The Never-Ending Agendas

   As you read through this week's update, you may be asking yourself "Wait, didn't I see many of these bills in the same committees last week?" You would be absolutely correct. Many of the committees this past week got hung up in budget hearings or on a particular piece of legislation. As a result, many of them weren't able to even make a dent in lengthy agendas. Both the House and Senate have dozens upon dozens of bills on various calendars. In their rush to finish their work within the next month or so, committee chairpersons are filling their calendars, even if they don't hear more than a handful of bills during a meeting.

  We'll keep our introduction short this week so that you can get to the list of bills we'll be watching. As a friendly reminder, this is simply a list of some of the major items that we believe would impact working people. If you have a specific concern about any legislation (even if it's not on this list), please don't hesitate to let us know! We typically answer questions during the week from affiliates about a wide-range of legislation, so don't be afraid to speak up!   

Monday, March 7th

Senate Transportation & Safety Committee, 4:30 p.m., LP 12

Senate Bill 2093 (HB 2407): This piece of legislation enacts the "Public-Private Transportation Act of 2016." Some of our ATU brothers have concerns about this bill, which are outlined here. They were able to meet with lawmakers earlier this week to hopefully address those issues.
Note: This bill will also be heard in the House Transportation Subcommittee on Wednesday in LP 16. 

House Floor Session, 5 p.m.

House Bill 1475 (SB 1671): This bill would eliminate early voting for a special general election if there is no opposition for any office in that election.
Note: This bill will also be heard in the Senate State & Local Government Committee on Tuesday in LP 12.
  Tuesday, February 8th

Senate Finance, Ways & Means Committee, 8:45 a.m., LP 12
 
Senate Bill 2556 (HB 1552):  This piece of legislation deals with seasonal employment practices. 
Note: This bill will also be heard in the House Finance Subcommittee on Wednesday in LP 29.

Senate Bill 1446 (HB 1426):  This bill gives Davidson County the authority to issue bonds for affordable housing projects.

Senate Bill 1953 (HB 2022): This bill authorizes the Department of Transportation to build and run a mass transit system on the side of a state interstate or highway. 
Note: This bill will also be heard in the House Finance Subcommittee on Wednesday in LP 29. 

Senate State & Local Government Committee, 10:30 a.m., LP 12

Senate Bill 1605 (HB 1796): This piece of legislation would require that a ballot description of a proposed constitutional amendment provide the t ext of each section of the constitution that the amendment would change or delete.  

Senate Bill 1636 (HB 1632): According to this bill, a local government cannot enact zoning regulations that require a certain percentage of existing or newly built homes or apartments to be considered affordable or workforce housing. 
Note: This bill will be heard on the House floor on Thursday at 9 a.m.

Senate Bill 1860 (HB 1999): This bill says that a person who owes a civil penalty is not eligible to qualify as a candidate to any state or local public office.

Senate Bill 1926 (HB 1797): This piece of legislation directs the fiscal review committee to review state service contracts exceeding $1 million. 
 Note: This bill will also be heard in the House State Government Subcommittee on Wednesday in LP 29. 

Senate Bill 1945 (HB 1939): This piece of legislation makes changes to election laws, including when a deficient voter registration may be corrected. 
Note: This bill will also be heard in the House Local Government Subcommittee on Wednesday in LP 30. 

Senate Bill 2101 (HB 2125):  According to this bill, Rutherford Count y would be allowed to participate in a pilot project for establishing convenient election day voting centers.
Note: This bill will also be heard in the House Local Government Subcommittee on Wednesday in LP 30. 

House State Government Committee, 12 p.m., LP 29
 
House Bill 2442 (SB 2440):  This is a good bill that prohibits a state employer from asking about a potential employee's criminal history on an initial application. It has already passed in the Senate. 

House Criminal Justice Subcommittee, 1:30 p.m., LP 31

House Bill 1880 (SB 1449): This bill would make it a Class C felony to assault a public servant (police officer or first responder) while that person is engaged in official duties. 
Note: This bill will also be heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee at 3:30 p.m. in LP 12. 

House Bill 2370 (SB 2424):  A good piece of legislation, this bill increases the penalties for assault against correctional officers.

Senate Commerce & Labor Committee, 1:30 p.m., LP 12

Senate Bill 1486 (HB 1637): This bill would enact the "Tennessee Workers Protection Act," which deals with illegal immigration. 

