The WCDP Legislative Committee will post periodic updates about significant pieces of legislation and reporting on how the Williamson County delegation members vote. If you would like to learn more about how bills become laws in Tennessee, visit the General Assembly website. 

If you have strong feelings about any of these bills, positive or negative, we encourage you to Contact your Legislator, or write a letter to the Editor of The Tennessean or The Williamson Herald. We can all take action to create change in Tennessee. 

Call to Action for the week of March 1-5, 2021

We urge everyone to take action by contacting committee members about these bills, even if they are not your Representative or Senator. This document compiled by Indivisible TN District 7 includes sample scripts and the email addresses of the legislators. Did you know you can watch House and Senate committee hearings? You can view the livestream on the TN General Assembly website.

Monday Senate Floor Vote

SJR002, which proposes a TN Constitutional Amendment to make a Tennessee a “Right to Work for Less” state. Labor unions across the state oppose this initiative and the TN AFL-CIO has an email campaign for you to contact your legislators. Learn more about the racist roots of “Right to Work” laws and why we should all oppose them.

SB228 discriminates against transgender student-athletes. The Tennessee Equality Project opposes the bill and has an email campaign to help you contact your Senator.

Tuesday hearings

HB0010 would allow people to object to vaccinations, immunizations, or other medical procedures on religious grounds at all times including a pandemic. 

HJR0010 would recognize racism as a public health threat.

HB0667 allows commercial, industrial & multi-family property owners to finance energy efficiency & renewable energy improvements through property tax payments. This bill is a step forward for energy efficiency and is supported by the TN League of Conservation Voters.   

SB0153 would prevent governmental agencies from taking adverse action against people based on a positive urine test for THC. Creates a presumption that a parent/guardian who gives hemp product to a child in a form other than smoking, is not an act of abuse or neglect. This bill is supported by the ACLU of Tennessee.

SB0765 the "Permitless Carry" bill would allow people to carry firearms without obtaining a state carry permit. This bill is opposed by Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense, TN Association of Chiefs of Police and TN Sheriff’s Association. Moms Demand has an email campaign to help you contact your legislators.

Wednesday hearings

HB0578 would prohibit sexual identity change therapy for pre-pubescent minors and punishes violations as child abuse by parents/guardians and professional misconduct by medical professionals. The Tennessee Equality Project opposes the bill and has an email campaign to help you contact legislators.

SB0914 would require school districts to provide voter registration forms to students who are eligible to vote.

HB0597 would allow college students to use college IDs as voter ID and removes requirement that a person who registers to vote by mail must vote in person when voting for the first time.

HB0374 filed by Rep. Glen Casada requires members of a community oversight board to complete local police citizen’s academy within 6 months and removes authority of the board until all members have completed training.

SB0230 enacts the “Teacher’s Discipline Act” and creates a process for teachers to request a student be removed from classroom based on behavior. This bill could have unintended consequences for students with disabilities and students of color.

SB0415 enacts the “Keep Kids in Schools Act” and tries to counteract the “Teacher’s Discipline Act” by requiring the TN Dept. of Education to issue guidance & recommendations on developing a school discipline policy and requires local school boards to adopt discipline policies that align with TN Dept. of Ed guidance.

HB0018 & HB0786 are the House versions of the “Permitless Carry” bill and would allow people to carry firearms without obtaining a state carry permit. This bill is opposed by Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense, TN Association of Chiefs of Police and TN Sheriff’s Association.

HB0001 would allow a defendant sentenced with the death penalty to petition the court to determine ineligibility for death penalty due to intellectual disability.

HB0047 enacts the “Good Samaritan Sentencing Enhancement Act," which provides that a defendant convicted of first degree murder is eligible for the death penalty if the victim was rendering assistance to a person in need at the time of their death.

Legislation to follow

The Good