Legislative Updates

Legislative Update

Allie Phillips
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LEGISLATIVE UPDATE - The 114th General Assembly is wasting no time to pass pills through committee that will be harmful for working people across Tennessee.

We see the same pattern, year after year, lawmakers bring bills that impact unions, target workers and don't help families. We do our best to catch the most harmful ones and intervene while we can. Coming up next week are a few bills we want to make you all aware of.

HB 2226by Rep. Aron Maberry & Sen. Bill Powers

  • As introduced, prohibits professional employees and local boards of education from collaborative conferencing; prohibits a local board of education from allowing a professional employees' organization to use or access facilities when such use or access is otherwise prohibited by the local board's policies or procedures for community use. - Amends TCA Title 49

If this Bill Passes - 

  1. Teachers can’t officially meet with the school board as a group anymore to talk about issues like pay, classroom conditions, schedules and resources for students.
  2. Teacher organizations (groups like the Tennessee Education Association) could also be blocked from using school buildings for meetings if the school board decides not to allow it.

HB 2540 by Rep. William Lamberth & Sen. Jack Johnson

  • As introduced, makes various changes regarding employment with this state and state employment benefits. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 8; Section 41-24-113 and Section 70-1-309.

If this Bill Passes - 

  1. The legislation adjusts how certain employees can appeal disciplinary actions, updates rules around sick leave documentation, and creates or expands some leave options for situations like parental leave or disaster relief.
  2. It also allows state agencies more flexibility in hiring and job classifications.
  3. It would modify multiple workplace policies governing state employment and benefits.

HB 2194 by Rep. Jason Zachary & Sen. Adam Lowe

  • As introduced, requires the board of regents, state university boards, and the board of trustees for the University of Tennessee system to adopt and implement policies that clearly distinguish between tenure decisions and disciplinary actions for faculty members. - Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 7; Title 49, Chapter 8 and Title 49, Chapter 9.

If this Bill Passes - 

  1. Public universities in Tennessee would be required to create policies that clearly separate tenure status from disciplinary actions against faculty. 
  2. Universities can still discipline or terminate professors, even if they have tenure, as long as proper procedures are followed.
  3. Universities would have to establish formal processes for suspending or firing faculty for cause, including written notice and an opportunity for the faculty member to respond. 

HB 1873 by Rep. Jason Zachary & Sen. Bo Watson

  •  As introduced, requires a local governmental entity to hold a referendum to approve a property tax increase that exceeds specified thresholds. - Amends TCA Title 48 and Title 67, Chapter 5.

If this Bill Passes - 

  1. Local governments could not raise property taxes above the threshold on their own.
  2. Voters would have to approve larger increases.
  3. Budget decisions could become slower and more complicated, since tax changes might have to wait for elections. 
  4. Make it harder for cities and counties to fund schools, emergency services, and infrastructure

All of these bills would cause negative impacts, and we ask for your help to stop them! Call or email your representatives and ask them to oppose these bills.