The state Senate last week unanimously approved a bill that would repeal the "spiritual treatment" exemption to the state's child abuse and neglect statute, the Knoxville News Sentinel reports. The measure (SB 1761 / HB 2043) is sponsored by Sen. Richard Briggs, R-Knoxville, a cardiac surgeon. The exemption was at the center of a case involving the 2002 death of a Loudon County girl after her mother refused medical care in favor of “spiritual treatment” and prayer. The state House Criminal Justice Committee is scheduled to consider the bill Wednesday.

Judges, clerks and other officials would no longer be authorized to solemnize marriages under a bill scheduled to be heard next week in the House Civil Justice Subcommittee. The bill (HB 2379 / SB 2462), sponsored by Rep. James Van Huss, R-Jonesborough, and Sen. Janice Bowling, R-Tullahoma, says that after July 1 only "regular ministers, preachers, pastors, priests, rabbis, and other spiritual leaders of every religious belief, more than 18 years of age, having the care of souls, may solemnize the rite of matrimony.”

State lawmakers are expected to vote today on a bill that would allow Knox County judges to offer chronic offenders community service to pay off their court costs. A WBIR investigation last year found that some indigent defendants were responsible for court debts of more than $750,000. Gov. Bill Haslam is expected to sign off on the bill, which will serve as a pilot program before potentially moving into other counties. 

A Tennessee bill (SB 1677 / HB 1823) that would allow women to obtain contraceptives from pharmacists cleared the Senate today and now heads to the House, The Tennessean reports. According to the bill, interested pharmacists would have to enter into a collaborative agreement with a physician, who would oversee a series of protocols for the pharmacist to follow. 

The Senate Judiciary Committee today passed SB1560 by Sen. Ferrell Haile, R-Gallatin, with an amendment. The bill as amended provides that any will executed prior to July 1 will be considered executed if the witnesses to the will signed a self-proving affidavit incorporated in a will and other existing statuary requirements are met. The bill will go to the Senate floor next. Rep. William Lamberth, R-Cottontown, passed the companion bill, HB1472, on the House floor last week.

The Senate Judiciary Committee will on March 15 consider SB2377 by Sen. Mike Bell, R-Riceville, that would require losing parties in lawsuits brought against state officials in their individual capacity to pay legal costs. The House of Representatives passed its companion HB1679 by Rep. William Lamberth, R-Cottontown. The TBA does not support this change in policy by the legislature because it chills legitimate claims. Take action today by contacting your legislator via TBAImpact.

The Tennessee General Assembly has been named the most conservative legislature in the country by the American Conservative Union. Sen. Brian Kelsey, R-Germantown, and Rep. Timothy Hill, R-Blountville, accepted the award Saturday at the group’s Conservative Political Action Conference. Read more from Humphrey on the Hill.

Waller partner Marcus Crider focused on the importance of training when speaking with a state legislative panel tasked with creating a new sexual harassment policy. Crider, who works with companies on developing and implementing such policies, spoke at the panel’s second meeting. The Tennessean reports that the panel did not mention Rep. Jeremy Durham, R-Franklin, by name during the meeting, but there were a few references to his reported inappropriate behavior.

The Tennessee House of Representatives today passed a resolution expressing disagreement with the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision last year to legalize same-sex marriage. The chamber said it disagrees with the constitutional analysis used in Obergefell v. Hodges. Rep. Susan Lynn, R-Old Hickory, sponsor of the measure, called the High Court’s action “very dangerous.” She added, “Our law does not say that, it’s never said that, and it was never the intent of the General Assembly to do that.” Read more from The Tennessean.

As the $75 million “Peeping Tom” suit brought by TV personality Erin Andrews continues in Nashville, state lawmakers are considering a bill that would allow judges more discretion in cases where someone unlawfully photographs someone. The bill would allow judges to order convicted defendants to register as a sex offender, WKRN reports. The act is currently considered a misdemeanor.