This has been a very busy week already and bills have been added to the committee schedule for tomorrow. Today's discussion about the Obscenity and Pornography is School Libraries will be continued next week. The link to today's committee discussion is listed below.
Obscenity and Pornography in School Libraries - https://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/112/Bill/HB1944.pdf
· HB1944 - Sponsored by by *Cepicky , Doggett, Ragan, Sexton J, Hurt, Grills, Eldridge, Lafferty, Weaver, Hall, Haston, Carringer, Griffey, Smith, Hulsey, Warner, Casada, Crawford, Ogles, Cochran, Byrd, Reedy, Rudder, Helton
· SB1944 - Sponsored by Senator Joey Hensley
Assigned to Criminal Justice Subcommittee - Watch the discussion from 2/23
Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/2/2022 at 9 am
Age-Appropriate Materials Act of 2022 - Link to bill - https://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/112/Bill/HB2154.pdf
Local Education Agencies - As introduced, enacts the "Age-Appropriate Materials Act of 2022"; requires each public school to maintain, and post on the school's website, a list of the materials in the school's library collection; requires each local board of education and public charter school governing body to adopt a policy to establish procedures for the development and review of school library collections. - Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 6.
· HB 2154 - Sponsored by Representatives Lamberth and Gant
· SB 2407 - Sponsored by Senator Jack Johnson
Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 2/24/2022 at 8:30 am
Divisive Concepts in Higher Education - Link to Bill - https://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/112/Bill/SB2290.pdf
As introduced, prohibits a public institution of higher education from taking certain actions with regard to divisive concepts and the ideologies or political viewpoints of students and employees; revises the duties of an institution's employees whose primary duties include diversity; requires each institution to conduct a survey of its students and employees to assess the campus climate with regard to diversity of thought and the respondents' comfort level in speaking freely on campus and to publish the results on the institution's website. - Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 7.
· HB2670 - Sponsored by Reps by Sexton C, Gant
· SB2290 - Sponsored by Senator Mike Bell
Current Status:
Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules Committee
Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee
School Library Coordinator - https://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/112/Bill/HB1667.pdf
Education, Dept. of - As introduced, creates a Tennessee state library coordinator position within the department; establishes the duties of the Tennessee state library coordinator. - Amends TCA Title 49.
· HB1667 - Sponsored by Representative Sam Whitson
· SB1784 - Sponsored by Senator Jon Lundberg
Current Status:
House - Placed behind the budget
Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee Ayes 8, Nays 0 PNV 0
Textbooks (and supplemental materials) removing LGBTQ Content - https://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/112/Bill/HB0800.pdf
Textbooks - As introduced, prohibits the state textbook and instructional materials quality commission from recommending or listing, the state board of education from approving for local adoption or from granting a waiver for, and LEAs and public charter schools from adopting or using textbooks and instructional materials or supplemental instructional materials that promote, normalize, support, or address lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, or transgender issues or lifestyles. - Amends TCA Title 49.
· HB0800 by *Griffey , Warner
· SB1216 by *Niceley
Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 3/2/2022 at 11 am
Important Dates
Thursday 2/24 at 8:30 am - Obscenity and Pornography in School Libraries - Senate Regular Calendar for 2/24/2022 at 8:30 am
Wednesday 3/2 at 9 am - Age-Appropriate Materials Act of 2022 - Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/2/2022 at 9 am
Wednesday 3/2 at 11 am -Textbooks (and supplemental materials) removing LGBTQ Content Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 3/2/2022 at 11 am
Wednesday 3/2 at 3:30 pm - Age-Appropriate Materials Act of 2022 - Education Administration for 3/2/2022 at 3:30 pm
Additional Resources
Please let me know if you have heard of anything else going on that may impact libraries!
TLA Legislative Monitor