Rep. Greg Vital
Tennessee prepares for federal education deregulation
A bill that will help prepare Tennessee for significant changes to the United States Department of Education (ED) advanced in the House this week. House Bill 958, sponsored by State Rep. William Slater, R-Gallatin, will create a seven-member task force to ensure Tennessee can effectively respond to any potential deregulation or dismantling of the ED at the federal level.
“The Trump administration has been clear in its intent to overhaul the American education system,” Slater said. “It’s imperative that Tennessee is not caught flat-footed when major federal reforms are enacted. A deregulation task force will ensure our state can seamlessly continue providing the highest quality education to students no matter what changes are taking place nationally.”
The task force created by this legislation will identify federal K-12 education funding, federal requirements for receiving funds, state resources needed to receive funds and the number of positions paid by federal dollars. It will also consider whether programs or resources provided by federal funds should continue. The task force will be required to submit policy recommendations to the General Assembly by Dec. 31, 2025.
President Donald Trump on March 20 signed an executive order directing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to begin the process of closing the department she was tasked to lead.
House Bill 958 is scheduled to be heard in the House Finance, Ways and Means Committee in the coming weeks.
Republicans propose to make government more efficient
In an effort to reform anti-discrimination enforcement and increase government efficiency, House Majority Whip Johnny Garrett, R-Goodlettsville, has proposed legislation that would dissolve the Tennessee Human Rights Commission (HRC) and shift the department’s responsibilities to the Tennessee Attorney General’s Office (AG).
House Bill 910 creates the Civil Rights Enforcement Division within the Office of the AG, the state’s top law enforcement agency. The bill increases penalties for malicious harassment and upholds protections against discrimination in housing, real estate and education.
Shifting the HRC’s duties to the AG is a critical step in streamlining citizen services and expediting justice, Garrett told members of the House Government Operations Committee on Monday.
“If we continue to have these matters before the Human Rights Commission, which they do a fine job of doing – my concern is the claims aren’t going away,” Garrett said. “There are still people who think they can discriminate against folks for housing and education opportunities. If someone receives a letter or an action saying that the Attorney General is investigating … well, that would be a deterrent.”
The Tennessee Human Rights Commission was created as a state agency in 1963 through an executive order by Gov. Frank Clement. In 1978, the General Assembly transformed the commission into an enforcement agency with the passage of the Tennessee Human Rights Act. Since then, the agency’s mission is to investigate cases of discrimination and alleged violations of the Civil Rights Acts of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008 and Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (Fair Housing Act).
“This is about making (claims) that we are bound to investigate - making that process better, more efficient and to deter discrimination,” Garrett said.
House Bill 901 advanced to the House Finance, Ways and Means Committee and is expected to be heard for consideration next week.
Legislation rewarding exceptional teachers advances in House
A proposal that would allow exceptional teachers in Tennessee to be rewarded advanced out of the House Finance, Ways and Means Subcommittee this week.
House Bill 759, sponsored by House Speaker Pro Tempore Pat Marsh, R-Shelbyville, would give local school districts the ability to adopt and implement a merit-based pay structure for teachers.
“This will allow school boards to incentivize educators to meet and (exceed) expectations and … to reward educators for their extraordinary work,” Marsh said.
The legislation would allow districts to award additional compensation to high-performing teachers through a one-time bonus or a salary increase. Districts could use state and local education funding received through the Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement (TISA) to reward exceptional educators.
A 2017 Vanderbilt University report found that merit-based pay structures in schools translated to a “statistically significant” effect on student test scores, equivalent to adding three extra weeks of instruction in a school year.
House Bill 759 is scheduled to be heard for consideration in the House Finance, Ways and Means Committee on April 8.
Bill enhances protections for domestic violence victims
Legislation protecting victims of domestic violence in Tennessee advanced out of the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee this week.
House Bill 580, sponsored by State Rep. Clay Doggett, R-Pulaski, will provide standards for global positioning system (GPS) monitoring companies that provide services in Tennessee for domestic violence arrests involving aggravated assault.
“This bill, as amended, would bring some standards to the GPS providers as well as make a few small changes working with our friends in law enforcement and the courts to help ensure the safety and security of our victims,” Doggett said.
House Bill 580 defines a qualified electronic monitoring provider and lists out specific requirements to become a provider, including proof of general liability coverage, 24/7 monitoring, and requirements for directors and employees.
