8:30 a.m. CT – Finance, Ways & Means - Watch - SB0836 by Watson
- K-12 public schools could deny enrollment or charge tuition to students who are undocumented under this Republican-backed bill.
- Democrats say it’s firmly in the community’s best interest to educate all children – an American value that is consistent with the 53-year-old U.S.
Supreme Court decision, Plyler v. Doe, which held that states cannot deny students access to public K-12 schools based on immigration status.
- The latest version of their bill will force officials at every K-12 school in the state to implement a process to request documents that verify their child’s U.S. citizenship or legal status as part of the enrollment process. However, it will still be optional for districts to deny enrollment or charge tuition to undocumented students.
Golden parachute for lawmakers? 10 years gets a pension, health benefits
10:30 a.m. CT – State & Local Government - Watch - SB 0722 *Hatcher
- More than a decade ago, the legislature passed a law phasing out the state-sponsored pension retirement plan for state employees — a designation that includes lawmakers. State employees who were enrolled in the pension plan got to keep their guaranteed retirement benefit, but all new employees would only be eligible to enroll in a hybrid retirement plan that’s half pension and half 401k.
- I guess the state’s hybrid retirement plan isn’t quite good enough for some lawmakers.
- Under Senate Bill 722, lawmakers who serve 10 years in the state legislature will become the only state employees who can convert their retirement plan to the state’s old pension. The legislation says they’ll also qualify for supplemental health benefits, too.
Bill creates voter registration by political party, closes Primary Elections to party members
10:30 a.m. CT – State & Local Government - Watch - SB 0777 *Lowe, Hensley, Johnson
- Tennessee’s million+ independent voters may find themselves excluded from Primary Elections, under Senate Bill 777, which sets up voter registration by political party.
- The legislation would specifically limit participation in Primary Elections to only voters who are registered party members.
Witch Hunt: Republican bill sics Attorney General on cities, counties
10:30 a.m. CT – State & Local Government - Watch - SB 0845 *Lowe
- Republicans are backing a heavy-handed bill that would empower the state’s G.O.P. attorney general to investigate and prosecute cities and counties when he claims they are violating state law.
- The attorney general’s office would only have to prove their case in front of a court if the local government challenges the AG’s findings.
- And if a local government resists, the state finance commissioner could withhold all state funding owed to the city or county.
The (Voter) Purge: GOP bill requires voters be purged after two Novembers with no activity
10:30 a.m. CT – State & Local Government - Watch - SB 0626 *Briggs
- Senate Bill 626 makes various changes to Tennessee’s voting laws. The most alarming change would require county election officials to purge voters who haven’t updated their registration or participated in an election after two November elections.
Republicans target campaign donations via ActBlue, WinRed
10:30 a.m. CT – State & Local Government - Watch - SB 0627 *Briggs
- Online fundraising platforms like ActBlue and WinRed have made it easier for citizens to donate to Democratic and Republican candidates through a secure process that also protects their financial data.
- Senate Bill 627 would put an unnecessary halt on this convenience. The legislation prohibits candidates from accepting more than 50% of their campaign contributions through an online platform.
- The consequences of this legislation could be devastating for Democratic candidates who rely on grassroots donors. State Republican lawmakers, however, will still get the majority of their campaign cash from corporate PAC checks.
Some security guards could carry assault rifles under GOP bill
2:30 p.m. CT – Judiciary - Watch - SB 1384 *Watson
Bill invites civil suits against abortion medication distributors
2:30 p.m. CT – Judiciary - Watch - SB 0419 *Hensley
- Senate bill 419 would allow a court to hand out a $5 million penalty in civil damages to distributors of abortion pills.
- According to the Nashville Banner, “It would aim to deter people from delivering drugs like mifepristone and misoprostol, including via mail, to Tennesseans.” However, “The mailing or otherwise delivering of such drugs already is criminally illegal in Tennessee.”
License to kill: Republican bill expands legal use of “deadly force” to protect property
2:30 p.m. CT – Judiciary - Watch - SB 1407 *Hensley
Full Senate Schedule below:
8:30 a.m. Finance, Ways & Means
1. SJR 0002 *Pody
General Assembly, Statement of Intent or Position- Expresses support for the Nation of Israel. -
2. SJR 0048 *Massey, Southerland, Hatcher, Crowe, Reeves, Lowe
General Assembly, Review Or Ratification of Rules- Ratifies the increase of the 911 surcharge rate to $1.86 as approved by the Tennessee Emergency Communications Board. -
Increases 911 user fees by $36 million annually. Without a fee hike, the increased cost of operating emergency call centers will likely fall on local governments.
