Racing Towards The Finish Line

  To say that we are moving at a dizzying pace at the Capitol would be an understatement. It's getting to the point where legislators are commenting on it as well, so that's when you know it's bad! Some committees are hearing their final calendars this week, which means there's a good chance we will be wrapping up within the next month. If you have a few minutes over the next couple of days, we highly encourage you to click here and watch the video from Wednesday's House Consumer & Human Resources Subcommittee. The comments from and general demeanor of Representative Susan Lynn on why women shouldn't be paid equally for doing the same job as a man are absolutely absurd. If you remember the clip of her speaking on this issue last year, double the disgust that you felt! 

  Like we've done the past few weeks, we'll get right to the bills. We apologize for how lengthy these updates have been, but we want to make sure that we have all bases covered. As always, please don't hesitate to let us know if you have questions about any of this legislation. We're at the point in the legislative session where everything is starting to blur together, so many bills can actually sound alike! 
 
Monday, March 14th

Senate Floor Session, 1 p.m.

Senate Bill 1605 (HB 1796): This piece of legislation would require that a ballot description of a proposed constitutional amendment provide the
text of each section of the constitution that the amendment would change or delete.  
Note: This bill will also be heard in the House Local Government Subcommittee on Wednesday in LP 30. 

Senate Bill 1671 (HB 1475):  This bill would eliminate early voting for a special general election if there is no opposition for any office in that election.

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.
  Note: This bill will also be heard on the House floor at 5 p.m. 

Senate Bill 2066 (HB 2556):  This piece of legislation 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 is on the House Consent Calendar for Monday evening.

Senate Transportation & Safety Committee, 3:30 p.m., LP 12

Senate Bill 2093 (HB 2407):  This piece of legislation enacts the "Public-Private Transportation Act of 2016." 
Note: This bill will also be heard in the House Transportation subcommittee on Tuesday in LP 16. 

House Floor Session, 5 p.m.

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. 
 
Tuesday, March 15th

Senate Finance, Ways & Means Committee, 8:30 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 Committee at 3 p.m. in LP 16. 

 Senate Bill 2563 (HB 1559): 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.
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. 

House Local Government Committee, 9 a.m., LP 16

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 2125 (SB 2101):  According to this bill, Rutherford County 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 Senate State & Local Government Committee at 10:30 a.m. in LP 12. 

House Education Administration & Planning Committee, 10:30 a.m., LP 29

House Bill 2229 (SB 1707): This is a very BAD bill that  goes after the Tennessee Education Association (TEA). It would ban dues deduction for employees of school districts and state special schools. 
Note: This bill will also be heard in the  Senate Education Committee on Wednesday in LP 12. 

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

Senate Bill 2358 (HB 2372): This good piece of legislation makes expansions to the Tennessee Disability Act.
Note: This bill will also be heard in the House State Government Subcommittee on Wednesday in LP 29. 

Senate Bill 466 (HB 985):  This piece of legislation says that county government employees can't serve as a member of the county legislative body.

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. 

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.
Note: This bill will also be heard in the House Local Government Subcommittee on Wednesday in LP 30. 

Senate Bill 2280 (HB 2539): This is a good piece of legislation that seeks to prevent wage discrimination on the basis of sex. 
Note: This bill will also be heard in the House State Government Subcommittee on Wednesday in LP 29. 
 
House Criminal Justice Subcommittee, 1:30 p.m., LP 31

House Bill 2050 (SB 2212): According to this bill, the penalty for assault against a law enforcement officer or first responder would be increased to a Class E felony. Another similar bill will also be heard in this committee. 
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. 
Note: This bill will also be heard in the House State Government Subcommittee on Wednesday in LP 29. 

Senate Bill 2298 (HB 1947): This bill establishes the "Tennessee Pay Equality Act." Its compa nion bill was voted down on W ednesday. 

Senate Bill 2322 (HB 2090):  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 that will be heard are SB 2319/HB 2324 and SB 2046/HB 2277.

Senate Bill 2496 (HB 2554):  According to this piece of legislation, businesses that employ illegal immigrants 
Note: This bill will also be heard in the House State Government Subcommittee on Wednesday in LP 29.  would be subject to increased fines and penalties. 
 
Senate Bill 2450 (HB 2212):   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.
Note: This bill will also be heard in the House Business & Utilities Subcommittee at the same time in LP 29. 

Senate Bill 2297 (HB 1948): Another good piece of legislation, this bill enacts the "Tennessee Pay Equality Transparency Act." Among other things, an employer would be prohibited from not letting employees discuss each other's wages.

Wednesday, March 16th

House State Government Committee, 8:30 a.m. AND 12 p.m., LP 29

Please see the notes above for details about HB 1637/SB 1486, HB 2539/SB 2280, HB 2554/SB 2496, and HB 2372/SB 2358. 

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 2369 (SB 2423): This bill requires the Department of Correction to set work period and pay practices for correctional officers that meet certain standards. 

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

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

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 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.

Senate Education Committee, 1 p.m., LP 12

Please see the important note above concerning SB 1707/HB 2229!

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

House Bill 1842 (SB 1959):  This bill calls for at least one secondary early voting site for a county with a population of 130,000 or more. 

House Bill 1896 (SB 1866):  This piece of legislation 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 Subcommittee, 3 p.m., LP 29

Please see the notes above for details about HB 2090/SB 2322 and HB 2324/SB 2319! 

House Bill 1795 (SB 2318): This bill recreates the special joint commission on workers' compensation issues. 
Note: This bill will also be heard in the Senate Government Operations Committee at 10:30 a.m. in LP 12. 
Contact:
Alyssa Hansen, Communications Director
1901 Lindell Avenue, Nashville, TN 37203  |  615.269.7111