The mother of a Covenant School shooting victim has released a video ad for the nonprofit "Voices for a Safer Tennessee," calling on state lawmakers to pass meaningful gun reform in the upcoming special session. In the video, Katy Dieckhaus says that her nine-year-old daughter, Evelyn, lost her life because "a troubled person" had easy access to firearms. The ad is part of a statewide public education campaign launched by the nonpartisan nonprofit, which is advocating for temporarily restricting gun access for people who pose a danger to themselves or others, closing background check loopholes and adding new gun storage requirements. Axios Nashville has more on the story.

The Tennessee Republican Party State Executive Committee on Saturday adopted a resolution calling on fellow Republican Gov. Bill Lee to abandon his planned upcoming special session, the Chattanooga Times Free Press reports. The resolution "encourages Gov. Bill Lee to reconsider and not have a special session." Many in the GOP-controlled legislature also are opposed to the special session and the legislation the governor wants considered, the Nashville Post reports. That measure would create a new order of protection law allowing judges to temporarily take guns away from those who are deemed dangerous to themselves or others.

Former Rep. Timothy Hill, who was appointed to fill House District 3 seat following the resignation of Scotty Campbell, was elected yesterday to fill the remainder of Campbell’s term, WJHL reports. Hill, a Republican, prevailed over Democrat Lori Love. Hill held the same seat from 2013-2020 and rose to the position of House majority whip. He gave up the seat in 2020 to run for Congress after U.S. Rep. Phil Roe announced his retirement. He and other Republican hopefuls lost the primary to now-Rep. Diana Harshbarger. The state House seat became vacant when Campbell resigned in in April over sexual harassment issues.

As the U.S. Department of Justice commences a civil rights investigation of Memphis Police, state Rep. G.A. Hardaway, D-Memphis, is calling for an overhaul of the Memphis Shelby Crime Commission, including removal of director Bill Gibbons. “We need a real Crime Commission,” Hardaway said, challenging the next Memphis mayor to appoint a group accountable to the public. Gibbons, who has been Shelby County district attorney general, Tennessee Homeland Security commissioner, Memphis City Council member and Shelby County commissioner, heads the 50-member commission, which was created in 1996. In 2022, the commission released a new plan to reduce crime after violence escalated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Tennessee Lookout has more on the news.

The Tennessee Firearms Association is launching an initiative aimed at defeating Gov. Bill Lee’s proposed gun control measure. John Harris, the group’s executive director, says they’re calling the campaign “Red Flag Down.” Instead of separating dangerous people from guns, Harris argues that Tennessee gun owners want to see dangerous people separated from society, temporarily, for mental health treatment. Nashville Public Radio has more on the story.

Progressive activist Aftyn Behn defeated former Metro Council member Anthony Davis for the Democratic nomination to replace Rep. Bill Beck, D-Nashville, who died in June. Davis had been serving as the interim representative after the council appointed him to the post. Behn now will face Republican David Hooven in the general election scheduled for Sept. 14. The Tennessean has more on the race.

Democratic Representatives Justin Jones, D-Nashville, and Justin Pearson, D-Memphis, yesterday won their respective races to return to the state House of Representatives after being expelled in April for their involvement in gun safety protests. Both were reappointed by their respective city councils a week later and won their primary races in June. Jones defeated Republican Laura Nelson to retake House District 52. Pearson defeated independent candidate Jeff Johnston to retake House District 86. The Tennessean has more on their election.

Ahead of this month’s special session, several state legislators from Memphis met with constituents to hear what they would like to see accomplished during the session. Members of the Memphis Police Department joined about 50 people Tuesday night at the Riverside Missionary Baptist Church to talk about legislative proposals to address crime and violence in the city. The Commercial Appeal reports that those who spoke called for greater youth resources and stronger gun laws.

White County General Sessions Court Judge John Meadows now can hear adoption cases thanks to a private bill sponsored by Republican Rep. Paul Sherrell and Sen. Paul Bailey, both of Sparta. The legislation was approved by the General Assembly and signed by Gov. Bill Lee during the last session, Sparta Alive reports. Under Tennessee law, only chancery and circuit courts have jurisdiction, power and authority to hear and decide adoption cases. The change was enacted to expedite adoption proceedings in the county, where residents often had to wait to be scheduled on a crowded docket and then travel to Cookeville for court appearances. According to the Department of Children’s Services, the change will “accelerate child placement, namely allowing for a judicial waiver to speed adoption finalization from six to three months if a court sees fit.”

Gov. Bill Lee confirmed that he will make an official call for a special legislative session and will sponsor several bills, including one dealing with extreme risk orders of protection, despite opposition from some Republican lawmakers. The Tennessee Lookout reports that Lee said recently he also plans to push legislation on juvenile justice, mental health and violent crime, but declined to give more details. “Tennessee will be a safer state as a result of the efforts of the legislation and the legislators who are engaged in the process of this special session on public safety,” Lee said.