Legislative Updates

Welcome to the 112th TN General Assembly

Alyssa Hansen on Tuesday, January 12 - 9:32am

Today at noon, legislators will gather in Nashville for the start of the 112th Tennessee General Assembly. While it may be the beginning of a new legislative session, one thing is likely to remain the same: the attacks on Tennessee's working families.

Last year, State Senator Brian Kelsey led the charge to enshrine Tennessee's harmful Right to Work law in the state constitution.

2021 Legislative Preview

Alyssa Hansen on Wednesday, December 16 2020 - 9:14am

Almost nine months ago to the day, the Tennessee General Assembly temporarily recessed until at least June 1st as the COVID-19 pandemic quickly spread throughout the state. One resumed regular session, one special session, and one ongoing health crisis later, we are preparing for the start of the 112th Tennessee General Assembly next month. Many details of what that will look like, however, are yet to be finalized.

Wrapping Up the Second Special Session

Alyssa Hansen on Friday, August 14 2020 - 2:53pm

In the midst of dealing with a pandemic, an economic crisis, and the continued fight for racial justice, we didn't think that it was possible for Tennessee lawmakers to pass any bills that could do more damage than the ones that have already become law this year.

Previewing the Special Legislative Session

Alyssa Hansen on Monday, August 10 2020 - 11:34am

If it seems like virtually no time has passed since we sent out our legislative wrap-up for the year, that's because it hasn't. Less than two months after lawmakers adjourned (seemingly for the year) on June 19th, Governor Bill Lee announced last week that he is calling the Tennessee General Assembly back into a special session beginning TODAY (Monday, August 10th.) The main reason for doing so?

2020 Legislative Wrap-Up, Part 2

Alyssa Hansen on Monday, June 22 2020 - 10:46am

Shortly after 3:00 a.m., the members of the 111th Tennessee General Assembly finally adjourned sine die.

Preparing to Adjourn Sine Die

Alyssa Hansen on Friday, June 12 2020 - 2:13pm

While we'll elaborate much more on this in the second part of our Legislative Wrap-Up (which will be sent by the end of the month), we want to share a couple thoughts about SJR 648 (aka The "Kelsey Amendment") and the current, overall legislative environment. Is it frustrating that Republicans chose to move SJR 648, especially after COVID-19 has already turned so many of our lives upside-down, let alone that they filed it to begin with? Absolutely. Is it even worse that they're playing games at the 11th hour just to get this passed? Of course.

Welcome Back, An Important Note, and An Action Alert

Alyssa Hansen on Friday, June 5 2020 - 3:55pm

Before we dive into the happenings of the recently-resumed legislative session, we wanted to take a moment to briefly expand on the statement sent out by President Dycus and Secretary-Treasurer Starling earlier this week. The murder of George Floyd nearly two weeks ago, Breonna Taylor, and countless other black people (who too often go unnamed) at the hands of police is sickening.

2020 Legislative Session Wrap-Up, Part 1

Alyssa Hansen on Thursday, April 23 2020 - 1:39pm

Late last night, the second half of the 111th Tennessee General Assembly recessed until at least June 1st, 2020 (if not later). To say that the proceedings around passing the budget were anything but business as usual would be an understatement. Governor Bill Lee's proposed budget was made public, put before lawmakers, discussed, and passed all within less than 24 hours.