Tennessee legislature: What lawmakers have and haven't done so far in 2025

Yahoo

17-03-2025

It's been eight weeks since Tennessee lawmakers returned to Nashville for this year's legislative session.
Early days of the proceedings were tied up in a special legislative session that focused on a statewide school voucher program, approving some new state funding for victims of Hurricane Helene, and taking new steps toward state immigration enforcement.
With another month, at least, before adjournment, here's what lawmakers have — and have not yet — done on Capitol Hill.
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∎ Offered new protection for victims of unlawful photography: Following advocacy by a group of Nashville women who joined forces after they were secretly filmed by an ex-boyfriend, lawmakers passed the Voyeurism Victims Act, which will extend the statute of limitations in unlawful photography cases, and allow victims to petition for an order of protection. The bill awaits the governor's signature.
∎ Banned cellphones during school instructional time: Lawmakers gave final approval to a bill requiring all Tennessee school districts ban the use of cellphones, laptops, smart watches and other devices during instructional time. It's now on its way to Gov. Bill Lee's desk. While many school districts already have such policies in place, the bill requires each district to develop and implement policies restricting the use of any wireless communication devices during instructional time. Districts are required to allow students to access and use devices in emergency situations so they can contact their parents. The bill also requires districts to make exceptions for students with disabilities and special learning needs.
∎ Approved funding for Helene victims: Lawmakers voted during the special session to establish a disaster emergency response fund and send millions in aid to East Tennessee communities impacted by flooding from Hurricane Helene last year that killed at least 17 Tennesseans. Included in the relief is $100 million for a disaster response program, suspension of unemployment eligibility requirements for impacted residents, and funding to cover 2024 property taxes for residents whose property was destroyed or damaged by the storm. Democrats framed the aid as too little, too late.
∎ A statewide private school voucher program: One of the earliest bills passed this year was a $447 million statewide school choice program, offering state-funded scholarships for children of any income to attend private schools, regardless of where they live. The legislation was a top priority of Lee since he first ran for office, and the administration is working to implement the program in time for the 2025-26 school year.
∎ Created new state immigration enforcement czar, office: During the special legislative session, Republicans passed a bill to establish a new, $5 million central state immigration enforcement office, and change the design for legal resident immigrants' driver's licenses to differentiate them from U.S. citizens. The bill also criminalizes local officials who vote in support of sanctuary policies for immigrants. Records related to the new state office are largely exempt from the state public records statute.
∎ Requiring schools to check students' immigration status: Lawmakers are considering a controversial measure that would allow Tennessee schools to block undocumented children from enrolling, or charge them tuition for public education — a direct effort to challenge U.S. Supreme Court decision Plyler v. Doe. The measure has seen stringent opposition from immigrant rights advocates, who argue that all children deserve to learn, and immigrants without legal status are still fully contributing to school funding through sales tax purchases, since state has no income tax. Proponents have said the bill is aimed at cracking down on 'illegal immigration.'
∎ Making Tennessee driver's license tests English-only: Legislation seeking to require all driver's license tests to be offered in English only — and ban dictionaries and other translation help — is set for hearings in both chambers this week. English is designated as the official language of Tennessee, but there is currently no restriction on offering public documents in other languages. The new bill would also ban the use of aids such translation dictionaries, electronic devices or interpreters during the exams. Currently, written driver's license tests in Tennessee are offered in English, Spanish, German, Korean and Japanese. Driving tests are offered in English only. Immigrant rights groups have denounced the bill as a 'regressive' bill that could compromise road safety.
∎ Making juvenile records of deceased school shooters public: Following the deadly shooting at Antioch High School in Nashville, lawmakers are considering making public the juvenile records of court proceedings, mental health records, and interactions with the Department of Children's Services if a minor commits a school shooting and later dies. A homicide conviction would not be required to make the records public. State law currently requires the records to remain confidential to protect youth offenders, but proponents say making them public in this instance could help identify issues and circumstances that led to the attack ― and inform prevention strategies.
∎ Protecting access for IVF, contraception: After voting down a bill last year to protect access to fertility care and contraceptives amid national tension around in-vitro fertilization, GOP lawmakers are now behind a bill to explicitly clarify that nothing in state law prohibits access to fertility treatments or contraception, and individuals have a right to engage in both. Legal implications of Tennessee's abortion ban on continued access to contraception and IVF care arose following a controversial Alabama Supreme Court ruling last year that offered frozen embryos created through in-vitro fertilization the same rights as fully-developed children.
∎ Excluding soda, candy from SNAP: Lawmakers are considering seeking federal approval to exclude candy and soft drinks from Tennessee's food aid program, following initiatives of the Trump administration in an effort to 'Make America Healthy Again.' Soda is one of the most frequently bought commodities in the SNAP program nationwide, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and about 11% of dollars nationwide are used to purchase sweetened beverages and candy alone. There were more than 702,000 participants in Tennessee's SNAP program last year. House Republicans approved the bill earlier this month, and it is set to be considered in a Senate committee this week.
∎ Requiring overnight school facilities to segregate based on biological sex: A bill seeking to require residential educational programs to segregate restrooms and locker rooms based on 'immutable biological sex' is set for a final House vote this week, and will likely see a final vote in the Senate as well. Sponsor Rep. Gino Bulso, R-Brentwood, says the bill is an effort to protect girls' privacy. Democrats have framed the measure as an attack on the LGBTQ+ community. State law already bars transgender students from accessing sex-based multi-use restrooms and changing facilities, instead requiring schools to offer another 'reasonable accommodation' to transgender students and school staff.
∎ Instituting a 10% vape tax: A bill imposing restrictions on what vape products can be sold in Tennessee – and a 10% sales tax on such products – is quickly moving forward. The bill would require FDA approval before products like vape pens, vape molds, cig-a-likes, and pod mods are sold. An estimated 400,000 people in Tennessee regularly use vaping devices, and Tennessee is one of about 20 states that does not currently tax such products. The bill sponsor says it's an effort to curb the sale of illegal and potentially dangerous Chinese vape products. But vape shop owners say it's an attack on their industry backed by big tobacco.
∎ Renaming BNA "Trump International Airport": A bill seeking to rename Nashville International Airport after President Donald Trump is moving forward again after stalling due to concern over a $10.3 million price tag. The legislation is up for hearings in both chambers this week.
∎ Establishing a $25 million farmland conservation fund: Legislation backed by the governor seeking to establish a $25 million fund to offer financial incentives for farmers who voluntarily place their land into a privately-managed conservation easement has passed the Senate, and is awaiting consideration in the House. The bill easily passed the House last year. Tennessee loses about 10 acres of farmland every hour to development. The fund is aimed at offering an alternative to farmers facing unpredictable markets and pressure to sell their land.
∎ The state budget: With state revenues flattening this year, lawmakers will face some tough spending choices as they consider the state budget. Lee's $58.4 billion budget proposal includes $1 billion in one-time spending to chip away at the state's $30 billion in outstanding road projects, funding for 100 more state trooper positions, $579.3 million in new funding for public schools, and no new tax cuts or tax holidays for consumers.
Melissa Brown contributed.
Vivian Jones covers state government and politics for The Tennessean. Reach her at [e-mail].
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee General Assembly: What lawmakers have done so far in 2025