Part of Gov. Bill Haslam’s legislative package making changes to the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act in SB2553/HB2572 includes clarifying the effective date and clarifying the definition of initiating tribunal. Sen. Mark Norris, R-Collierville, passes the bill out of the Senate Judiciary Committee today, and Rep. Gerald McCormick, R-Chattanooga, passes its companion out of the House Civil Justice Committee. The bill now heads to the Senate floor and the House Calendar and Rules Committee for consideration. 

Despite opposition from protestors, the state Senate on Monday approved a resolution (SJR 0467) requiring Attorney General Herbert Slatery to sue the federal government over a federal refugee resettlement program. The move comes after Gov. Bill Haslam last week expressed “concerns” over the need for the measure, the Associated Press reports. Sponsor Sen. Majority Leader Mark Norris, R-Collierville, argued the state has a right to control its own money. He said the General Assembly will hire its own lawyer if Slatery declines to get involved. Sen. Jeff Yarbro, D-Nashville, voted against the measure, saying, "(It) is misguided and really betrays the values of who we are." 

The House Civil Justice Committee today passed HB2593 by Rep. Darren Jernigan, D-Nashville.  As amended, the bill extends the statue of limitations for civil actions based on an injury resulting from child sexual abuse that occurred when the person was a minor but was not discovered until after the person became an adult. The bill would extend the period to seven years from the discovery of the abuse. The bill, supported by the TBA, has also been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee. The Senate version is sponsored by Sen. Becky Massey, R-Knoxville.

The state Senate on Monday passed a bill to nullify a local-hire rule that requires at least 40 percent of work hours on certain Nashville construction projects go to Davidson County residents. Nashville residents in August approved the measure, and the move to nullify it drew criticism from Nashville Democrat Sen. Jeff Yarbro. “I think that we should be a little more reluctant than this to go in and overturn the will of the voters,” he said. Attorney General Hebert Slatey issued an opinion in October stating that the rule violates state law. Read more from The Tennessean. 

The Tennessee House and Senate in a joint session this evening unanimously confirmed Roger Page to the Tennessee Supreme Court. Page received recommendations last week from the House Judicial Confirmation Ad Hoc Committee and the Senate Judiciary Committee. His confirmation in a joint session is the first under the General Assembly’s newly adopted judicial confirmation process. 

The Tennessean offers a summary of half a dozen LGBT-related bills regarding marriage rights, defining gender roles and bathroom access. The list includes the "Natural Marriage" bill (HB 1412/SB 1437), the Counselor Protection bill (HB 1850/SB 1556) and the Birth Gender bill (HB 2600/SB 2275).

House Speaker Beth Harwell, R-Nashville, has asked the Sexual Assault Center to work with a non-legislative panel tasked with improving the legislature’s sexual harassment investigation practices. The panel, scheduled to hold its second meeting today, was created following an investigation by The Tennessean of sexual harassment complaints against Rep. Jeremy Durham, R-Franklin.

WSMV reports the plan to allow guns at the legislative plaza in Nashville will not move forward. The office of Speaker of the House Beth Harwell, R-Nashville, said the decision was made following a meeting with the Tennessee Highway Patrol and Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey. Officials said the building modification necessary to allow guns would not be “a good use of money” since they plan to move from the plaza to the Cordell Hull building by 2017.

State Sen. Todd Gardenhire filed a complaint against Gatlinburg Police Detective Rodney Burns, who is already the subject of a TBI investigation because of his statements during testimony in the Ooltewah student rape case. Gardenhire, R-Chattanooga, said he based the complaint on Burns’ attitude toward the case. "I'd also filed a little complaint with the proper people in Nashville from another angle on his attitude that may go back to his superiors in Sevier County," he said. Read more WTVC.

Despite opposition from LGBT groups, the state Senate yesterday approved a bill (SB 1556) that would give state-licensed counselors and therapists the right to deny service on religious grounds. WPLN reports the proposal comes in a response to a 2014 revision to the American Counseling Association’s code of ethics, which stated counselors could not deny service based on religious objections. "We're doing nothing to prohibit or restrict the ability to get counseling from someone who is trained and willing to provide that counseling," said bill sponsor Sen. Jack Johnson, R-Franklin. Opponents, including the Tennessee Counseling Association, argue the measure will make it harder for people in rural areas to access help.