Companies will also be required to be approved by a local government entity in Tennessee to provide services. The Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) will be required to keep an updated list of providers.
Additionally, the legislation requires an arresting officer to communicate with the victim during monitoring.
House Bill 580 builds on the Debbie and Marie Domestic Violence Protection Act that the Tennessee General Assembly passed in 2024, requiring aggravated assault suspects in certain domestic violence cases to wear a GPS system if they are released on bond.
The legislation is named in honor of Debbie Sisco and her daughter Marie Varsos. Both women were killed in 2021 by Varsos’ estranged husband who was out on bond after being arrested for strangling his wife and threatening to shoot her a month earlier.
Statewide, there were more than 60,000 domestic violence cases reported in 2023, according to the most recent data from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Of those victims, 71 percent were female. The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence estimates that nearly 40 percent of women in Tennessee will experience some form of domestic violence in their lifetime.
TennCare Modernization and Access Act ensures reliability
A Republican proposal to ensure TennCare remains a reliable and affordable health care option for Tennessee families is advancing through the General Assembly.
The Tennessee Medicaid Modernization and Access Act of 2025, sponsored by State Rep. Bud Hulsey, R-Kingsport, will require TennCare reimbursements for certain key health care services to match the Medicare fee schedule or average commercial rate.
“Small doctors’ groups, doctors’ groups, independent doctors who treat … TennCare patients get paid, most of the time, half of what Medicaid payments are,” Hulsey said. “And what’s happening is we are losing doctors. I don’t mean moving: They are ceasing to treat and to take (TennCare) patients. … Whether we address this with my bill or some other bill, we’ve got to address it.”
House Bill 372 will require the Tennessee Department of Health (DOH) and the Division of TennCare to annually review TennCare reimbursement rates to ensure they align with the Medicare fee schedule and average commercial rates.
The legislation directs DOH and TennCare to actively seek federal, private and other available funds even as it directs available state funds to support reimbursement adjustments.
The current TennCare reimbursement process has led in some instances to limited access for beneficiaries and inadequate compensation for health care providers, a trend that is pronounced in rural parts of the state with fewer health care options. Hulsey’s proposal seeks to incentivize more doctors to participate in TennCare.
House Bill 372 is scheduled to be heard for consideration in the House Government Operations Committee April 7.
Protecting name, image and likeness opportunities for athletes
Legislation advancing in the House solidifies the state’s position as a national leader in Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) protections for college athletes.
House Bill 194, sponsored by State Rep. Kevin Vaughan, R-Collierville, updates the state's existing NIL law to create new opportunities for student-athletes to capitalize on their talents. As amended, House Bill 194 allows institutions to directly compensate athletes for NIL while preserving the rights to engage in third-party opportunities.
This new legislation offers enhanced protections and expanded opportunities for student-athletes. It also gives Tennessee’s colleges and universities a clearer legal framework to operate within, helping them continue to recruit at the highest level.
Additionally, the bill protects the state and its universities from antitrust claims by ensuring any liability falls on the athletic organization, not the state or university.
“It’s a very fluid landscape these days with college athletics,” Vaughan told members of the House Education Committee on Tuesday. “Frankly, we feel like this will start adding structure to a system that is very dynamic. We’re trying to protect our universities, keep them competitive, protect the rights of the institution and protect our student-athletes’ ability to earn compensation for their name, image and likeness.”
Tennessee has been at the forefront of advocating for student-athletes and challenging the National Collegiate Athletic Association's restrictions on NIL compensation.
Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti in January 2024 filed a landmark lawsuit against the NCAA, accusing it of violating antitrust laws by preventing athletes from earning fair compensation for their name, image, and likeness. The case, which resulted in a federal court injunction, now allows NIL opportunities to play a role in athlete recruitment for both high schoolers and transfer students.
House Bill 194 is scheduled for consideration in the House Finance, Ways and Means Subcommittee on April 9.
Bill creates offenses of doxing, threatening mass violence
A proposal to create the offense of threatening to commit an act of mass violence in Tennessee is advancing in the General Assembly.
