adjournment, with the target date for a completed budget April 25. There are, of course, unanticipated delays that can arise from major pieces of legislation whose fate has yet to be determined. This year that includes bills on school choice and education savings accounts, sports gaming and medical marijuana. Floor activity will also increase for the remainder of April, as the bulk of legislation that survived the committee process now advances for floor votes. Lengthy floor meetings in the House and Senate chambers will become a regular occurrence.

Lt. Gov. Randy McNally says he thinks a House-passed bill that is seen as an effort to stop same-sex couples from adopting children, will face a difficult path in the Senate, the Daily Memphian reports. The bill, HB836, would prevent the state from penalizing private adoption agencies that refuse to grant adoption services to couples based on religious and moral beliefs.

Public Policy Director Berkley Schwarz hosts this week’s Facebook livestream video legislative update, joined by TBA lobbyist Brad Lampley. The two update progress on TBA bills they’re helping move through the Senate and House of Representatives. You can view all the TBA’s legislative updates on YouTube and make sure to catch future updates every Thursday afternoon on the TBA’s Facebook page.