As new technologies continue to outpace laws governing protection of personal data, Tennessee lawmakers are considering regulations to protect consumer data privacy on the internet. This spring, Rep. Johnny Garrett, R-Goodlettsville, filed legislation aimed at offering protections to consumers who use online platforms. This week, a special committee met to hear testimony from stakeholders on how the proposed legislation could impact them, Mainstreet Nashville reports. The hearing focused on concerns about the patchwork of state laws that are being enacted across the country with witnesses from the business community calling for a single federal standard.

Tennessee state Rep. Mark Hall, R-Cleveland, has announced his intention to run for the state Senate seat of retiring Sen. Mike Bell, Chattanooga Times Free Press reports. The District 9 seat represents Polk, McMinn, Meigs and Monroe counties. Others considering a run for the seat include former Bradley County Sheriff Eric Watson, who also served as a state representative for eight years and as chair of the House Judiciary Committee. Before election to the House, he also served as a Bradley County commissioner for more than a dozen years. Yahoo News has the article.

State Rep. Glen Casada, R-Franklin, a former speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives, announced today that he will retire when his term ends next year. The move will leave the District 63 House seat open without an incumbent for the first time in two decades, News Channel 5 reports. Casada, who has held the seat since 2001, resigned the speakership in 2019 after reports surfaced of racist and sexually explicit text messages between him and a former aide. 

Tennessee Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Mike Bell, R-Riceville, announced today that he will not be a candidate for re-election in 2022. Bell was first elected to the state House of Representatives in 2006 before moving to the Senate in 2010, the Tennessee Journal reports. He has served in several leadership positions during his legislative tenure. In addition to chairing the Judiciary Committee, he led the Senate Government Operations Committee from 2012 to 2018. In the House, he chaired the Children and Family Subcommittee and was freshman leader in the Republican Caucus. In announcing the news, Bell said, “It has been the highest honor of my life to serve in the Tennessee General Assembly. Just as I knew it was time for me to run for office in 2006, I feel it is now time to move to the next chapter of my life and pass the leadership mantle for this district to a new state senator.”

Gov. Bill Lee on Friday extended Tennessee's state of emergency for the coronavirus for two weeks, the Tennessean reports. Lee also extended an executive order that allows parents to opt their children out of mask regulations at schools, regardless of local restrictions. Lee said he extended the orders by two weeks while he analyzes the impact of a number of bills recently passed by the state legislature. The orders will now expire on Nov. 19.

The American Civil Liberties Union, Lambda Legal, a 14-year old transgender boy and others are suing Tennessee over its law banning trans students participating in school sports. The student, Luc Esquivel, is a freshman at Farragut High School in Knoxville, WCYB reports. Esquivel is seeking to try out for the school’s boys' golf team. This is the ACLU’s fifth challenge to an anti-trans law passed this year.

With two special sessions in the rear view mirror, state lawmakers are turning their attention to Gov. Bill Lee’s use of sole-source contracts, Tennessee Lookout reports. Of particular concern is a contract with McKinsey & Co. for a study on streamlining government. State Sen. Todd Gardenhire, R-Chattanooga, has asked the governor’s office for a copy of the contract. According to Gardenhire, who chairs the Fiscal Review Committee, the panel is looking at reforms to the bidding process and possibly asking the state comptroller to conduct random audits of such contracts. Other no-bid contracts signed during the pandemic involved a review of COVID-19 protocols and the purchase of masks, personal protective equipment and COVID-19 tests.

Tennessee Democratic lawmakers sent a letter to Gov. Bill Lee yesterday asking him to veto four bills passed during the General Assembly’s most recent special legislative session, WSMV reports. The letter from the Joint Minority Caucus urged Lee to veto Senate Bill 9014 regarding COVID-19 unemployment benefits, House Bill 9076 giving the governor power to issue executive orders and direct health departments during the pandemic, Senate Bill 9008 which allows for the temporary replacement of district attorneys who refuse to enforce certain laws and House Bill 9072 which allows partisan school board elections. Lee on Monday resisted stating his stance on the legislature's rollback of COVID-19 restrictions in the state, the Tennessean reports, instead saying his administration still needs time to review the package of bills.

State Sen. Brian Kelsey, R-Germantown, yesterday pleaded not guilty to charges that he violated campaign finance laws, the Daily Memphian reports. Kelsey appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey S. Frensley and surrendered his passport before being released on conditions. He is charged with one count each of conspiracy, directing “soft money” to a federal candidate, directing soft money from a state officeholder, making excessive campaign contributions and accepting excessive campaign contributions. Prosecutors allege the charges stem from Kelsey’s 2016 Congressional run. In a statement last week, Kelsey called the investigation a “political witch hunt.” He is represented by attorney Ty Howard.

Twenty-four members, or about half, of the Nashville Metro Council are calling on Mayor John Cooper to review recent actions of the state legislature and prepare for possible legal action, Mainstreet Nashville reports. The members said legislation passed this weekend that limits the role of localities in responding to COVID-19 was “unprecedented and dangerous." If the bill is signed into law, several Metro policies could be reversed, including a mask requirement for public school children and in libraries and community centers.