After a week delay because of the weather, the legislation is back in session. The House bill filing deadline is Jan 31st. The Senate bill filing deadline is Feb 1st. The Governor's State of the State address is scheduled for Monday, Feb 5th at 6 p.m. CT.

As bills make their way through committee - there are some changes about how to request to speak at House committee meetings. At this time, I haven't found any changes to requesting to speak at a Senate committee meetings.

House Witness Card - https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/GeneralAssembly/HouseWitness.aspx

* Requests must be submitted at least 24 hours prior to the scheduled meeting time.

** The submission of this form is not a guarantee that you will be allowed to speak.

*** The testimony of witnesses is subject to time and other limitations.

Speaking at a Senate Committee:

If you are interested in testifying at a committee meeting, email the Chair of the committee and their executive secretary once the bill has been added to the agenda of the committee - https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/CommitteeInfo/allcommittees.aspx. In your email, it is recommended to include whether you are for or opposed to the bill, your area of expertise, and some bullet points outlining your speech. Typically you have 3 minutes to speak. After that, members of the committee can question you. If you know any of the members on the committee or if there is a member that represents your district, you can also email them to assist in your efforts.

Upcoming Committee Meeting:

House K12 Subcommittee
Tuesday, Jan 30 - 4:30 PM CT

House

K-12 Subcommittee

House Hearing Room II

HB1632 (Rep Bulso)

House Public Services
Tuesday, Jan 30-4:30 PM CT

House

Public Service
Subcommittee

House Hearing Room IV

HB 1828 (Rep Bulso)

TLA Legislation Tracker

TLA Position	Bill Number & Sponsor	Link to Bill Text	Summary	Latest Action	Fiscal Notes / Amendments
New	HJR793 (Rep Jones)	HJR793	Memorials, Recognition - Eddie Weeks, legislative librarian -	Intro., placed on H. consent cal. for 1/25/2024
New	SJR 835 (Sen Jackson)	SJR 835	General Assembly, Confirmation of Appointment - Dr. Cherrye Robertson, Textbook and Instructional Materials Quality Commission -	Introduced, Passed on First Consideration
New	HB 1828 (Rep Bulso) / SB 1822 (Sen Rose)	HB 1828 (Rep Bulso) / SB 1822 (Sen Rose)	State Symbols - As introduced, designates as official state books of Tennessee "Farewell Address to the American People" by George Washington; "Democracy in America" by Alexis de Tocqueville; "Aitken Bible"; "The Papers of Andrew Jackson"; "Roots" by Alex Haley ; "A Death in the Family" by James Agee; "All the King's Men" by Robert Penn Warren; "American Lion" by Jon Meacham; "The Civil War: A Narrative" by Shelby Foote; and "Coat of Many Colors" by Dolly Parton; requires the secretary of state to list the books in the Tennessee Blue Book. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 1, Part 3.	House Action: Placed on s/c cal Public Service Subcommittee for 1/30/2024 Senate Action: Introduced, Passed on First Consideration	Fiscal Note
Under Review	HB1661 (Rep Ragan)	HB1661	As introduced, enacts the "Restricted Access by Minors to Obscene Library Materials Act." - Amends TCA Title 10, Chapter 1 and Title 10, Chapter 3.	House Action: Assigned to s/c Departments & Agencies Subcommittee
Under Review	SB1643 (Sen Pody)	SB1643	As introduced, requires commercial entities that publish or distribute material on an internet website, more than one-third of which is sexual material harmful to minors, to verify that an individual attempting to access the material is 18 years of age or older; prohibits a commercial entity or a third party that performs the age verification from retaining any identifying information of the individual. - Amends TCA Title 37; Title 47, Chapter 18 and Title 68.	Senate Action: Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Commerce and Labor Committee
Under Review	HB1632 (Rep Bulso) / SB1858 (Sen Haile)	HB1632	As introduced, gives a parent of a child who attends, or who is eligible to attend, a school operated by a local education agency or a public charter school standing to file a civil action against the LEA or public charter school in a chancery court of competent jurisdiction to enforce the Age-Appropriate Materials Act of 2022. - Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 6, Part 38	House Action: Placed on s/c cal K-12 Subcommittee for 1/30/2024 Senate Action: Introduced, Passed on First Consideration	Fiscal Note
Watch	SB1717 (Sen Hensley) / HB1730 (HB1730)	SB1717 / HB1730	As introduced, requires all written driver license examinations to be administered in English only; prohibits use of a translation dictionary, electronic device, or interpreter to assist with the examination. - Amends TCA Title 55, Chapter 50, Part 3.	House Action: Assigned to s/c Transportation Subcommittee Senate Action: Filed for introduction
Under Review	HB1614 (Rep Hazlewood) / SB 1792 (Massey)	HB1614 /SB1792	As introduced, enacts the "Protect Tennessee Minors Act"; requires an individual or commercial entity that publishes or distributes in this state a website that contains a substantial portion of material harmful to minors perform reasonable age-verification methods to verify the age of individuals attempting to access the material; specifies that a violation of age-verification or data retention requirements is a Class C felony. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17 and Title 47.	House Action: Assigned to s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee Senate Action: Introduced, Passed on First Consideration
Under Review	SB620 (Sen Pody) / HB1414 (Rep Todd)	SB620 / HB1414	As introduced, enacts the "Families' Rights and Responsibilities Act," which declares that the ability of a parent to direct the upbringing, education, health care, and mental health of that parent’s child is a fundamental right. - Amends TCA Title 36 and Title 49.	House Action: Assigned to s/c Children & Family Affairs Subcommittee Senate Action: Action deferred in Senate Judiciary Committee to 2/6/2024
Oppose - Still ongoing from Year 1	HB0843 (Rep Lynn) SB1060 (Sen Hensley)	Amendment makes the bill	Makes changes to the Age Appropriate 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
Support	SJR0806	SJR0806	Willetta Grady, Exceptional Service Award	Senate Action: Concurred, Ayes 92, Nays 0, PNV 0
Taken off notice - Watch	HB 1377 (Rep. Ragan) / SB 1141 (Sen Hensley)	HB 1377 / SB 1141	Local Education Agencies - As introduced, creates a process by which certain individuals may file a complaint with an LEA or public charter school for the LEA's or public charter school's including or promoting certain prohibited concepts as part of a course of instruction, in a curriculum or instructional program, or by allowing teachers or other employees to use supplemental materials that include or promote certain prohibited concepts. - Amends TCA Section 49-6-1019.	House Action: Taken off notice for cal. in Education Administration	Fiscal Notes

Thanks,

Andrea