Republican lawmakers have introduced new legislation that would regulate the sale and production of delta-8, a hemp-derived cannabinoid product, the Tennessean reports. State House Majority Leader William Lamberth, R-Portland, and Sen. Richard Briggs, R-Knoxville, introduced the bill, which would ban the product from those under the age of 21, add an additional sales tax of 5% and create a regulation process of the product through the Department of Agriculture. The bill was put forth after legislation to ban the product failed last year.

Nashville Metro Law Director Wallace Dietz is warning that a plan being considered by the state legislature to cut the Metro Council would “create chaos” and trigger a possible legal battle, the Tennessean reports. Dietz has said that that the proposal “poses an existential threat not just to Nashville’s self-governance but to the constitutional rights of all local governments across the state.” He also argues that the large council “protects minority representation in government.” House Majority Leader William Lamberth of Portland and Sen. Bo Watson of Hixson, both Republicans, have filed legislation that would cap the size of metropolitan legislative bodies in the state at 20. The only government that would be affected by the proposal is Nashville’s Metro Council, which has had 40 members.

Justin J. Pearson has won the Tennessee State House District 86 election to fill the seat of the late Rep. Barbara Cooper, ABC News 24 reports. Pearson has advocated for various social justice initiatives in recent years, including raising money with the Poor People's Campaign for the town of Mason, Tennessee, and advocating for the removal of coal ash from Memphis neighborhoods. Cooper died in October but her name remained on the November ballot. She served the district for 26 years and was the oldest-serving state legislator until her death at age 93.

Tennessee Lookout has launched a new legislative report to be published each Friday while the General Assembly is in session. The feature will not include every bill introduced but will highlight “legislation most likely to have an impact on Tennesseans.” Check out the first installment.

Tennessee Senate committee assignments for the 113th General Assembly have been released. See the full list and find out which committee your local senator has been assigned to over on the Tennessee Journal.  

State Rep. Mike Sparks, R-Smyrna, is pushing legislation he believes would have stopped the aggressive lockup of children in Rutherford County and saved the county millions of dollars paid to those affected by local policies. According to Tennessee Lookout, the proposed legislation would prohibit interviews or interrogations of children without the presence of legal counsel,  parent, guardian or custodian. In addition, children would be told of their constitutional rights to legal representation when taken into custody, and a video recording of any interviews would be made. Reporting by ProPublica and Nashville Public Radio in 2021 revealed the high level of juvenile arrests in the county. Juvenile Court Judge Donna Davenport stepped down in 2022 amidst the controversy.

The Tennessee Journal has published a full list of House Speaker Cameron Sexton’s committee assignments for the 113th General Assembly. Find out which committee your local representative has been assigned to on the TNJ’s website.

Retired state Rep. Bobby Wood died this morning after an extended illness. He was 87. Wood represented District 26 in the state House for 28 years before retiring in 2004. He was honored with the Republican party’s “Tennessee Statesman of the Year Award” in 2004. During his time as a lawmaker, Wood sponsored legislation formulating home school policy in Tennessee that was used as a model in other states. He sponsored legislation to bring Tenncare benefits in line with the state healthcare plan in 2000. Funeral services will take place on Tuesday at noon EST at Redemption Point Church, 3831 Ooltewah-Ringgold Road. The Chattanoogan has more on the story.

Democratic lawmakers are re-upping a bill that would legalize marijuana in Tennessee, the Tennessean reports. State Rep. Bob Freeman, D-Nashville, and Sen. Heidi Campbell, D-Nashville, are sponsoring the measure called Free All Cannabis for Tennesseans Act, which would legalize the recreational use of marijuana and provide a process for it to be grown and sold. The bill would allow adults to purchase up to 60 grams of marijuana and is nearly identical to legislation Freeman and Campbell previously sponsored. It estimated that legalizing cannabis would generate more than $380 million in tax revenue for state and local governments. Republicans have reiterated their opposition to full legalization until the federal government reclassifies the drug.

Legislators yesterday voted to re-elect Tennessee Comptroller Jason Mumpower and Treasurer David Lillard to new two-year terms, the Associated Press reports. Mumpower was elected comptroller in 2021 and Lillard began his time as treasurer in 2009. The two offices, in addition to the secretary of state, are elected by lawmakers under the state constitution. The secretary of state serves four-year terms and Secretary of State Tre Hargett is not up for election this year.