House Bill 1314, filed by House Majority Leader William Lamberth, R-Portland, and guided in the House by Assistant Majority Leader Mark Cochran, R-Englewood, will make knowingly threatening mass violence by any means of communication a Class E felony offense. Another person must reasonably deem it a legitimate threat that could lead to the death or injury of four or more people.
“House Bill 1314 seeks to criminalize any threats of violence intended to cause terror,” Cochran said. “The goal of this proposal is to deter similar behavior and essentially prevent acts of terrorism before they occur.”
The penalty would be enhanced to a Class D felony offense if the threat is made toward a school, church, government, or live performance or event. Similarly, the penalty would be enhanced if the defendant had prior convictions for similar offenses or if the defendant took a substantial step toward acting on the threat. Courts could also order a convicted person to pay restitution, which includes costs and damages from any potential disruption resulting from a threat.
Finally, House Bill 1314 creates a Class B misdemeanor offense for posting on a public website the phone number or home address of another person with ill intent, a practice commonly referred to as “doxing.” If someone acts on this information, the penalty could be enhanced to a Class A misdemeanor.
House Bill 1314 is scheduled to be heard for consideration in the House Finance, Ways and Means Committee on April 8.
Republicans continue efforts to protect children from predators
The House Criminal Justice Subcommittee advanced legislation this week creating penalties for individuals who use generative artificial intelligence (GAI) technology to produce sexual material involving minors. House Bill 769, sponsored by State Rep. Mary Littleton, R-Dickson, makes it a criminal offense to knowingly possess, distribute, or produce technology, software or digital tools designed to create material involving a minor engaged in sexual activity or simulated sexual activity.
"As GAI technology rapidly advances, it’s crucial we implement criminal penalties to protect our children and show that Tennessee will not tolerate these heinous crimes," said Littleton.
Predators use certain GAI platforms and technology to take an innocent photograph of a real child to create computer-generated, sexually explicit images and videos, commonly referred to as deepfakes. Proposed penalties for those convicted include a Class E felony offense for possession, a Class C felony offense for distribution and a Class B felony offense for production.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) says it received 4,700 tips in 2023 related to child sexual abuse material (CSAM) generated by GAI, in some cases to extort the families for financial gain.
The legislation also provides guidance for how courts or other authorities should determine whether the technology, software or digital tools are designed for creating illegal content involving children. House Bill 769 is expected to be heard in the House Judiciary Committee on April 9.
Protections for firearm manufacturers move through House
Legislation to further protect Tennessee’s weapon industry from civil liability lawsuits advanced out of the House Civil Justice Subcommittee this week. House Bill 873, sponsored by State Rep. Monty Fritts, R-Kingston, aims to protect manufacturers, dealers and sellers of firearms, ammunition and other weapons from out-of-state or foreign lawsuits seeking damages for the criminal misuse of their products.
“I bring this legislation to protect these companies and the Tennesseans who work in this industry, but it also puts our state in the position to recruit further in the industry as well,” Fritts said.
This bill expands a law that Fritts championed in 2023 to give these entities the same protections provided by the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA) on the state level, protecting firearm manufacturers and sellers from being held liable for crimes committed with their products.
Lawsuits can be brought only if it can be proven that the manufacturer or seller directly caused the harm, like selling a defective product or criminal misconduct. This bill also increases restrictions on local governments to regulate and enforce certain laws and policies related to firearms and ammunition. House Bill 873 is expected to be heard in the House Judiciary Committee on April 9.
Resolution recognizes importance of male role models
The House on Thursday unanimously approved a resolution recognizing the importance of male role models in a child’s life.
House Joint Resolution 131, sponsored by State Rep. Mike Sparks, R-Smyrna, urges schools, nonprofits and faith-based organizations to place more male role models in schools and classrooms for mentorship opportunities.
“I think this is an issue that we as a state, we as a culture, we as a society fail to really address,” Sparks said. “Eighty-five percent of youth in prisons grew up in fatherless homes. … It’s a little bit cheaper to invest in mentorships, coaching, teaching and other areas.”
Members of the House on Thursday shared their personal experiences with male role models and discussed the importance of positive mentorship opportunities. Fathers or positive male role models can promote a child’s physical well-being, ability to take initiative and self-control.
House Joint Resolution 131 will now be considered in the Senate.
Preservation bill provides protection for Tennessee farms
The House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee this week advanced legislation aimed at protecting Tennessee farmland from development and ensuring its continued use for agricultural purposes.
