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Hi all -

Last week, the library petition bill SB2173 (Sen Hensley) and the sexual content in school libraries (SB2107 (Sen Pody)) bill were sent to summer study in the Senate Education Committee. That means those bills cannot move forward in the Senate. There may be meetings scheduled this summer/fall by the Senate Education Committee to discuss these bills but they will need to be reintroduced next session. 
HB843 continues to move forward - prohibits certain materials in school library collections this speeds up the reconsideration process. Due to a clerical error, it will need to go through the house for approval one more time. Links to Bill Language and Fiscal Note
SB1858 (Sen Haile) allowing for civil lawsuits for not following the Age Appropriate Materials Act looks like it will be amended to only include parents/teachers/students in the district based on last week's amendment packet - Item 13. Make sure you and your administrators know the process and are following it! 
Some bills to keep watching -- HB1614 (Rep Hazlewood) "Protect Tennessee Minors Act" is moving to committee - may require age verification on websites with "harmful to minor" content.  The ebook pricing bill SB2161 (Sen Yarbro) / HB2737 (Rep Hemmer) finally has a fiscal note so let's see if it gets scheduled before the end of session! 
Otherwise the session is wrapping up. This is when sneaky bills pop up - over 600 pages of amendments today -  so if you hear anything, please let me know! 
TNLA Legislative 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 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: Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen. Senate Action: Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 22, Nays 4 Companion House Bill substituted Fiscal Note to Amendment
Oppose 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: Placed behind the budget Senate Action: Placed on Senate Education Committee calendar for 3/13/2024 Fiscal Note Video from Committees
Support 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 Fiscal Note
Under Review 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: Placed on cal. Criminal Justice Committee for 3/12/2024 Senate Action: Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/11/2024 Fiscal Note
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:Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/12/2024 Senate Action:Placed on Senate Commerce and Labor Committee calendar for 3/12/2024 Fiscal Note
Under Review 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. Transmitted to Governor for his action. Fiscal Note
Under Review 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 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: Placed on s/c cal Banking & Consumer Affairs Subcommittee for 3/12/2024 Senate Action: Placed on Senate Commerce and Labor Committee calendar for 3/12/2024 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: Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen. Senate Action: Passed on First Consideration Fiscal Note
Under Review HB 1828 (Rep Bulso) / SB 1822 (Sen Rose) HA0543 Amendment 1-0 to HB1828 Fiscal Memo for HA0543 (11965) 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: Passed H., as am., Ayes 73, Nays 18, PNV 4 Senate Action: Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/12/2024 Fiscal Note -- Videos
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:Action deferred in Senate Transportation and Safety Committee to 3/13/2024

 

Thanks,

Andrea