TBA Law Blog

TBA Law Blog

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Video Update: Legislature Heading Toward Session's End

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Mar 28, 2019
As the General Assembly prepares for what it hopes will be the final month of this year's session, the TBA's weekly livestream video Legislative Update is now available for viewing on the TBA Facebook page. This week's edition focuses on the status of the TBA's remaining bills, other key pieces of legislation the TBA is watching, as well as a recent bill the TBA came out in opposition against. Tune in next week for a special guest!

Byrd Out as Education Subcommittee Chair

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Mar 28, 2019
Citing bipartisan concerns over the controversy surrounding Rep. David Byrd, R-Waynesville, House Speaker Glen Casada has removed him from his chairmanship of an education subcommittee, The Tennessean reports. Byrd faces allegations from women who accused him of sexual misconduct during his time as a high school basketball coach. Casada said his decision was not about the allegations but because the situation had become a distraction. Byrd said Thursday he had no intention of resigning. 

Governor's School Voucher Proposal Passes House Committee

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Mar 27, 2019
Gov. Bill Lee's school voucher proposal passed a key hurdle today when it gained approval from the House Education Committee, The Tennessean reports. In an unusual move and a signal of how important the legislation is, House Speaker Glen Casada made an appearance at the meeting to cast a rare vote, moving the educational savings account program forward by a 14-9 margin. Lawmakers amended the proposal, but did not detail those changes before the vote. The amendment includes changes to remove home schooling, cap the program and require the state's education department to verify the legal status of students.

TBA, Governor Opposes Bill Requiring Legislative Confirmation for Judicial Appointments

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Mar 26, 2019
A bill currently making its way through the Tennessee General Assembly would require legislative confirmation for the governor’s picks for vacant lower-court judgeships and other local judicial positions, The Nashville Post reports. The TBA opposes the bill, with Executive Director Joycelyn Stevenson saying  it "adds an unnecessary delay and political layer to the process." Gov. Bill Lee spokesperson Laine Arnold said the administration also opposes the bill because "our current process already provides a high level of accountability as these positions are often up for election within a short time from the governor’s appointment."

2 TBA Adoption Bills Signed into Law

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Mar 25, 2019
Gov. Bill Lee on Friday signed into law two bills that were a part of the TBA's legislative agenda and were authored by the TBA Adoption Law Section. SB0207/HB0288 allows biological parents and adoptive parents to enter into an enforceable, written contract for post-adoption contact that permits continued contact between legal relatives and the child, while SB0208/HB0287 is a corrections/clean up bill for the TN: First in Adoption Act, enacted in 2018.

TBA Legislative Update: Committees Begin Closing Down

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Mar 22, 2019
Legislative activity continued at an active pace last week as committees juggled executive branch budget hearings, bills, a flood of last-minute amendments — which were filed due to committee closures — and the announcement of final calendars for several key committees. By the end of the week, the House Property and Casualty Subcommittee, the Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee and the House Cities and Counties Subcommittee all closed subject to the call of the chair, with many others expected to follow suit this week. Sen. Bo Watson, R-Hixson, chair of the Finance Ways and Means Committee, also announced that the Senate is halfway through the budget hearing process, with an anticipated completion in two weeks. Leadership continues to target an early May adjournment, which means the bulk of legislation for 2019 will have its fate determined within the next month.

TBA ED Joycelyn Stevenson Today's Guest on Legislative Update

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Mar 21, 2019
This week's video TBA Legislative Update is now available on Facebook. Joining Government Affairs Director Berkley Schwarz and Communications Coordinator Katharine Heriges for this edition is TBA Executive Director Joycelyn Stevenson, who talks about what role she has to play in the bar association's legislative agenda, as well as the ins-and-outs of what goes on behind the scenes at the TBA. Check out future installments by logging onto Facebook every Thursday afternoon, and catch up on previous updates on the TBA's YouTube channel.

House Passes Business Discrimination Bill

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Mar 21, 2019
The Tennessee House overwhelmingly approved a bill last week that supporters say would protect people from discrimination and critics call a “license to discriminate," The Nashville Post reports. The bill, carried by Rep. Jason Zachary, R-Knoxville, “prohibits state and local governmental entities from taking discriminatory action against a business based on that business's internal policies.” LGBTQ advocates have been the most forceful opponents of the bill, with Tennessee Equality Project executive director Chris Sanders calling the bill a “clear swipe at the LGBTQ community, since we are not already protected by federal and state law in employment, housing and public accommodations.”

Anti-Birthright Citizenship Resolution Dies in House Panel

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Mar 20, 2019
A resolution to commend President Donald Trump for wanting to end the constitutional guarantee of birthright citizenship has died in the Tennessee General Assembly, The Tennessean reports. A state House panel voted 4-3 Wednesday to reject Rep. Bruce Griffey's resolution. Three Republicans and a Democrat voted against the resolution. One the of Republicans who voted against it, Rep. Michael Curcio, said that the discussion should happen at a federal level.

Bill to Re-route Education Funds to Mental Health Facilities Withdrawn

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Mar 18, 2019
A bill that would have allowed state and local education funding to be transferred to out-of-state mental health facilities died this week after one of its sponsors learned of concerns about UHS, the company that was pushing for it. The Nashville Post reports that multiple lawsuits have been filed over UHS facilities in Georgia with allegations including patient death and sexual assault. Bill sponsor Sen. Steve Dickerson, R-Nashville, said a "growing sense of unease about the whole matter" led him to pull the bill.
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