House Bill 1325, sponsored by House Majority Leader William Lamberth, R-Portland, and State Rep. Greg Vital, R-Harrison, would establish a $25 million Farmland Preservation Fund to provide grants for property owners who voluntarily place their farm or forestry land into an agricultural easement with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture. The program aims to make farmland preservation financially feasible for family farms, ensuring they remain in agricultural use for future generations.
While property owners can already place their land in a conservation easement through various entities, rising land prices provide little incentive to do so. The Farmland Preservation Fund aims to provide this incentive, making it more financially viable for Tennessee farmers to preserve their land.
Participation in the program is entirely voluntary, allowing property owners to receive compensation for the difference between their land’s agricultural value and its highest market value. Farmers who take part in the program would still maintain the freedom to develop their land for agricultural purposes and maintain full farming operations without restrictions on output.
“A conservation easement does not mean you lose your land; it protects it in perpetuity,” Vital told members of the committee on Tuesday. “You are still able to farm, hunt, fish, mortgage, sell, or build a home on your property. This bill (simply) protects our farmers, reinforces our heritage and bolsters our economy.”
Tennessee is losing farmland to development at an astounding rate. During a 20-year period from 1997 to 2017, Tennessee lost 1.1 million acres of farmland to development. Since 2017, another 432,941 acres of farmland has been lost. This means Tennessee is losing 9.8 acres of farmland per hour, up from 6.3 acres per hour in the previous two decades.
In Tennessee, agriculture-related industries employ 324,000 individuals and contribute $89 billion to the economy.
House Bill 1325 is expected to be heard for consideration in the House Government Operations Committee on April 7.
Bill clarifying protections for mother, baby advances
The House Health Committee advanced legislation this week clarifying Tennessee’s current protections for a pregnant mother if her life or a major bodily function is in danger.
House Bill 990, sponsored by State Rep. Bryan Terry, R-Murfreesboro, clarifies language in the Human Life Protection Act of 2019 to better define the conditions that allow for medical intervention in order to save the mother’s life.
The Human Life Protection Act of 2019 was a conditional trigger law that banned elective abortions in the Volunteer State should the U.S. Supreme Court reverse its decision on Roe v. Wade. Tennessee’s law went into effect in 2022.
The Tennessee General Assembly in 2023 passed a law to ensure doctors can intervene in life-threatening situations like ectopic or molar pregnancies.
This legislation defines inevitable abortion as a dilation of the cervix prior to viability of the pregnancy, commonly known as preterm labor or cervical insufficiency. It would also include conditions that may cause a serious risk of substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function, which include pre-viable preterm premature rupture of membranes (pPPROM), severe preeclampsia, mirror syndrome associated with fetal hydrops and infections that can result in uterine rupture or loss of fertility. It does not include any condition related to the mother’s mental health.
“I want to be clear that these are not new exceptions, and I do think our Human Life Protection Act covers these conditions, but we want to provide more clarity and reasonable medical judgment still applies,” Terry said.
House Bill 990 is expected to be heard on the House floor for a vote in the coming weeks.
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Parental rights: A proposal to protect parental rights in Tennessee advanced in the House this week. House Bill 347, sponsored by State Rep. Chris Hurt, R-Halls, establishes that economic disadvantage cannot be grounds for terminating parental rights. It also clarifies that neglect does not exist solely because of economic disadvantage. House Bill 347 will go to the House Calendar and Rules Committee before heading to the House floor for a final vote.
State brass band: The House this week approved legislation designating the Southern Stars Symphonic Brass Band as the official brass band of Tennessee. House Bill 1094, filed by House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, and guided in the House by State Rep. Ed Butler, R-Rickman, recognizes Tennessee’s rich music history and the band’s exceptional representation of the Volunteer State on the national stage. The Southern Stars Symphonic Brass Band is based in the Crossville area and is made up of 30 musicians from across the state. House Bill 1094 now heads to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk to be signed into law.
Child forensic interviews: The General Assembly this week passed House Bill 583, sponsored by State Rep. Clay Doggett, R-Pulaski, to allow a forensic interviewer to authenticate a video recording of a child victim. Under current law, forensic interviews can only be authenticated in court by the child victim, who are often too young and reluctant to testify or simply don’t understand a prosecutor's questions. House Bill 583 now heads to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk to be signed into law.