3. SB 0322 *Massey, Reeves (HB 0915 by *Sparks, Powers, Carringer, Gillespie, McCalmon, Faison, Salinas, Hakeem)
Salaries and Benefits- As introduced, grants eligible employees leave of up to six workweeks because the employee is caring for a family member with a serious health condition. - Amends TCA Section 8-50-813.
4. SB 0705 *Massey (HB 0676 by *Stinnett, Davis)
Education- As introduced, requires that certain employees of state special schools receive the same leave and certain other benefits as employees of LEAs and public charter schools. - Amends TCA Title 8, Chapter 50 and Title 49.
5. SB 0817 *Lowe, Akbari (HB 0760 by *Darby, Terry, Miller, Behn)
Drugs, Prescription- As introduced, authorizes a healthcare practitioner to prescribe and a pharmacist to dispense a prescribed, bronchodilator rescue inhaler to an authorized entity to be administered to a person believed to be experiencing asthma symptoms or respiratory distress in an emergency situation, under a standing protocol from the healthcare practitioner; encourages schools in LEAs and public charter schools to keep bronchodilator rescue inhalers to be administered to students believed to be having asthma symptoms or in respiratory distress in an emergency situation. - Amends TCA Title 49; Title 53; Title 63 and Title 68.
6. SB 0428 *Reeves, Haile (HB 0037 by *Davis)
Opioids- As introduced, authorizes an insurer, for purposes of group insurance plans offered to state employees, to adopt or amend a state preferred drug list (PDL); requires the insurer to ensure that reimbursement is provided to a healthcare prescriber or hospital that provides a non-opioid treatment to a covered employee under the group insurance plan. - Amends TCA Title 8; Title 53; Title 56; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71.
Why would Legislators give an insurance company the right to set the state’s preferred drug list?
7. SB 0889 *Reeves (HB 0695 by *Baum, Hale)
Taxes- As introduced, increases, by 15 cents over a 10-year period, and subject to a two-thirds vote of the county legislative body, the maximum mineral severance tax rate that may be levied by a county on all sand, gravel, sandstone, chert, and limestone severed from the ground within its jurisdiction; removes the authorization for Smith County to allocate its mineral severance tax to the county general fund or a fund other than its county road fund. - Amends TCA Title 67, Chapter 7, Part 2.
Allows for a local tax increase on mineral mining companies.
8. SB 0308 *Briggs (HB 0381 by *Eldridge)
Alcoholic Beverages- “liquor by the drink” omnibus bill, which permits entities with unique promises to apply directly to the ABC for a liquor by the drink license.
9. SB 1413 *Briggs (HB 1376 by *Lamberth, Howell, Atchley, Davis, Powers, Sherrell, Leatherwood, Mitchell, Hardaway)
Alcoholic Beverage Commission- As introduced, provides for the regulation of the manufacturing, supplying, wholesale distribution, and retail sale of hemp-derived cannabinoid products by the commission and department of revenue; creates licenses for suppliers, wholesalers, and retailers; establishes taxes for such products and the manner in which such taxes are collected and allocated; establishes civil and criminal penalties for violations. - Amends TCA Title 39; Title 40; Title 43, Chapter 27; Title 53, Chapter 11; Title 57 and Title 67.
New potentially fatal regulations for the hemp industry, but there is an amendment.
12. SB 0836 *Watson, Yager, Johnson, Stevens, White, Hensley, Crowe (HB 0793 by *Lamberth, Garrett, Capley, Butler, Todd, Martin G, Rudd, Zachary, Reeves, Lafferty, Doggett, Fritts, Powers, Cepicky)
Local Education Agencies- As introduced, authorizes LEAs and public charter schools to refuse to enroll students who are unlawfully present in the United States. - Amends TCA Title 4 and Title 49.
Watch. Bill aims to deny undocumented families access to public schools and overturn four decades of SCOTUS precedent. Authorizes schools to deny enrollment or charge tuition for students who are undocumented
13. SB 0129 *Haile, Akbari (HB 0331 by *Baum, Grills, Miller, Jones R)
Tennessee Housing Development Agency- As introduced, increases, from $4 billion to $6 billion, the maximum aggregate principal amount for which the agency may issue bonds and notes at any one time. - Amends TCA Section 13-23-121.
