Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Brian Kelsey, R-Germantown, and state Rep. John DeBerry, D-Memphis, have created the "Racial Profiling Prevention Act," a proposed state law requiring all law enforcement agencies to adopt a written policy by January 2016 banning racial profiling. The bill defines racial profiling as "the detention, interdiction, or other disparate treatment of an individual solely on the basis of the individual's actual or perceived race, color, ethnicity, or national origin." The Tennessean has the story.

Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, Majority Leader Mark Norris and Caucus Chairman Bill Ketron all were re-elected to their posts without any opposition during today’s caucus leadership elections. House Speaker Beth Harwell defeated Rep. Rick Womack with a margin of 57-15 to retain her post. Rep. Kevin Brooks was re-elected as assistant majority leader over Rep. Jeremy Faison, and Rep. Jeremy Durham defeated the incumbent majority whip, Rep. Cameron Sexton. Rep. Sheila Butt was elected as floor leader, replacing Rep. Vance Dennis who was ousted in the August primary. The Nashville Post has more.

Members of the Tennessee Republican Party’s State Executive Committee on Saturday voted to re-elect Chris Devaney as chairman of the party, rather than support a Tea Party challenge from ex-Rep. Joe Carr, the Tennessean reports. Committee members chose Devaney by a 47 to 17 margin. Carr had accused Devaney of orchestrating attacks against conservative members of the party. A similar fight is likely on Wednesday, the paper suggests, when House Speaker Beth Harwell, R-Nashville, will face a Tea Party challenge from Rep. Rick Womick, R-Rockvale.

The five-member Senate Democratic caucus elected Memphis Sen. Lee Harris to the post of minority leader Tuesday, making him the first African American to serve in that role. Harris, a freshman legislator who unseated Ophelia Ford in the August election, beat out longtime Sen. Reginald Tate for the job in a secret ballot. Sen. Jeff Yarbo of Nashville was elected to the No. 2 position of caucus chairman. Both leaders are lawyers. The Nashville Post has more.

Rep. Rick Womack, R-Rockvale, today issued a letter condemning the personal attacks on Speaker Beth Harwell, R-Nashville. “While I appreciate the efforts of undisclosed supporters across the state, I am not responsible, do not condone, and do not support these, or any future emails, that degrade, attack, or misrepresent the character of any individual associated with the Tennessee House of Representatives,” he states. Womack is challenging Harwell for Speaker of the House. The Nashville Post has more.

Tensions between House Republicans are growing as an image depicting Speaker Beth Harwell as a puppet of House Clerk Joe McCord is circulating among legislators, the Nashville Post reports. The image is the latest of three sent to lawmakers in recent weeks – all from anonymous email accounts. They all have urged members to reject Harwell for being weak on conservative issues. The latest image, though, also calls on members to support Rick Womick for the leadership post.

Republican dominance of the Tennessee General Assembly may be seen as another step in legislative assertiveness, Tom Humphreys writes in Knoxnews. Following the Nov. 7 election, the GOP supermajority in the 99-member House rose from 71 to 73 seats, leaving Democrats with just 26 slots. In the Senate, the GOP gained two seats and now holds 28 of 33, the Democrats just five. Republican fortunes have been steadily on the upswing since 2005, when the GOP took a majority in the Senate. One party has not had such lopsided legislative majorities since 1959. 

Rep. Rick Womick, R-Rockvale, has introduced legislation that would enact a mandatory ultrasound and waiting period for women seeking abortions, the first such formally proposed restriction on abortion after this month’s passage of Amendment 1. The bill would require an abortion provider to perform an ultrasound between 72 and 24 hours before the abortion. The provider must offer the woman the opportunity to view the ultrasound, or describe it to her if she chooses not to view it. It also requires that the heartbeat be made audible. Womick introduced the same bill in 2013, but it didn’t make it out of committee. The Commercial Appeal has more.

A week before the end of his term in office, former state Sen. Stacey Campfield emptied his taxpayer-funded constituent communications account by spending $2,248 on a farewell letter to people in his district. He also transferred funds to three colleagues. Sen. Frank Niceley, R-Strawberry Plains, received $500, while Sens. Steve Southerland, R-Morristown, and Dolores Gresham, R-Somerville, each received $250. Richard Briggs, who beat Campfield in the Republican primary and went on to win the general election, will inherit a balance of $15.39, Knoxnews reports.

Former state Rep. Barrett Rich is starting a new career in public service as a member of the Tennessee Board of Parole, the Associated Press reports. Rich, a native of Fayette County, represented the 94th House District from 2008 to 2014. He was named to the board in August but could not take office until his term officially ended on Nov. 4. Rich will serve through Dec. 31, 2019. The Memphis Daily News has the AP story.