The Tennessee General Assembly wrapped up business for the session around 7:30 p.m. CDT on Friday. Shortly after the legislature adjourned, Gov. Bill Lee said he would call a special session to consider gun reform. Lee repeated his call for legislative action on a new “Order of Protection” law saying, "there is broad agreement that dangerous, unstable individuals who intend to harm themselves or others should not have access to weapons." Additional details about the session will be announced in the coming days, according to a release from the governor’s office.

Tennessee’s two largest cities, Nashville and Memphis, have been running independent, civilian-led boards to investigate police misconduct allegations and review policing policies for a number of years. Yesterday, the state legislature voted to abolish the groups, WPLN reports. Nashville's community oversight board was created by referendum in 2018 following police shootings of Jocques Clemmons in 2017 and Daniel Hambrick in 2018. The Memphis Civilian Law Enforcement Review Board was established in 1994.

The Tennessean reports that Democrats in the state legislature are calling for a special session on gun reform as time appears to be running out for consideration of Gov. Bill Lee's proposed order of protection law as well as gun safety measures proposed by others. Democratic Reps. Bob Freeman and Justin Jones, both of Nashville, called for Lee to bring lawmakers back for a special soon. Meanwhile, Republican Caucus Chair Jeremy Faison, R-Cosby, said lawmakers aren't able to "get their minds around at 15-page bill" before session end, which legislators hope will happen today. Faison said he has encouraged the governor to spend a few weeks in conversation with affected groups and then call a session.

Both the state Senate and House have approved a bill fighting surprise fees that are tacked onto concert and sports tickets at checkout. A spokesperson for Gov. Bill Lee tells Axios the governor intends to sign it into law. The bill requires ticket vendors to show the base price of a ticket and the total price with fees and taxes included before asking for payment. It also bans sellers from using misleading websites to convince customers they are an official or approved source for tickets. Legislators were inspired to take action after the recent Taylor Swift concert ticket debacle, resulting in at least one lawsuit against Ticketmaster. That incident triggered bipartisan condemnation and a broader examination of ticket sales in the concert industry.

The Tennessee House yesterday gave final approval to legislation to designate Juneteenth as a legal state holiday, according to the Chattanooga Times Free Press. Juneteenth, already a federal holiday, commemorates June 19, 1865, when Union Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger issued a proclamation declaring the freedom of Black slaves in Texas. Juneteenth is currently recognized as a Day of Special Observance in Tennessee. Legislation making it a legal state holiday passed the Senate last month. "I'm very appreciative of the legislature passing the bill. We expect the governor to sign it," said Rep. Yusuf Hakeem, a Black Chattanooga Democrat who supported the bill.

TBA's Director of Public Policy & Government Affairs Berkley Schwarz and Adams and Reese attorneys and TBA lobbyists Brad Lampley and Ashley Harbin are out with a new Legislative Update podcast. In this episode, they discuss the outlook for adjournment, status of the medical records bill and Gov. Bill Lee's proposal for a new “Order of Protection” law. In a video message released this week, Lee called on the legislature to allow temporary removal of firearms from a person who poses a "current and ongoing" risk of serious harm to themselves or others "while requiring due process and a high burden of proof to preserve the Second Amendment." The trio wrap up the episode with a plug for the TBA Annual Convention set for June 14-17 in Knoxville. Legislative Update airs each week during the legislative session on TBA’s Facebook page. It is also posted on the TBA’s website and wherever you listen to podcasts.

Tennessee Rep. Scotty Campbell, vice chair of the Republican Caucus from Mountain City, resigned today when confronted with the news that he had been found guilty of sexually harassing at least one legislative intern, likely two, by a House ethics subcommittee acting in secret, NewsChannel 5 reports. The subcommittee did not release the report, which was issued on March 29 and found that Campbell violated the body's policy against workplace discrimination and harassment. It is not clear how NewsChannel 5 learned of the decision. Campbell had been accused previously of making vulgar comments and other inappropriate advances. The intern in question reportedly was relocated from the downtown building where she and Campbell both had apartments and was housed in a downtown hotel for the remainder of her internship. Legislative officials have not said how much they paid for those accommodations, saying the information is confidential. Confronted with the allegations today, Campbell referenced a second intern who apparently was involved in the investigation. "I had consensual, adult conversations with two adults off property," he said.

Tennessee Reps. Justin Jones, D-Nashville, and Justin Pearson, D-Memphis, will have to stand for election in special elections this summer to fill their seats following expulsion from the Tennessee state House. Both won quick approval to be reappointed to the positions until a special election is held. Primaries for both seats are now set for June 15 with a general election set for Aug. 3. The pair, in addition to Rep. Gloria Johnson, D-Knoxville — who also protested against gun violence but survived an expulsion vote — will meet with President Joe Biden at the White House on Monday, the Tennessean reports. 

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee today called on the General Assembly to pass legislation for a new “Order of Protection” law before the end of the legislative session. In a video message, Lee says the new law would strengthen safety while also preserving the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens. He makes the case that the proposal is the “best way to help individuals who intend to harm themselves or others, protect constitutional rights and keep our communities safe.” The bill would allow temporary removal of firearms from a person who poses a "current and ongoing" risk of serious harm to themselves or others "while requiring due process and a high burden of proof to preserve the Second Amendment," Lee says. WSMV has more on the proposal and responses from both Lt. Gov. Randy McNally and House Democratic Caucus Chairman John Ray Clemmons.

The Tennessee Senate has approved a proposal that would protect gun manufacturers, ammunition dealers and sellers from lawsuits by victims of gun violence, sending the bill to Gov. Bill Lee for his signature. The House had previously approved the bill, which spells out certain situations in which companies could be held civilly liable in state courts while exempting others. Sen. London Lamar, D-Memphis, said during deliberations that fellow lawmakers were exhibiting “disrespectful timing” in their efforts to protect gun makers while public protests for new gun legislation continue throughout the state. The bill’s sponsor said the measure was designed to give Tennessee businesses “a little civil liability.” The Associated Press reports on the bill.