Senate Bill 2481 (HB 2512): This piece of legislation requires the commissioner of labor and workforce development to publish a report concerning the unemployment trust fund. 
Note: This bill will also be heard in the House Consumer & Human Resources Subcommittee on Wednesday in LP 29. 

Senate Bill 2037 (HB 2334): This good bill encourages the study and development of a program that provides financial incentives to businesses who hire and employ people who have been convicted of a felony.
 
Senate Bill 2582 (HB 2416): Among other things, this is the bill that would decrease the amount of time that a person has to report an injury from 30 days to three days. It is our understanding, however, that a compromise of 15 days has supposedly been reached. 
Note: This bill will also be heard in the House Consumer & Human Resources Committee on Wednesday in LP 30. 

Senate Bill 2066 (HB 2556): This bill requires the department of labor and workforce development to submit an annual report of the total number of final orders issued related to the Tennessee Lawful Employment Act. 
Note: This bill will also be heard in the House Consumer & Human Resources Committee on Wednesday in LP 30. 

House Education Administration & Planning Cmte., 3 p.m., LP 29

House Bill 1425 (SB 2633): This piece of legislation prohibits a local board of education from increasing the salary for the director of schools without also approving a raise for teachers. 
Wednesday, March 9th

House Consumer & Human Resources Committee, 10:30 a.m., LP 30

Please see the notes above for details about HB 2556/SB 2066 and 
HB 2461/SB 2582! 

House Bill 1559 (SB 2563):  This piece of legislation makes various "clean up" changes to the Workers' Compensation law. It was heard in the Workers' Compensation Advisory Council and came out with a "favorable" recommendation.

House Finance Subcommittee, 10:30 a.m., LP 29

House Bill 1494 (SB 1656): Under this piece of legislation, any teacher who is a part of the TCRS program must forfeit his or her retirement benefits if convicted of any misdemeanor sexual offense related to employment.

House State Government Subcommittee, 12 p.m., LP 29

House Bill 2536 (SB 2408): This piece of legislation allows full-time state employees to take a day off from work each year to participate in community service. 

House Bill 2368 (SB 1592): This bill reestablishes the select oversight committee on corrections. 

Capitol Reflection
House Bill 1969 (SB 2267): Similar to the "Tennessee Workers Protection Act," this bill would enact the "Protect Tennessee Citizens and Workers Act."

House Bill 2554 (SB 2496): According to this piece of legislation, businesses that employ illegal immigrants would be subject to increased fines and penalties. 

House Bill 2555 (SB 1904): This bill removes the current exemption for private employers 
with less than six employees from employment verification requirements.

House Local Government Subcommittee, 1:30 p.m., LP 30

House Bill 2042 (SB 1607): This bill specifies that if a person pays for certain political communications with their personal money, they d o not have to disclose that information. 

House Bill 2394 (SB 1793): This piece of legislation calls for a special election to fill a vacant U.S. Senate seat. 

House Bill 1742 (SB 1626): This good bill would establish an online voter registration system that would take effect on July 1, 2017.  

House Bill 1896 (SB 1866): Another good piece of legislation, this bill allows anyone 65 or older who has never been issued a birth certificate to be issued a photo ID card for voting purposes, as long as that individual presents a document that verifies his or her identity. 

House Consumer & Human Resources Committee, 3 p.m., LP 29

Please see the notes above for details about HB 2512/SB 2481! 

House Bill 1720 (SB 1758): This bill requires the bureau of workers' compensation to set a penalty for violations concerning rental and assignment of PPO network rights.

House Bill 1830 (SB 1965): This piece of legislation makes various changes to the "Tennessee Lawful Employment Act." 

House Bill 1947 (SB 2298): Identical to legislation carried by these sponsors last year, this bill establishes the "Tennessee Pay Equality Act." 

House Bill 2090 (SB 2322): One of three minimum wage bills on this calendar, this piece of legislation establishes the "Tennessee Minimum Wage Act," which sets a minimum wage of $15/hour beginning on July 1, 2016. 
Note: The other minimum wage bills on the calendar are HB 2324/SB 2319 and HB 2277/SB 2046.

House Bill 1795 (SB 2318): This bill recreates the special joint commission on workers' compensation issues. 

House Bill 2212 (SB 2450): A good bill, this piece of legislation requires the economic council on women to report on wage gaps between men and women and minorities and non-minorities.
Contact:
Alyssa Hansen, Communications Director
1901 Lindell Avenue, Nashville, TN 37203  |  615.269.7111