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Hi all -
The first year of the 113th Tennessee General Assembly ended early. Still waiting for the governor's signature and the public chapters to be released for a few more bills from the Secretary of State - check the tracker to see where things are.

What's next? 
The governor has called for a special session on August 21 for firearm legislation. There is currently a commenting form available to allow for Tennesseans to give feedback on the topic before August 21 - https://stateoftennessee.formstack.com/forms/specialsession_public_safety. Typically special sessions only consider legislation on a specific topic so you won't be hearing much from TLA unless they broaden the scope. 
 
There is still legislation (i.e. HB843) that is partially through the House. The language of the text is found in the amendment.  Next January, that bill could quickly move through the Senate. As that bill changes what is considered obscene, it could have significant impacts on students as outlined in the fiscal note. Use this to find your legislators to let them know what that legislation would mean for students, teachers, librarians, parents - https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/Apps/fml2022/search.aspx. 

HB841 goes into effect on July 1st. If you are in a public school, you may want to notify your book sellers/distributers/publishers about this law. Bill has been assigned Public Chapter Number 278 by the Secretary of State starting on 07/01/2023. 
  • It is unlawful for a book publisher, distributor, or seller to knowingly sell or distribute obscene matter to a public school serving any of the grades kindergarten through twelve (K-12).   
  • TN definition of obscene “Obscene” -  T.C.A. § 39-17-901
(A) The average person applying contemporary community standards would find that the work, taken as a whole, appeals to the prurient interest;
(B) The average person applying contemporary community standards would find that the work depicts or describes, in a patently offensive way, sexual conduct; and
(C) The work, taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value;
TLA Legislation Tracker
TLA Position Bill Number & Sponsor Link to Bill Text Summary Latest Action Fiscal Notes / Amendments
Oppose HB0843 (Rep Lynn) SB1060 (Sen Hensley) Amendment makes the bill Makes changes to the AgeAppropriate Materials Act of 2022. Declares that certain materials are not appropriate for a
student in any of the grades K-12 and prohibits such materials from being maintained in a school's library collection. Requires the material to be reviewed by each local board of education (LBE) and public charter school from which feedback was received to be reviewed within 60 days from the date the feedback was received. Declares that a determination made on whether the material was appropriate does not establish a contemporary community standard. Requires the Textbook and Instructional Materials Quality Commission (Commission) to evaluate and determine whether a material in a school's library collection is appropriate upon request from certain persons who submitted feedback for material only if an LBE or public charter school governing body did not decide on a material for which it received feedback within 60 days. Requires the Commission to issue the Commission's determination in writing to each local education agency (LEA) and public charter school upon which each LEA or public charter school must comply.		 House Action:Received from House, Passed on First Consideration Senate Action: Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Education Committee
Will most likely be signed by Governor. HB 0663 (Rep Hicks) / SB0966 (Sen Powers) Amendment makes the bills Makes various changes to the policies and procedures that each local board of education and public charter school governing body must develop pursuant to the feedback and review of materials located in a school’s library collection. House Action:Signed by H. Speaker Senate Action:Signed by Senate Speaker
SB0817 has been assigned Public Chapter Number 268 by the Secretary of State. Effective date 07/01/2023 HB1376 (Rep Ragan) SB0817 (Sen Hensley) Amendment makes the bill 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.		 SB0817 has been assigned Public Chapter Number 268 by the Secretary of State. Effective date 07/01/2023 Fiscal Note House Amendment
Signed by Governor.Bill has been assigned Public Chapter Number 278 by the Secretary of State. Effective date 07/01/2023 HB 0841 (Rep Lynn) SB1059 (Sen Hensley) Amendment makes the bill 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. Signed by Governor.Bill has been assigned Public Chapter Number 278 by the Secretary of State. Effective date 07/01/2023 Fiscal NoteHouse Amendment
Failed in s/c K-12 Subcommittee of Education Administration 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: Failed in s/c K-12 Subcommittee of Education Administration Senate Action: Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk. Fiscal Note Senate Amendment
SB0086 has been assigned Public Chapter Number 157 by the Secretary of State. Effective date 04/17/2023 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. SB0086 has been assigned Public Chapter Number 157 by the Secretary of State. Effective date 04/17/2023 Fiscal Note
SB0027 has been assigned Public Chapter Number 213 by the Secretary of State. SB 0027 (Sen Gardenhire) HB 0023 (Rep Moon) Amendment makes the bill 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. SB0027 has been assigned Public Chapter Number 213 by the Secretary of State. Fiscal Note
Will most likely be signed by Governor. 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:Transmitted to Governor for his action. Senate Action:Signed by Senate Speaker Fiscal Note
Taken off notice for cal in s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee of Finance, Ways, and Means Committee 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: Taken off notice for cal in s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee of Finance, Ways, and Means Committee
Senate Action: Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/20/2023		 Fiscal Note - Amendment changes to $100
Will most likely be signed by Governor. 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:Signed by H. Speaker Senate Action:Transmitted to Governor for action. Fiscal Note
Support HJR 15 (Hemmer) HJR 15 Memorials, Public Service - Dollar General Literacy Foundation - Signed by Governor.

Thanks,

Andrea