The Tennessee House voted last night in favor of adding language to the Tennessee state Constitution attributing liberty to God, the Tennessee Journal reports. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Micah Van Huss (R-Jonesborough), seeks to add a sentence that reads: “We recognize that our liberties do not come from governments, but from Almighty God.” The bill will not head to the Senate for consideration until next year.

The TBA’s Tennessee Uniform Limited Partnership Act (TULPA) cleared its last major Senate hurdle today when the Senate Finance Committee recommended it for passage. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Jack Johnson (R-Franklin) and Rep. Ron Travis (R-Dayton), modernizes and harmonizes the provisions of the limited partnership law with other forms of business organization. The bill had to win Finance Committee approval because of a small fiscal note associated with filing fees. With the Finance Committees in both houses appearing to be close to wrapping up the budget, the General Assembly is expected to adjourn for the year early next week.

The Tennessee Senate voted 23-6 yesterday to assign “natural and ordinary meaning” to terms in state law, drawing criticism from LGBT groups who view the bill as discriminatory, the Tennessean reports. The bill fails to define what terms it seeks to clarify, but resembles a similar previous measure that singled out terms like “husband” and “wife.” Sen. John Stevens (R-Huntingdon) said the bill was designed to compel courts to side with Justice Antonin Scalia’s dissenting opinion in the landmark same-sex marriage ruling. The House approved the measure last month, so it now heads to Gov. Bill Haslam’s desk for approval.

Legislation that increases penalties and fines for elderly abuse and creates a new offense for those who do not report it passed out of the House Criminal Justice Committee today and will now go to the House Finance Committee. Sponsored by Rep. Kelly Keisling, R-Byrdstown, and Sen. Mark Norris, R-Collierville, the bill (HB0810/SB1230) is supported by the District Attorneys General Conference, which was acting on findings provided by a governor’s task force. The Senate version of the bill, which is set to go before the Finance, Ways and Means Committee, differs some from the House version. It applies the protection to those 80 and older, while the House version applies it to those 70 and older. A fiscal note attached to the bill says there would be a $4.2 million cost for additional incarceration if the bill is passed.