Disabled veteran benefits: Legislation to enhance benefits for disabled veterans who reside in Tennessee was approved by the House this week. House Bill 918, sponsored by State Rep. William Slater, R-Gallatin, will provide a temporary hunting license for disabled veterans to be used in hunting experiences sponsored and paid for by not-for-profit organizations. The bill now heads to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk to be signed into law.
Local public servants: The House on Monday approved legislation protecting the personal information of local government employees in Tennessee. House Bill 66, sponsored by State Rep. Mike Sparks, R-Smyrna, will give local public servants the same protections as state employees by making their home address confidential. Current Tennessee law protects the residential information of state employees, including street address, city, state and zip code. This legislation seeks to provide the same protections for county, municipal and other public employees in Tennessee. The companion version of House Bill 66 is still advancing through the Senate. If passed and signed into law, it would immediately take effect.
Inhalers in schools: Legislation allowing schools and other public entities to maintain bronchodilator rescue inhalers to respond quickly to asthma-related emergencies has been approved by the Tennessee House of Representatives. House Bill 760, sponsored by State Rep. Tandy Darby, R-Greenfield, permits health care practitioners to prescribe inhalers to authorized entities, such as child care agencies, youth sports leagues and theme parks. These entities must designate an employee to maintain and administer the inhalers when a physician is unavailable. The companion version of House Bill 760 is still advancing through the Senate.
Biosimilar prescriptions: The Tennessee General Assembly on Monday passed legislation allowing TennCare to use biosimilar drugs as a cost-saving measure. House Bill 1198, sponsored by State Rep. Sabi “Doc” Kumar, R-Springfield, allows health carriers, health benefit plans and utilization review organizations to ask patients to try a biosimilar product before covering the equivalent branded prescription drug. The bill also directs the TennCare pharmacy advisory committee to consider adding biosimilars to the state’s preferred drug list. The bill now heads to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk for his signature.
Diabetes information: A bill requiring school districts to provide parents with information on Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes is now on its way to the governor’s desk for his signature. Sponsored by State Rep. John Gillespie, R-Memphis, House Bill 515 requires schools that send information about immunizations, infectious diseases, medications or other health topics to also include details about Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. The Tennessee Department of Education will provide this information to schools for free on its website. The bill takes effect upon the governor’s signature.
Private prison accountability: A Republican proposal to ensure accountability in private prisons in Tennessee advanced in the House this week. House Bill 1144, sponsored by State Rep. Clark Boyd, R-Lebanon, would require ten percent of a private prison’s population to be transferred to a Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC) prison if the death rate was double that of an equivalent state-operated facility. Population reduction would begin within 90 days of the release of TDOC’s annual statistical abstract. House Bill 1144 has been placed behind the budget for consideration at a later date.
Social media: The Tennessee House of Representatives on Thursday approved a resolution recognizing the mental health consequences of social media on K-12 students across Tennessee. House Joint Resolution 179, sponsored by State Rep. Mike Sparks, R-Smyrna, encourages additional efforts to address the issue in the Volunteer State. Increased screen time in high school students can cause anxiety, depression, weakened interpersonal skills and low self-esteem, according to the Texas School for the Deaf. House Joint Resolution 179 now heads to the Senate for further consideration.
Alcohol road deaths: In an effort to protect the privacy of ongoing investigations while providing more tools to investigators of alcohol-related road deaths, the General Assembly this week passed House Bill 604. Sponsored by House Majority Leader William Lamberth, R-Portland, the bill requires law enforcement to submit specific records to the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) following alcohol-related road deaths and prevents the TABC from releasing that information. It also grants TABC law enforcement the authority to subpoena evidence and call witnesses when investigating alcohol-related road deaths and other violations. The bill now heads to the governor’s desk for his signature
SAVE Act: A Republican bill protecting veterans from deceptive benefit claim practices passed the Tennessee General Assembly on March 31. The Safeguarding American Veteran Empowerment (SAVE) Act, sponsored by State Rep. Jerome Moon, R-Maryville, prohibits referral payments without a written agreement and bans charging for services within one year of discharge unless the veteran waives free services. The bill limits compensation to five times the benefit increase if the claim is successful and requires background checks for those handling veterans' personal information. The bill, which would take effect July 1, now heads to the governor’s desk for his signature.
