The Battle is Far From Over! 

While HB 603 (Durham)  was rolled to the first calendar of 2016 on Wednesday, its companion ( SB 123 by Kelsey ) will be heard in the Senate Commerce & Labor Committee on Tuesday, March 31 at 3:30 p.m. Whether it's by phone, e-mail or in person please contact any of the legislators on this committee ( click here
for the list), and ask them to vote "no" on this bill! This legislation is still active in the Senate!  Because this bill was simply moved to 2016 rather than taken off notice or voted down in the House, we are guaranteed to see it again next year. You might say that we've (almost) won the battle for 2015, but the war is far from over. 

At noon on Tuesday, the House State Government Committee will take up HB 1145 (Casada)/SB 890 (Kelsey). This BAD piece of legislation deals with dues deductions for state employees. Once again, please contact any of the legislators on this committee (click here for the list), and ask them to vote "no" on this bill! For more specifics on HB 1145/SB 890, please give A.J. a call at (615) 269-7111.  

If you had any doubt as to what many of the Republican legislators think about working Tennesseans, click here.  Be sure to listen to the audio clip from Representative Susan Lynn, too. Her comments about women are absurd! 

What's on our Radar?

We've updated our list of "target bills" that we sent out two weeks ago. To access the updated list, click hereAs always, the bills are broken down by the day (Tuesday or Wednesday) on which they'll be heard. By clicking on the bill number (which will be highlighted like this), you'll be able to access the entire piece of legislation, its current status, and much more. Please contact our office if you have any questions or need more information.  
Monday, March 30th

Senate Commerce & Labor Committee, 
1 p.m., LP 12
- Senate Bill 721 (HB 997):  This BAD piece of legislation enacts the "Tennessee Employee Injury Benefit Alternative." 
This bill was moved to 2016 in the House on Wednesday. 

-Senate Bill 127 (HB 24): This piece of legislation establishes the "Go Build Tennessee Act. "

This bill will also be heard in the House Business & Utilities Committee on Wednesday at 3 p.m. in LP 16. 

 
Tuesday, March 31st

Senate State & Local Government Committee, 10:30 a.m., LP 12
-Senate Bill 953 (HB 886): This piece of legislation extends group insurance to state employees.
This bill will also be heard in the House State Government Subcommittee on Wednesday at noon in LP 29.

House State Government Committee, noon, LP 29
-House Bill 1145 (SB 890): This bill (mentioned above) deals with dues deductions to state employee organizations.

Senate Commerce & Labor Committee, 3 p.m., LP 12
-Senate Bill 123 (HB 603): This VERY BAD bill (mentioned above) would ban collective bargaining agreements between public employees and local governments, utility districts, and other entities. 

-Senate Bill 72 (HB 61): This bill would prohibit Tennessee from operating any health insurance exchange under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
This bill will also be heard in the House Insurance & Banking Subcommittee on Wednesday at noon in LP 30. 

-Senate Bill 653 (HB 483): This piece of legislation would increase penalties for OSHA violations. 
This bill was moved to 2016 in the House on Wednesday. 

- Senate Bill 864 (HB 903):   This piece of legislation enacts the "Tennessee Pay Equality Act," which prohibits an employer from discriminating on the basis of sex in regards to wages. 
This bill failed in the House on Wednesday. 

- Senate Bill 1063 (HB 1257):  This bill requires that the state's minimum hourly wage rate by set at $10.10.
This bill failed in the House on Wednesday. 

-Senate Bill 1199 (HB 766): This piece of legislation removes the ban on local governments regulating contractors. 
This bill failed in the House on Tuesday. 

Wednesday, April 1st

House Transportation Subcommittee, noon, LP 16
-House Bill 1027 (SB 1370): This bill creates the "Public Construction Contractor Safety Act."
This bill was taken off notice in the Senate.

House State Government Subcommittee, noon, LP 29
-House Bill 886 (SB 953): This piece of legislation extends group insurance to state employees. 

- House Bill 768 (SB 1066): This bill requires that employee handbooks include "the leave statute for adoption and pregnancy."

House Insurance & Banking Subcommittee, noon, LP 30
-House Bill 61 (SB 72):  This bill would prohibit Tennessee from operating any health insurance exchange under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

Senate Education Committee, 2 p.m., LP 12
This piece of legislation would make the "Little Hatch Act" applicable to teachers. 
This bill will also be heard on the House floor on Wednesday.

House Business & Utilities Committee, 3 p.m., LP 16
-House Bill 24 (SB 127): This piece of legislation establishes the "Go Build Tennessee Act. "
Contact:
Alyssa Hansen, Communications Director
1901 Lindell Avenue, Nashville, TN 37203  |  615.269.7111