Tennessee is among at least 17 states that are proposing legislation to address the backlogs of untested rape kits dating as far back as the 1980s, the Chattanooga Times Free Press reports. State Sen. Majority Leader Mark Norris, R-Collierville, is the sponsor of one bill requiring law enforcement agencies to inventory their rape kits. Another proposal, sponsored by Rep. Antonio Parkinson, D-Memphis, would require law enforcement agencies to submit rape kits to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation within 10 days and require they be analyzed within six months.

Proposed bills in the state House and Senate would limit or cut funding for University of Tennessee student groups to host campus speakers, the Columbia Daily Herald reports. In a backlash against the student-organized Sex Week — a week-long event promoting sexual health — Sen. Stacey Campfield, R-Knoxville, has introduced SB 1608, which would allocate speaker fees based on the membership size of student organizations. A companion bill, HB 2378, has been introduced in the House by Rep. Susan Lynn, R-Mt. Juliet. A second proposal, SB 2493 / HB 2450, sponsored by Campfield and Rep. Jimmy Matlock, R-Lenoir City, would eliminate funding for all speakers. UT President Joe DiPietro said it was the first time in 40 years there was such concern over campus activities, but defended the university's open speaker policy.

The state House Civil Justice Subcommittee last week decided not to take up legislation that would have eliminated two divisions of Shelby County’s Circuit Court. Instead, the committee “rolled” the bill (HB 2209 / SB 1484) for two weeks. It is now scheduled to be considered on March 5.

State senators approved two bills yesterday that honor the legacies of Knox County couple Channon Christian and Chris Newsom, who were brutally murdered seven years ago, WBIR reports. The Chris Newsom Act would do away with the state's 13th juror rule, which requires a judge to validate a jury verdict by signing a document. An amended version of the Channon Christian Act would prevent evidence or allegations of previous behavior that could call into question the character of a victim, defendant, witness or third-party. The House companion bills are set to be discussed by a subcommittee next Wednesday.

Legislative efforts to remove the Supreme Court’s power to select the state Attorney General appear to be stalled. A bill calling for popular election of the post (SJR 123) was rejected by the full Senate on Feb. 5 and Wednesday the House Civil Justice Subcommittee took off notice SJR 196, which called for appointment of the AG by the General Assembly. Gavel to Gavel looks back at similar bills that have failed to change the selection process over the past 17 years.

The Tennessee Senate will likely go along with minor changes made to the wine in food stores bill passed today by House of Representatives, the Commercial Appeal reports. The bill allows towns, cities and counties with liquor stores or liquor by the drink to start holding public referendums this November to decide whether to permit local food stores to sell wine.

State. Sen. Mike Bell said during hearings yesterday that he would delay consideration of Senate Bill 2566 until at least next year, saying that there was no need for the measure immediately. Dubbed "Turn the Gays Away" by opponents, the bill would have let cake makers, photographers and other vendors refuse to work on same-sex ceremonies, even if courts strike down the state’s constitutional ban on gay marriage. Similar bills were struck down this week in Kansas and Idaho. The Tennessean has more.

In her Sunday piece for The Tennessean, columnist Gail Kerr says a bill intended to shield rape victims’ identity and personal information would turn rape into an "invisible crime" and would hurt public safety. Kerr notes that the bill was filed only days after The Tennessean and other media outlets filed suit seeking information about a Vanderbilt rape case, which the Metro Police Department and the university have refused to turn over. In an earlier article, TBA Executive Director Allan Ramsaur expressed concern about the proposal saying it could “compromise the right of the accused to confront the accuser and participate in their own defense.” Follow news regarding legislation through TBAImpact.

Sen. Brian Kelsey, R-Germantown, has pulled his sponsorship of a bill designed to protect persons or religious organizations (both for-profit and non-profit) that choose to deny services or goods in conjunction with a civil union, domestic partnership, or gay marriage less than a week after filing it. SB 2566, dubbed "Turn the Gays Away" Bill by equality advocates, is moving forward with a new Senate sponsor, Sen. Mike Bell, R-Riceville. On the House side, the bill is sponsored by Rep. Bill Dunn of Knoxville. The bill has been placed on the Judiciary Committee calendar, which Kelsey chairs. The Memphis Flyer has more.