Time for some legislative updates as the session is winding down...a number of bills that TLA is monitoring have been taken off notice which means they are most likely done for this session but we will still monitor them as there are zombie bills that come back from the dead in the last days of the session! 
Of the bills that are remaining - HB0841/SB1059 has been rewritten by the amendment to focus on vendors who provide obscene matter to K12 schools; this can impact the books available to students. This will be going to the House Criminal Justice Committee 3/28 on Tuesday at 4:30 PM CT - you can watch here.  To catch up on discussions on this bill in previous committees - 
HB1040/SB1078 which excludes classroom libraries from some of the Age Appropriate Materials provisions, makes its way through the House starting with the K12 Subcommittee also on 3/28 at Noon CT - you can watch here.  To catch up on discussions on this bill in the senate committee - 
  • Videos for SB1078 can be found at https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/Default.aspx?BillNumber=SB1078&GA=113
TLA Legislative Tracker
Bill Number & Sponsor Link to Bill Text Summary Latest Action Fiscal Notes / Amendments
HB1376 (Rep Ragan) SB0817 (Sen Hensley) HB1376 / SB0817 AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, Chapter 7 and Title 49, Chapter 8, relative to higher education.
Education, Higher - As introduced, enacts the "Tennessee Higher Education Freedom of Expression and Transparency Act." - Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 7 and Title 49, Chapter 8.		 House Action:Placed on cal. Government Operations Committee for 3/27/2023 Senate Action: Placed on Senate Education Committee calendar for 3/29/2023 Fiscal Note
HB 0841 (Rep Lynn) SB1059 (Sen Hensley) HB0841 / SB1059 Obscenity and Pornography - As introduced, removes the educational justification of a person possessing obscene material if the person is at a school building, bus, school campus, grounds, recreational area, athletic field, or other property owned, used, or operated by a local education agency. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 9. House Action:Placed on cal. Criminal Justice Committee for 3/28/2023 Senate Action: Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 7, Nays 2 PNV 0 Fiscal NoteHouse Amendment
HB1040 (Rep Jernigan) SB1078 (Sen Yarbro) HB1040 / SB1078 Local Education Agencies - As introduced, excludes materials obtained by an individual teacher, which are made available in the teacher's classroom to students assigned to the teacher's class or classes, from having to be identified in a list posted on the school's website, and from being subject to the development, review, and feedback process established by the school's local board of education or public charter school governing body for materials in the school's library collection. - Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 6. House Action: Placed on s/c cal K-12 Subcommittee for 3/28/2023 Senate Action: Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 30, Nays 3 Fiscal Note Senate Amendment
SB 0086 (Sen Walley) HB 0734 (Rep Rudd) SB 0086 / HB0734 Public Records - As introduced, clarifies that a person requesting public records is not entitled to special or more expeditious access to records under this part due to the person's occupation or association with a specific profession. - Amends TCA Title 10, Chapter 7. House Action: H. Placed on Consent Calendar for 3/27/2023
Senate Action:
Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.		 Fiscal Note
SB 0027 (Sen Gardenhire) HB 0023 (Rep Moon) SB 0027/ HB 0023 Open Meetings - As introduced, requires governing bodies to make agendas of meetings and supplemental meeting documents available to the public at least 48 hours prior to the meeting. - Amends TCA Title 8, Chapter 44. House Action: Placed on s/c cal Public Service Subcommittee for 3/28/2023
Senate Action: Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/28/2023		 Fiscal Note
SB 0073 (Sen Watson) / HB1181 (Rep Garrett) SB 0073 / HB1181 Consumer Protection - As introduced, enacts the "Tennessee Information Protection Act." - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 12; Title 43; Title 45; Title 47; Title 48; Title 50; Title 61; Title 66 and Title 67.
House Action:Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Commerce Committee Senate Action: Placed on Senate Commerce and Labor Committee calendar for 3/21/2023		 Fiscal Note
SB 0024 (Sen Hensley) HB 0007 (Rep Cepicky) SB 0024 / HB 0007 Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement (TISA) - As introduced, increases, from $200 to $500, the amount each LEA and public charter school is required to pay each teacher in kindergarten through grade 12 for the purchase of instructional supplies for the 2023-2024 school year. - Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 3. House Action: Placed behind the budget
Senate Action: Placed on Senate Education Committee calendar for 3/29/2023		 Fiscal Note - Amendment changes to $100
SB 0102 (Sen Gardenhire) HB 0158 (Rep Zachary ) SB 0102 / HB 0158 Education - As introduced, prohibits a local education agency, public charter school, public institution of higher education, the state board of education, and the department of education from requiring an educator, employee of an LEA or charter school, faculty member, or employee of a public institution of higher education to complete or participate in implicit bias training; defines "implicit bias training"; prohibits adverse licensure and employment actions from being taken against such an individual for the individual's failure or refusal to participate in implicit bias training. - Amends TCA Title 49. House Action: Placed on cal. Education Administration for 3/29/2023 Senate Action: Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee Fiscal Note
Thanks,

Andrea