Republican leaders in the General Assembly filed a bill today to prohibit health care providers from performing medical procedures on minors for the purpose of transitioning or treating gender dysphoria, the Nashville Post reports. House/Senate Bill 1, introduced by House Majority Leader William Lamberth, R-Portland, and Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson, R-Franklin, would allow a minor or parent of a minor to sue a health care provider for damages. In addition, a minor could sue a parent who consented to surgery or other gender-affirming treatment on the minor’s behalf. Violating the law would be a civil offense with penalties up to $25,000 for health care providers for “knowingly violating the law.” The 113th Tennessee General Assembly is scheduled to convene on Jan. 10, 2023.

All 99 seats in the Tennessee House of Representatives and half of the 33 seats in the state Senate were on the ballot this election season. In many cases, incumbents had a lock on their races, Nashville Public Radio reports. Coverage from the station includes news about the race to succeed disgraced former House Speaker Glen Casada, the new youngest member of the General Assembly, a replacement for indicted Republican Sen. Brian Kelsey, and the likelihood of a special election in Memphis after voters re-elected state Rep. Barbara Cooper, who died in October after ballots including her name were printed. The Commercial Appeal has election results from west Tennessee while KnoxNews has results in the east.

Tennessee lawmakers continued their review of the Department of Children’s Services (DCS) this week, Tennessee Lookout reports. DCS Commissioner Margie Quinn told members of the Joint Ad Hoc Committee on Juvenile Justice that department resources have been stretched to the breaking point, and children are sleeping on office floors or languishing in juvenile detention centers due to lack of space. “We are kind of full up on our bed situation, so we are hopeful the committee will make recommendations to help us alleviate the capacity and available bed situation,” Quinn said. She also argued that staffing shortages, driven by low pay, keep the state from fully utilizing facilities.

Tennessee Rep. Barbara Cooper, D-Memphis, the oldest serving legislator in state history, died Tuesday at the age of 93. She served in the legislator for more than 25 years, the Commercial Appeal reports. Cooper was first elected in 1996 to District 86. During her tenure, she served on the Health and Safety Committee and the Agricultural and Natural Resources Committee. Cooper earned a bachelor's and master's degree from Tennessee State University and a doctorate degree in religious philosophy and Christian psychology from the Jackson Theological Seminary. Tributes from colleagues include remarks from House Minority Leader Karen Camper, who said Cooper “was a warrior for her community and the City of Memphis, a tireless advocate on education and equality issues and just a delightful person.” Funeral information has not yet been announced.

Former state Rep. Jeremy Durham was arrested in Nashville Saturday on charges of DUI, resisting arrest and unlawful use of drug paraphernalia, according to WSMV. Metro Police responded to a reported traffic accident with a possible impaired driver at the intersection of First Ave. N. and Broadway. Durham reportedly refused a field sobriety test and blood test by saying “lawyer.” Durham is a former state representative representing a district in Williamson County. He was expelled from the House in September 2016 after the attorney general released a report accusing him of sexually harassing 22 women at the legislature.

Joshua Smith, owner of Nashville members-only club The Standard, has agreed to plead guilty for his role in what prosecutors say was a campaign finance conspiracy benefitting state Sen. Brian Kelsey’s failed 2016 Congressional campaign. According to the Tennessean, Smith and Kelsey, R-Germantown, were indicted last fall after federal prosecutors said they illegally shuffled "soft money" from Kelsey's Tennessee state Senate campaign committee to his authorized federal campaign committee. Kelsey is not seeking reelection to his Senate seat and is scheduled to go to trial in January on the federal charges.

Rep. Ron Gant, R-Rossville, has undergone “successful surgeries” to his arms and hip following a fatal car wreck he was involved in last week, the Tennessee Journal reports. Gant was traveling south on Highway 18 in Hardeman County when another SUV crossed the center line and struck him head-on. The other driver died in the crash. According to posts on Gant’s Facebook page, the representative and his family are waiting to hear if he will need additional surgeries. The posts say Gant is “resting comfortably in the ICU in stable condition.”

Tennessee Rep. Ron Gant, R-Piperton, was last night involved in a vehicular collision in rural West Tennessee, the Daily Memphian reports. Gant was flown by helicopter to Memphis for treatment after he was struck head-on by another driver who police believe was impaired. That driver died in the crash. According to the Tennessee Journal, Gant was listed in stable condition this morning and was being prepped for surgery later in the day. Gant was elected to serve Fayette, McNairy and parts of Hardeman counties in 2016 and serves as the state House assistant majority leader.  

Tennessee Speaker of the House Cameron Sexton recently spoke to the graduates of the 16th Judicial District Recovery Court for Rutherford and Cannon Counties. The six graduates also heard from Circuit Court Judge Jimmy Turner, Recovery Court Director LaChelle Ricks and Tennessee Department of Corrections Commissioner Lisa Helton. During his remarks, Sexton reminded the group that everyone has things they struggle with, and although they will carry their addiction for the rest of their lives, they now have an opportunity to go out and help others. Judge Turner said the graduates “have worked hard to turn their lives around, and the community is better for it.” Read more about the event in a release from the court.

Bill Ketron, former state senator and Rutherford County mayor, has been hired as legislative liaison for Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU). According to a statement from MTSU, Ketron was hired for his “unique expertise and knowledge acquired from legislative service and deep ties to the university.” Tennessee Lookout reports that the position was not advertised and MTSU President Sidney McPhee hired Ketron under a little-known university policy permitting appointments, other than those requiring board approval, to be authorized by the president or his designee. The Tennessee Registry of Election Finance last year assessed a $135,000 civil penalty on Ketron for campaign finance violations, possibly affecting his eligibility to run for elected office. Ketron is replacing former state Rep. John Hood, who served as MTSU’s legislative liaison from 2008 until his retirement this year.