TSWA ALL-STATE HONORS
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HEADLINE HOMES TOP SALES
JANUARY 23, 2025 | VOLUME 37 | NUMBER 2
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The Tennessee House of Representatives on the first day of the 2025 session
Protesters gathered at the Tennessee State Capitol
PHOTO: HAMILTON MATTHEW MASTERS
PHOTO: HAMILTON MATTHEW MASTERS
114th Tennessee General Assembly gavels in Gov. Lee declares special session on education NICOLLE S. PRAINO
The first day of the 114th Tennessee General Assembly was called to order at noon on Jan. 14. As expected, the Republican supermajority selected House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville) and Lt. Gov. Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge) to retain their posts leading their respective chambers. In the Senate, Democrats all abstained from the vote to elect McNally, who also chose not to vote for himself, as speaker of the Senate. In the House, Democrats put forth Minority Leader Karen Camper (D-Memphis) to oppose Sexton’s nomination. The vote fell along party lines, electing Sexton as speaker by a vote of 75 to 23. Each body also passed all the bills that have been filed up to this point on first consideration. More than 100 bills have been filed in both the House and the Senate. The most notable part of the day came
during the Special House Rules Committee meeting, during which several updates to rules were passed along party lines. Only three of the committee’s 11 members are Democrats. Leader Camper suggested two rule changes that were both voted down by the Republican majority. Democratic Caucus Chair John Ray Clemmons (D-Nashville) also submitted several rule changes, which were all voted down as well. The majority of the committee meeting was spent discussing potential rule changes submitted by Rep. Justin Jones (D-Nashville). Despite the discussion, Republicans voted against all of Jones’ changes, which would have included prohibiting firearms in committee meeting rooms and allowing representatives to use visual aids, as well as prohibiting the speaker from restricting public access to the gallery by way of a ticket policy.
The meeting came to an end after the committee passed a package of rule changes, with Democrats voting against, submitted by Rep. Johnny Garrett (R-Goodlettsville). Those changes include reducing the limit on how many bills a representative may submit from 15 to 12 in the first half of the session and to 10 in the second half of the session. Committee chairs will be allowed an additional five, and subcommittee chairs will have an additional two. Another change to the House rules includes the ability for the speaker to remove an unruly person from the gallery and prevent them from returning that day as well as the following legislative day, and gives the option to prevent them from returning for the entire session. SPECIAL SESSION CALLED As expected, Gov. Bill Lee announced on Jan. 15 that he will call a special session
to begin on Jan. 27 related to his Education Freedom Act, otherwise known as the school voucher bill. Lee says in a release that he will also introduce a legislative package for disaster relief to address recovery in East Tennessee following Hurricane Helene. That package will also address preparation for future natural disasters, but there are no further details at this time. Citing a request from President-Elect Donald Trump’s incoming administration that states prepare immigration policy, Lee says the session will also include legislation for public safety measures around immigration. The release includes a joint statement from Gov. Lee, Lt. Gov. McNally, House Speaker Sexton, Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson (R-Franklin) and House Majority Leader William Lamberth (R-Portland). It reads as follows: >> PAGE 2
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