14. SB 0576 *Haile (HB 0829 by *Hicks G, Sherrell)
TennCare- As amended, enacts the Annual Coverage Assessment Act of 2025, which establishes an annual coverage assessment on hospitals of 6.0 percent of a covered hospital's annual coverage assessment base for FY25-26. Authorizes the use of funds within the Maintenance of Coverage Trust Fund (MCTF) to provide administrative funding for a program manager contract. Authorizes the MCTF to receive intergovernmental transfer of funds (IGTs) from hospitals for the purpose of securing federal medical assistance percentage payments up to $300,000,000.
15. SB 1002 *Haile, Southerland (HB 0988 by *Marsh)
Cooperatives- As introduced, specifies that the privilege tax exemption for subsidiaries of agricultural cooperatives applies without regard to whether the subsidiary was formed as a corporation, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, or other legal entity, association, or body vested with the power or function of a legal entity. - Amends TCA Title 43, Chapter 16, Part 1 and Section 67-4-102.
16. HJR 0017 *McCalmon, Powers, Russell, Littleton, Davis, Todd, Butler, Reeves, Capley, Sparks, Vital, Kumar, Burkhart (HJR 0017 Johnson)
Memorials, Congress- Urges Congress to enact H.R. 25, the Fair Tax Act of 2023. -
Add a national sales tax between 17% - 23% on every dollar Tennesseans spend. That is in addition to the 9.5% state sales tax on purchases.
Regressive form of taxation.
17. SB 1266 *Johnson, Rose (HB 0103 by *Lamberth, Cochran, Littleton, Harris)
Foster Care- As introduced, expands the provision of voluntary extended foster care services by the department of children's services to include young adults between 20 and 23 who were in the custody of the department at the time of the young adult's 18th birthday and young adults who were adopted from, or approved for subsidized permanent guardianship by, the department of children's services at 16 or older. - Amends TCA Title 37; Title 49 and Title 55.
18. SB 1291 *Johnson, Powers, Crowe (HB 0114 by *Lamberth, Cochran, Moon, Jones R, Haston, Stevens, Stinnett, Glynn, Fritts, Raper, White, Russell, Vital, Bricken, Vaughan, Powers, Warner, Burkhart, Reedy, Garrett, Terry, Moody, Sherrell, Atchley, McCalmon, Martin G, Hurt, Sparks, Scarbrough, Zachary, Littleton, Leatherwood, Rudder, Hicks T, Darby, Gant, Davis, Bulso, Farmer, Todd, Lafferty, Slater, Hawk, Grills, Reeves, Eldridge, Helton-Haynes, Wright, Williams, Hicks G, Baum, Marsh, Boyd, Cepicky, Carringer, Maberry, Camper, Doggett, Hardaway)
Scholarships and Financial Aid- As introduced, makes various changes to the Tennessee Support, Training, and Renewing Opportunity for National Guardsmen (STRONG) Act. - Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 4, Part 10.
19. SB 1293 *Johnson (HB 0117 by *Lamberth, Cochran)
Taxes, Sales- As introduced, extends indefinitely the authority of the commissioner of revenue to require persons selling food, candy, or nonalcoholic beverages, including bottled soft drinks, to retailers to file an information report of such net sales with the department by deleting the July 1, 2025, termination date. - Amends TCA Section 67-6-410.
20. SB 1314 *Johnson, Haile (HB 1328 by *Lamberth, Cochran, Hulsey, Doggett)
Criminal Procedure- As introduced, establishes a permanent criminal proceedings notification system, rather than a pilot project; removes the July 1, 2025, termination date for the criminal proceedings notification system. - Amends TCA Section 40-38-507.
21. SB 1315 *Johnson, Yager, Lowe (HB 1329 by *Lamberth, Cochran, Garrett, Doggett, Hicks T, Crawford, Hawk)
Revenue, Dept. of- As introduced, reduces from 1.125 percent to 0.75 percent the administrative fee percentage the department takes from the proceeds of the business tax, short-term rental unit occupancy tax, local tax surcharge, coal severance tax, and local option sales tax to assist in defraying the expenses of administration and collection, before remitting proceeds to the appropriate county, city, or town. - Amends TCA Title 67, Chapter 4; Title 67, Chapter 6 and Title 67, Chapter 7.
22. SB 1323 *Johnson, Yager (HB 1327 by *Lamberth, Cochran, Leatherwood)
Tennessee Housing Development Agency- As introduced, deletes provision requiring Tennessee rural and workforce housing tax credits to be authorized by joint resolution of the general assembly. - Amends TCA Section 13-23-134 and Chapter 971 of the Public Acts of 2024.
