Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and top Republican legislative leaders yesterday outlined an immigration agenda for the upcoming special session. Elements include creating a special centralized Immigration Enforcement Division within the Department of Safety, appointing a new chief immigration enforcement officer, creating a Class E felony for local officials who adopt or maintain “sanctuary city” policies and authorizing the state attorney general to initiate removal proceedings for officials convicted under the proposed new law, raising standards for state-issued IDs, encouraging local officials to cooperate with federal immigration authorities, and a grant program to help local governments support federal and state immigration policies. In related news, the Associated Press is reporting that interim leaders in the U.S. Justice Department have directed U.S. attorneys to investigate local law enforcement officials who refuse to enforce new federal immigration policies.

The 114th Tennessee General Assembly kicked off the 2025 legislative session last week, beginning the first year of a two-year legislative session and implementing some significant changes in the structure and membership of House and Senate committees.

In the House, Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, adjusted both the ranks of committee chairs and the structure of committees themselves. Rep. Debra Moody, R-Covington, is now chair of the Calendar & Rules Committee, replacing Rep. Jason Zachary, R-Knoxville, who is now deputy speaker. Rep. Gary Hicks, R-Rogersville, is chair of the Finance, Ways and Means Full Committee, a position previously held by former Rep. Patsy Hazlewood, R-Signal Mountain, who was defeated in last year’s election. Rep. Tandy Darby, R-Greenfield, is chair of the Banking & Consumer Affairs Subcommittee of Commerce. The former chair, Rep. Dennis Powers, R-Jacksboro, now chairs the newly formed Private Acts Committee.

One of the most significant changes this session is the restructuring of House committees. In previous years, there were multiple judiciary, education and state and local government committees. This year, those have been consolidated, leaving three main committees. The leadership indicated the restructuring was designed to promote greater efficiency. The Judiciary Committee, chaired by Rep. Andrew Farmer, R-Sevierville, will have three subcommittees: Civil Justice, Criminal Justice and Children & Family Affairs. Rep. Mark White, R-Memphis, will chair the Education Committee, which will have four subcommittees: Education Administration, Higher Education, Education Instruction and K-12. Finally, Rep. John Crawford, R-Bristol, is chair of the newly combined State & Local Government Committee, which has four subcommittees: Department & Agencies, Public Service, Cities & Counties and Elections & Campaign Finance. See the roster of all House committee leaders.

The Senate experienced significant changes as well. Sen. Shane Reeves, R-Murfreesboro, takes over as chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, succeeding Sen. Steve Southerland, R-Morristown. Sen. Ed Jackson, R-Jackson, is chairing the Government Operations Committee, replacing Sen. Kerry Roberts, R-Springfield. Additionally, following Sen. Jon Lundberg's, R-Bristol, electoral defeat, Sen. Dawn White, R-Murfreesboro, has taken over as chair of the Education Committee. See the roster of all Senate committee leaders.

The General Assembly adjourned on Jan. 16 in preparation for the special session, which will begin on Jan. 27.

The Tennessee Senate has passed a resolution to form a joint committee to consider removing Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy from office. Action News 5 reports that Senate Joint Resolution 26, sponsored by Sen. Brent Taylor, R-Memphis, now heads to the Senate Judiciary Committee. Taylor and Mulroy have been at odds for months. Taylor outlined his case for Mulroy’s removal earlier this month. Mulroy has responded to efforts to remove him from office, including calling the effort “political.” Last summer, House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, revealed he was in talks with the attorney general about removing Mulroy from office. 

TBA's Indigent Representation Primer series recently featured an item that looks at the right to counsel for indigent parties in criminal cases, including factors that courts may consider in determining to appoint an attorney for a defendant. Procedures for appointing counsel may vary by court, but typically function through a combination of public defender offices and court-appointed private attorneys. Tennessee's state constitution and state law align with the Sixth Amendment and federal rulings that guarantee indigent defendants receive legal representation in criminal cases where they are facing incarceration. There are other situations where the right to appointed counsel may be guaranteed, including cases involving juveniles, some immigration cases and both trial and appeals for individuals facing the death penalty.

Several Tennessee lawmakers were subpoenaed last week to testify in the upcoming corruption trial of former House Speaker Glen Casada and his ex-chief of staff, Cade Cothren, who face federal charges of bribery and kickbacks involving a vendor, Phoenix Solutions. Cothren allegedly ran the vendor under a false identity, “Matthew Phoenix,” to secure state-funded contracts for mailers and caucus work, earning tens of thousands of dollars. Casada, prosecutors allege, recruited his fellow lawmakers for business and then accepted kickbacks, reports the Tennessean. According to the Tennessee Lookout, the subpoenas came at the request of Cothren’s defense team, while former Rep. Robin Smith of Hixson, who pleaded guilty in the case, is cooperating with prosecutors. Casada resigned in 2019 amid multiple scandals. The trial is set to begin on April 22.

The Tennessee House of Representatives today adopted new rules governing operations of the chamber. The Tennessean reports that key changes include authority for the speaker to ban disruptive spectators from the gallery for up to two years, removal of members from the chamber for repeated violations of the rules, a new remote voting option for members who have been removed and a limit of 12 on the number of bills each rank and file member may introduce. In the next General Assembly, that number would drop to 10 bills each. For this session, leaders and committee chairs will be able to introduce 15 bills each. According to the paper, all House Democratic members and one Republican member voted against the package.

Tenneesse’s Republican-led legislature reappointed all of the state’s constitutional officers on Wednesday, giving Secretary of State Tre Hargett, Comptroller of the Treasury Jason Mumpower and Treasurer David Lillard Jr. new terms. Hargett was first elected in 2009 and will serve another four-year term. Mumpower, who has been in office since 2021, and Lillard, who has been in office since 2009, were elected to new two-year terms. The Nashville Banner reported the votes in its newsletter today.

A group of 75 Tennessee House members is pushing the NCAA to change its rules following a recent ruling that struck down Title IX rules proposed by President Joe Biden’s administration. In a letter, the Republican members call on the sports organization to “protect the integrity of women’s sports by immediately reversing its controversial decision to allow male athletes to compete as females.” The request comes a week after a ruling from the U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of Kentucky against rules from the U.S. Department of Education that would have expanded protections in Title IX to LGBTQ+ students. WSMV has more on the story.

Gov. Bill Lee has announced a special legislative session to convene on Jan. 27. The session will focus on advancing his school voucher bill, as well as disaster relief funding and immigration issues, The Tennessean reports. This will be Lee’s seventh special legislative session since taking office in 2019, more than any other governor in state history according to the paper. Lee’s voucher proposal failed last year. A special session, which allows lawmakers to focus solely on topics designated by the governor, could clear the way for the bill’s passage. Regarding immigration issues, the governor’s office said he is asking the General Assembly to consider “public safety” measures to ensure the state is prepared for federal policy implementation. Read the governor's full statement.

The 114th Tennessee General Assembly has been gaveled into session with Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge, being reelected speaker of the Senate and Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, reelected speaker of the House. The Tennessean reports that the House Select Committee on Rules convened later to discuss proposed changes to the rules. Ahead of the meeting, proposed rules changes included limiting the number of bills each member may introduce to 10 (down from 15), and a “three-strikes” rule proposing to permanently ban members of the public found to be disruptive from the gallery. In other organizational moves, the Senate is expected to name committee assignments on Thursday.