Prescriptions: The House of Representatives passed legislation this week to ensure Tennesseans with stage four advanced metastatic cancer or blood cancer can access the medication they need. House Bill 858, sponsored by State Rep. Rebecca Alexander, R-Jonesborough, prohibits health insurers from requiring step therapy before covering an approved prescription drug. Step therapy requires a patient to try a cheaper alternative medication before “stepping up” to the next level of medication. The companion bill is still moving through the Senate.
Boating licenses: The General Assembly has approved legislation to make it easier for Tennesseans to obtain a boating safety certificate. House Bill 530, sponsored by State Rep. Rick Eldridge, R-Morristown, allows citizens to take the boating safety exam online, removing the current in-person proctoring requirement. Tennessee law requires anyone born after Jan. 1, 1989, to have a TWRA-issued or NASBLA-approved boating safety certificate to operate a personal watercraft or motorboat. The bill now heads to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk and will take effect immediately upon his signature.
School safety: Legislation to ensure parents are aware of threats to their children’s schools was approved by the General Assembly this week. House Bill 1088, filed by House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, and guided in the House by State Rep. Rick Scarbrough, R-Oak Ridge, requires local education agencies to notify parents of credible threats directed toward their child’s school within 48 hours of notifying law enforcement. The bill now heads to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk for his signature.
Out-of-state illegal immigrant licenses: The House of Representatives this week approved legislation further cracking down on illegal immigration in Tennessee. House Bill 749, sponsored by State Rep. Lee Reeves, R-Franklin, prohibits the recognition of out-of-state driver’s licenses issued explicitly to illegal immigrants with a marking to indicate their status. It also creates a Class B misdemeanor offense for anyone who drives with one, which is the same penalty as driving without a license. The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security would be required to create a public online list of these licenses. The companion version of House Bill 749 is still advancing through the Senate.
Released time: The House Education Committee advanced a bill seeking to ensure individuals providing off-campus, private religious instruction during the school day through released time are properly vetted. House Bill 1281, sponsored by State Rep. Timothy Hill, R-Blountville, requires anyone holding a position within the independent entity to undergo a criminal history background check with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI). The results must be shared with the independent entity and the local education agency (LEA), which must review them and notify parents if the background check is satisfactory. House Bill 1281 will now go to the House Calendar and Rules Committee before heading to the House floor for a final vote.
Career technical education: Legislation creating the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Curriculum Fund advanced out of the House Education Committee this week. House Bill 138, by State Rep. Kirk Haston, R-Lobelville, seeks to appropriate $6 million in state funds to support local education agencies and charter schools to secure high-quality CTE curriculum. The funds would be divided evenly and used during the 2025-26 and 2026-27 school years. The Tennessee Department of Education would manage grant administration and reporting requirements. House Bill 138 is expected to be heard in the House Finance, Ways and Means Committee in the coming weeks.
Elections coordinator: A resolution by State Rep. Tim Rudd, R-Murfreesboro, honoring Tennessee’s elections coordinator was approved by the General Assembly this week. House Joint Resolution 480 honors Tennessee Coordinator of Elections Mark Goins for his service to the Volunteer State and his dedication to ensuring election integrity. Goins has served as elections coordinator since he was appointed by Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett in 2009. He has consistently worked with lawmakers to pass laws ensuring free, fair and secure elections. Tennessee has been ranked No. 1 in election integrity for three consecutive years by the Heritage Foundation Election Integrity Scorecard.
Crimes of violence: House Bill 579, sponsored by State Rep. Clay Doggett, R-Pulaski, will add robbery to the definition of crime of violence in Tennessee law. Currently rape, aggravated robbery, especially aggravated robbery, any degree of murder, and several other crimes are considered a crime of violence in the Volunteer State. House Bill 579 now heads to the governor’s desk to be signed into law.
House Republicans were proud to welcome Rev. Lorenzo Sewell, pastor for 180 Church in Detroit, Mich., on March 31. Sewell served as chaplain of the day for the Tennessee House of Representatives, delivering a prayer for God to continue to bless the people of the Volunteer State. Sewell became nationally known after he delivered an inspiring speech at the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wis., last year. He later gave the benediction at President Donald J. Trump’s second inauguration in January.