23. SB 0439 *Powers (HB 0635 by *Williams)
Taxes, Excise- As introduced, urges the department of revenue to study the economic impact of authorized adjustments to net earnings and net losses; requires the department, if such study is conducted, to report its findings and recommendations, on or before January 1, 2026, to the finance, ways and means committee of the senate and the committee in the house of representatives having jurisdiction over tax-related matters. - Amends TCA Section 67-4-2006.
Watch. Is this one law for Eastman Chemical? Allows taxpayers the option to increase their excise tax liability to utilize additional tax credits that may go unused by not taking all the deductions available to them.
24. SB 0014 *Walley (HB 0024 by *Hemmer, Vaughan, Vital, Chism, Shaw)
Fines and Penalties- As introduced, increases the penalty from a Class C misdemeanor to a Class B misdemeanor for removing a wild animal, wild fowl, or fish while trespassing on land; increases various fines under $500 to not more than $500. - Amends TCA Title 70.
25. SB 0145 *Walley (HB 0388 by *Butler, Shaw, Russell, Rudder, Hurt, Travis)
Municipal Government- As introduced, extends indefinitely the time frame, by deleting the June 30, 2028, termination date, that a municipality that continues to receive an allocation of state sales tax revenue pursuant to the now-repealed Courthouse Square Revitalization Pilot Project Act of 2005, will continue to receive the allocation of the revenue. - Amends TCA Title 6 and Title 67, Chapter 6.
26. SB 0751 *Yager, Walley (HB 0035 by *Hicks G, Russell)
Regional Authorities and Special Districts- As introduced, adds the MidSouth development district to the list of development districts to which this state intends to assist financially; specifies an overall state funding level for the nine development districts; changes the calculation for how much funding each development district will receive. - Amends TCA Title 13, Chapter 14, Part 1.
10:30 a.m. State & Local Government
The chairman said the committee will only be taking up bills sponsored by members of the committee
46. SB 0848 *Hatcher (HB 0935 by *Moon)
County Government- As introduced, authorizes a county that has adopted the County Purchasing Law of 1957 to require a competitive bid process for insurance brokerage services. - Amends TCA Title 5 and Title 12, Chapter 3, Part 12.
47. SB 0722 *Hatcher (HB 0463 by *Travis, Crawford, Rudd, Lamberth, Kumar, Grills, Helton-Haynes, Powers, Littleton, Bricken, Miller, Doggett, Rudder, Vital, Garrett, Howell, Sexton, Alexander, Moon, Cochran, Hicks T, Sherrell, Zachary, Marsh, Faison, Atchley, Capley, Lynn)
Pensions and Retirement Benefits- As introduced, requires the board of trustees of the Tennessee consolidated retirement system to convert a person's participation in the retirement system, for service as a member of the general assembly and as a participant in the hybrid plan, from the hybrid plan to the legacy plan upon the person completing 10 years of service as a member of the general assembly if the person became a member of the general assembly on or after July 1, 2014; requires retiree health benefit coverage be made available to retired members of the general assembly with 10 or more years of service. - Amends TCA Title 3; Title 8, Chapter 27, Part 2; Title 8, Chapter 34; Title 8, Chapter 35 and Title 8, Chapter 36.
49. SB 0212 *Gardenhire (HB 0885 by *Todd)
Open Meetings- As introduced, expands the requirement that state and local governing bodies make an agenda available to the public prior to regular public meetings of the body to include the governing bodies of certain nonprofit organizations, including nonprofit community organizations that receive federal funding, nonprofit organizations that receive community grant funds from this state or certain funding from local governments, nonprofit organizations created for the benefit of local governments, and nonprofit organizations that provide the metropolitan government of Nashville/Davidson County with certain utility services; requires, rather than permits, such governing bodies that maintain a website to post the agenda to the website. - Amends TCA Section 8-44-110.
50. SB 1193 *Gardenhire, Jackson (HB 0863 by *Faison, Moon)
Local Government, General- As amended, requires all multi-family facilities, buildings, and structures constructed under a voluntary attainable housing incentive program to be deed-restricted for at least 30 years, rather than in perpetuity.
51. SB 1326 *Kyle (HB 1380 by *Harris)
Taxes, Real Property- As introduced, exempts taxpayers who are 85 or older and who have received property tax relief for at least five consecutive years from annual income reporting requirements for continued participation. - Amends TCA Title 67, Chapter 5, Part 7.
