LISTSERV 16.5 - TLA-L Archives

Hi all -

Lots of interesting developments in this week's committee sessions.

HB1661 (Rep Ragan) which would have created a community petition process to be used to remove books from public and school libraries was taken off notice. "Taken off notice" usually means there is work to be done on the bill and it won't move forward but there is still a chance it may come back this session. At this time, I am tracking the bill but it is not scheduled for any committees in either chamber.

HB1632 (Rep Bulso) which allowing standing for parents and eligible parents to have the ability to sue over violations of the Age Appropriate Materials moved forward to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee. It is worthwhile to watch the committee videos and read the fiscal note. For reference, here is the Age Appropriate Materials Act of 2022 and its original fiscal note.

For new legislation that we are tracking a number of new bills about Open Meetings in particular HB2348 (Rep Ragan) has implications for meeting room use for publicly funded libraries, schools, and colleges.
There is also a proposed ebook bill under consumer protections - the summary is a little easier to read - https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Billinfo/default.aspx?BillNumber=SB2161&ga=113.

Upcoming Committee Meetings:

Criminal Justice Subcommittee
Tuesday, 2/13
12:00 PM CT

House

Criminal Justice Subcommittee

House Hearing Room II

HB 2159 (Sen Barrett)

Local Government Committee
Tuesday, 2/13
1:30 PM CT

House

Local Government Committee

House Hearing Room I

HB1921 (Rep Lamberth)

State Government Committee
Wednesday, 2/14
10:30 AM CT

House

State Government Committee

House Hearing Room I

HB 1828 (Rep Bulso)

TLA 113th TN General Assembly Tracker

TLA Position	Bill Number & Sponsor	Link to Bill Text	Summary	Latest Action	Fiscal Notes / Amendments
New	HB1921 (Rep Lamberth) / SB 1667 (Sen Johnson)	HB1921 / SB 1667	County Government - As introduced, specifies that the county mayor is not a member of the county commission for purposes of compliance with the Open Meetings Act. - Amends TCA Title 5, Chapter 6, Part 1 and Title 8, Chapter 44.	House Action: Placed on cal. Local Government Committee for 2/13/2024 Senate Action: Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate State and Local Government Committee	Fiscal Note
New	HB2348 (Rep Ragan) / SB 2610 (Sen Rose)	HB2348 / SB2610	Criminal Offenses - As introduced, prohibits an entity supported in whole or in part by public funds from knowingly providing meeting spaces or other forums, including, but not limited to, electronic and print platforms, to a designated entity by which the designated entity may solicit material support, recruit new members, encourage violent action, or advocate divisive concepts; specifies a violation of the prohibition as a Class E felony, punishable only by a fine of up to $3,000. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 13.	House Action: Assigned to s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee Senate Action: Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee	Fiscal Note
New	HB1124 (Rep Sherrell) / SB1331 (Sen Bailey)	HB1124 / SB1331	Open Meetings - As introduced, requires a governing body to provide members of the public the opportunity to comment at a meeting of the governing body if the meeting is open to the public pursuant to the Open Meetings Law and if members of the public give proper notice to the governing body. - Amends TCA Title 8, Chapter 44 and Title 49.	House Action:Assigned to s/c Public Service Subcommittee Senate Action: Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate State and Local Government Committee	Fiscal Note
Under Review	SB2161 (Sen Yarbro) / HB2737 (Rep Hemmer)	SB2161 / HB 2737	Libraries - As introduced, prohibits certain kinds of provisions in contracts and agreements between publishers and libraries related to the licensing of electronic literary materials. - Amends TCA Title 47, Chapter 18.	House Action: Assigned to s/c Departments & Agencies Subcommittee Senate Action: Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Education Committee
Under Review	SB2107 (Sen Pody) / HB2457 (Rep Lynn)	SB2107 / HB 2457	Libraries - As introduced, requires the removal of sexually explicit material from the libraries of public schools; creates a process for evaluating library materials for sexually explicit material in public schools. - Amends TCA Title 49.	House Action: Assigned to s/c K-12 Subcommittee Senate Action:Introduced, Passed on First Consideration
Under Review	SB2042 (Sen Rose) / HB2160 (Rep Barrett)	SB2042 / HB2160	Consumer Protection - As introduced, requires a commercial entity that knowingly publishes or distributes on the internet material harmful to minors to provide internet or cellular service subscribers the opportunity to request that the commercial entity block website access through the subscriber's internet or cellular service subscription. - Amends TCA Title 8, Chapter 6 and Title 47, Chapter 18.	House Action: Assigned to s/c Banking & Consumer Affairs Subcommittee Senate Action: Introduced, Passed on First Consideration	Fiscal Note
Under Review	SB2041 (Sen Rose) / HB 2159 (Sen Barrett)	SB 2041 / HB2159	Obscenity and Pornography - As introduced, specifies that a person or entity that produces, sells, sends, or distributes obscene matter in violation of state law may be held civilly liable for damages to an injured party. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 9.	House Action: Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 2/13/2024 Senate Action: Passed on First Consideration	Fiscal Note
Under Review	SJR 835 (Sen Jackson)	SJR 835	General Assembly, Confirmation of Appointment - Dr. Cherrye Robertson, Textbook and Instructional Materials Quality Commission -	Placed on Senate Consent Calendar 2 for 2/12/2024
Under Review	HB 1828 (Rep Bulso) / SB 1822 (Sen Rose)	HB 1828 / SB 1822	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 cal. State Government Committee for 2/14/2024 Senate Action: Introduced, Passed on First Consideration	Fiscal Note -- Videos
Opppose	HB1632 (Rep Bulso) / SB1858 (Sen Haile)	HB1632 / SB1858	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: Rec. for pass; ref to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee Senate Action: Introduced, Passed on First Consideration	Fiscal Note Video from Committees
Watch	SB1717 (Sen Hensley) / HB1730 (Rep Capley)	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: Introduced, Passed on First Consideration
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 2/27/2024	Fiscal Note
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	HJR793 (Rep Jones)	HJR793	Memorials, Recognition - Eddie Weeks, legislative librarian -	Transmitted to Governor for his action.
Support	SJR0806	SJR0806	Willetta Grady, Exceptional Service Award	Senate Action: Signed by Governor.

Thanks,