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State Policy Updates:
Response to Nashville's Tragedy at The Covenant School
On Monday, in the aftermath of the Covenant School shooting, Governor Lee released a plan to increase school security. The proposals includes:
- Passing HB322/SB274, legislation around school requirements for threat assessments, safety plans, and training for private security guards
- Investing additional funding for school security and behavioral health:
- $30M to expand homeland security
- $140M for a School Resource Officer grant fund
- $20M for public school security
- $9M for private school security
- $8M for school-based behavioral health liaisons
“There is nothing more important than our students safely returning home each day,” said Gov. Lee. “As Tennessee grieves the tragic loss of six precious lives in the Covenant shooting, we are taking additional actions to significantly boost safety measures at every school."
Read Governor Lee’s press release >>>
In addition, the tragedy in Nashville catalyzed significant debate in the General Assembly regarding gun control measures, a debate that has become more contentious following a series of rallies at the capitol.
On Thursday, April 6, the House voted on the expulsion of three members, Representatives Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville), Justin Jones (D-Nashville), and Justin Pearson (D-Memphis), for leading gun control advocates in chants from the House floor during a rally last week. Representative Justin Jones (D-Nashville) was expelled by a 72-25 vote, while Representative Justin Pearson (D-Memphis) was expelled in a 69-26 vote. The vote to expel Representative Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville) failed 65-30.
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