53. SB 0181 *Jackson, Roberts (HB 0288 by *Lafferty)
State Government- As introduced, removes obsolete statutory references to the defunct joint select committee on veterans services of the general assembly. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 8, Chapter 34, Part 2; Title 52; Title 58, Chapter 7; Title 63, Chapter 6, Part 4; Title 68, Chapter 142, Part 1; Title 68, Chapter 11, Part 2 and Title 69, Chapter 10.
54. SB 0330 *Jackson, Hatcher (HB 0454 by *Hurt, Hulsey, Eldridge, McCalmon, Keisling, Crawford, Carringer)
Correction, Dept. of- With amendment, creates a legislative office of the corrections ombudsman to provide oversight in state prisons and prisons run on behalf of the state
55. SB 1201 *Jackson (HB 1090 by *Sexton, Gant)
Correction, Dept. of- With amendment, requires the Department of Correction to use existing resources to conduct a study on the construction and operation of a facility designed to house eligible inmates who are working to reenter society after incarceration.
56. SB 0165 *Walley (HB 0098 by *Hicks G)
Human Services, Dept. of- As introduced, increases the amount of funding the state is authorized to match local contributions for funding of human resource agencies. - Amends TCA Title 13, Chapter 26.
58. SB 0510 *Walley (HB 0535 by *Haston)
Pensions and Retirement Benefits- As introduced, establishes that certain public officials, including members of the general assembly, who take office on or after July 1, 2025, have mandatory membership in the Tennessee consolidated retirement system (TCRS); allows a retiree to reannuitize retirement benefits in favor of a new spouse beneficiary following cancellation of a former spouse beneficiary due to divorce; makes other revisions to provisions governing the TCRS. - Amends TCA Title 8, Chapter 25; Title 8, Chapter 34; Title 8, Chapter 35; Title 8, Chapter 36 and Title 8, Chapter 37.
59. SB 0842 *Walley (HB 0763 by *Littleton)
Tort Liability and Reform- As introduced, clarifies that any governmental entity may purchase any of the insurance authorized under state law, without the necessity of public bidding, as required by any public or private act or charter restriction, if such insurance is purchased through a plan authorized and approved by any organization of cities, counties, or other governmental entities as contemplated by state law. - Amends TCA Title 12; Title 12, Chapter 3 and Title 29.
Watch. Exempts insurance from public purchasing requirements.
60. SB 0008 *Lowe (HB 0550 by *Cochran)
Pensions and Retirement Benefits- As introduced, enacts the "Fairness in Benefits Act"; requires an employer participating in the Tennessee consolidated retirement system to allow the dissemination of information and educational materials developed by a private entity regarding the entity's alternative retirement plans and supplemental benefits to its employees on the employer's premises. - Amends TCA Title 8, Chapter 27; Title 8, Chapter 34; Title 8, Chapter 35; Title 8, Chapter 36 and Title 8, Chapter 37.
Watch. Invites outside benefits providers to solicit state employees…
61. SB 0777 *Lowe, Hensley, Johnson (HB 0886 by *Todd, Grills, Powers, Zachary, Moon, Davis, Bulso, Lynn, Warner, Barrett, Reeves, Burkhart, Baum, Bricken, Marsh, Martin B, Hicks T, Moody, Capley, Hill, Maberry, Fritts, Reedy, Butler, Terry, Keisling, Jones R, Hurt, Farmer, Reneau, Cepicky, Kumar, Doggett, Scarbrough)
Election Laws- With amendment, requires an individual voter to register as a member of a statewide political party or a recognized minor party, or to be designated as unaffiliated, at the time of initial registration as of November 1, 2025. Closes Primary Elections to only those registered party members. Requires a voter who intends to participate in a primary election to notify the county election commission, in writing and with their original signature, if they wish to change their party affiliation no later than 90 days prior to the primary in which the voter wishes to participate.
Party voter registration…
62. SB 0845 *Lowe (HB 1097 by *Sexton, Zachary)
Local Government, General- As introduced, requires the attorney general and reporter, at the request of a member of the general assembly, to investigate an ordinance, regulation, order, or other official action adopted or taken by the chief executive officer or governing body of a local government or any written policy, written rule, or written regulation adopted by any agency, department, or other entity of the local government that the member alleges violates state law or the Constitution of Tennessee; creates penalties for violations. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 8 and Title 9.
Bill appears to empower the AG to investigate local governments for suspected preemption violations…
63. SB 1059 *Lowe (HB 1073 by *Garrett)
Election Laws- As introduced, requires a county election commission to publish in a newspaper of general circulation a notice of the date and purpose of a special election within 15 days rather than 10 days after receipt of an order to hold a special election or notice of facts requiring a special election. - Amends TCA Title 2.
