Hi all -
Lunchtime update! Session is winding down but there are still bills related to libraries working their way through the legislature. Fun fact for today for those not reading fiscal notes ---  the fiscal note for SB1858 states between January 1 and August 31, 2023, there were 181 titles challenged across LEAs in Tennessee! 
HB1661 (Rep Ragan) - Last week, it seemed like the library petition bill was dead, but there's still some activity happening. The bill was advanced in the House State Government Committee as the sponsor claimed they were not aware that the companion bill was sent to Summer Study on the Senate side.  What will happen next is anyone's guess as typically once a bill gets sent to summer study in one chamber it doesn't advance in the other. HB1661 is moving to the Government Operations Committee next week - and there is a twist - the bill's sponsor is the Chair of the committee.

Monday, March 18th
1:30 PM CT		 House Government Operations Committee Click to view Meeting Agenda House Hearing Room I Click to view Video

HB0843 (Rep Lynn) will make its way to the House again. This bill changes the procedures for reconsideration and also lists a number of items that are not allowed in school libraries. Based on discussion in the Senate - classic literature or the bible are all up for interpretation. 
SB1858 (Sen Haile) to allow for civil lawsuits for not following the Age-Appropriate Materials Act of 2022was delayed another week. It does look to be amended on the Senate side to only give standing to students, parents, staff of a school district. Since the Age-Appropriate Materials Act of 2022 has gone into effect, it was modified last year by HB 0663/SB0966and  HB0843 proposes additional changes.  

Wednesday, March 20th
2:00 PM CT		 Senate Senate Education Committee Click to view Meeting Agenda Senate Hearing Room I Click to view Video

HB1614 (Rep Hazlewood)  to require age verification of websites that have over 1/3 of content that would be harmful to minors is still moving forward. 

Tuesday, March 19th
12:00 PM CT		 House Criminal Justice Subcommittee Click to view Meeting Agenda House Hearing Room II Click to view Video

TNLA Legislative Tracker 
TLA Position Bill Number & Sponsor Link to Bill Text Summary Latest Action Fiscal Notes / Amendments
Deferred to Summer Study but still moving forward in the House HB1661 (Rep Ragan)/ SB2173 (Sen Hensley) HB1661 / SB2173 -- Link to 2/28 Amendment 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:Placed on cal. Government Operations Committee for 3/18/2024 Senate Action: Deferred to Summer Study Fiscal Note
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: H. Placed on Message Calendar for 3/14/2024 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: Action deferred in Senate Education Committee to 3/20/2024 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. Calendar & Rules Committee for 3/14/2024 Senate Action: Action deferred in Senate Judiciary Committee to 3/19/2024 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:Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Criminal Justice Committee Senate Action: Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 8, Nays 0 PNV 0 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 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: Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 5, Nays 3 PNV 0 Fiscal Note -- Videos
Upcoming Library Events:
April 2 - 4 - TNLA Annual Conference
April 9 - Library Legislative Day
April 13 - March for Libraries 

Thanks,

Andrea