Bill amends “Campaign Finance” chapter definition on “contributions.”
Bill adds a section under the clause “Contribution shall not be construed to include the following:”
The end results looks like coordinated, PAC-funded canvassing would no longer be considered a campaign contribution.
64. SB 1060 *Lowe (HB 0888 by *Todd)
Campaigns and Campaign Finance- As introduced, prohibits political campaign committees formed to support or oppose a measure from receiving, soliciting, or accepting contributions or expenditures from a foreign national; requires such political campaign committees and persons making independent expenditures supporting or opposing a measure to file certain disclosures regarding funding sources with the registry of election finance. - Amends TCA Title 2, Chapter 10.
65. SB 0368 *Briggs (HB 0048 by *Hale, Maberry)
Veterans- As introduced, removes the market value cap used for calculating property tax relief on the primary residence for disabled veterans who are eligible for property tax relief and requires the state to fully reimburse such veterans for local property taxes paid for a given tax year on that property. - Amends TCA Title 67, Chapter 5, Part 7.
Well intentioned, but the tax relief fund is running out of cash
66. SB 0624 *Briggs (HB 0618 by *Wright, Russell, Howell, Jones R, Martin G, Vital, Eldridge)
Public Officials- As introduced, prohibits an individual holding an elected office of a local government from holding another elected office in this state at the same time; grandfathers individuals holding more than one office presently until the terms expire; clarifies that such prohibition does not apply to an office in a political party's state executive committee. - Amends TCA Title 2 and Title 8.
67. SB 0629 *Briggs (HB 0627 by *Crawford)
Taxes, Hotel Motel- As introduced, extends the period, from three years to four years, that a taxpayer of the tourist accommodation tax to a metropolitan government is required to keep the records used to determine the amount of the tax. - Amends TCA Title 7 and Title 67.
68. SB 0771 *Briggs (HB 0733 by *Crawford)
Taxes, Ad Valorem- As introduced, removes the condition that a taxpayer or owner must obtain consent of the assessor of property before appealing the valuation of industrial and commercial real and tangible personal property directly to the state board of equalization; makes other related revisions. - Amends TCA Title 67, Chapter 5.
69. SB 0136 *Briggs (HB 0152 by *Wright)
Local Government, General- As introduced, authorizes a member of a local government's legislative body to participate in a scheduled meeting by electronic means if the member is dealing with a family or medical emergency, has been called into military service, or is unable to attend in person due to inclement weather. - Amends TCA Title 5; Title 6; Title 7 and Title 8, Chapter 44.
TCOG says the military exemption already exists in state law, this undermines agenda noticing rules in current law
70. SB 0621 *Briggs (HB 0456 by *Rudd)
Campaigns and Campaign Finance- As introduced, requires the registry of election finance to provide a copy of the rule promulgated by the registry enumerating examples of the various categories of contributions that constitute "in-kind contributions" and requiring disclosure to each member of the general assembly at the beginning of each yearly session and each candidate for state office within one week of the candidate certifying a treasurer with the registry; deletes obsolete deadline for promulgating such rule. - Amends TCA Title 2, Chapter 10.
It requires a corporation that uses corporate funds for communications expressly in support or opposition of a candidate or elected official to report such expenditures in the same manner as PACs.
71. SB 0626 *Briggs (HB 0457 by *Rudd)
Election Laws- As introduced, authorizes the county election commission to notify individuals filing a petition for recall, referendum, or initiative of a defect in the petition that must be cured prior to certification for final approval. - Amends TCA Title 2.
Makes several changes to voter registration and purging, including automatically purging voters who have not voted in two successive statewide November elections
72. SB 0627 *Briggs (HB 0581 by *Doggett)
Campaigns and Campaign Finance- prohibits a candidate from accepting contributions through an online contribution platform, respectively, that, in the aggregate, exceed more than fifty percent of the candidate's or committee's total contributions for a primary or general election cycle or accepting contributions through an online contribution platform that is not registered as a vendor with the registry.
Bad bill. Targets Democrats who raise money using ActBlue, an online site to collect donations on behalf of a candidate. Would prohibit campaigns from collecting more than half of their contributions from ActBlue, but allows corporations and corporate PACs to give as much as they like?
2:30 p.m. Judiciary
1. SB 0693 *Johnson (HB 0045 by *McCalmon, Barrett, Littleton, Alexander)
Criminal Offenses- A