Last week the bill (SB1229/HB529), allowing parents to opt their children out of school curriculum that addresses sexual orientation and gender identity, passed the House and is now being prepared for the Governor to sign. You can contact Governor Lee at (615) 741-2001 and leave a message urging him to veto the bill. This week several bills in the Slate of Hate toward the LGBTQ will be voted on and heard in the Senate. You can use the email campaign from the Tennessee Equality Project to speak out about these bills.

This document compiled by Indivisible TN includes email addresses and sample scripts to help you contact legislators. Contacting legislators who sit on committees is sometimes the best way to stop bad bills while helping good bills move forward. 

Monday Floor Votes, 4/19

HB928 – Enacts the “Tennessee Second Amendment Sanctuary Act” declaring any rule, executive order, or regulation of the U.S. government that violates the federal second amendment null, void, and unenforceable in the state and prohibits state government from using public resources to enforce, administer, or cooperate with the federal rule, executive order, or regulation.

HB1181 – Requires abortion providers to dispose of aborted fetal remains through burial or cremation.

HB1233 – Requires schools to accommodate students who don’t want to use same-sex restrooms/locker rooms. Stigmatizes transgender students by separating them from other students in unequal facilities.

SB915 - Prevents city & local governments from challenging constitutionality of state legislation in court.

SB1380 - Requires law enforcement agencies to develop use of force policies; prohibits magistrates from issuing no-knock warrants.

Tuesday Hearings, 4/20

HJR72 - Proposes "Right to Work" constitutional amendment. House Finance, Ways, and Means Committee

SB3 – Enacts the “Fair Maps Act” which establishes nonpartisan process for redistricting congressional and general assembly districts. Senate Judiciary Committee

SB350 - Amendment to bill creates "Defense of Liberty Act" which creates the position of Solicitor General, elected by state legislature, who will represent the state in federal court, not the Attorney General. Senate Judiciary Committee

SB457 – requires that members of a community oversight board complete the local police force's citizen academy course within six months of beginning service on the board; removes authority from the board until all members have complied. (House version filed by Glen Casada & has passed). Senate Judiciary Committee

SB557 - Prohibits TN from enacting federal gun reforms if they are against state law. Senate Judiciary Committee

SB647 – Restores right of suffrage if a person pays the full amount of restitution owed to a victim. Senate Judiciary Committee

SB821 - Creates the TN violence intervention program to fund evidence-based community violence interruption initiatives. Senate Judiciary Committee

SB843 – Targets protestors by Increasing penalty for obstructing a highway to a Class E felony; creates the offense of throwing an object at someone during a riot; creates the offense of intimidating or harassing someone during a riot. Senate Judiciary Committee

SB1224 – Requires businesses that provide unisex bathrooms to post signs at entrance to building. Senate Judiciary Committee

SB1370 - Establishes a fetus at any gestational age as a “person” and “person” is deemed to be conceived at the moment of fertilization. Senate Judiciary Committee

Wednesday Hearings, 4/21

HB44 - Funds social worker positions through the BEP at a ratio of one per 1,500 or fewer students. House Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee

HB413 – Decriminalizes possession and casual exchange of less than 1 ounce of marijuana. House Criminal Justice Subcommittee

HB506 - Amendment to bill creates "Defense of Liberty Act" which creates the position of Solicitor General, elected by state legislature, who will represent the state in federal court, not the Attorney General. House Civil Justice Committee

HB899 - Creates a civil action against any gov't entity, official, employee or agent that violates a person's right to bear arms; such a violation may be prosecuted as official oppression. House Civil Justice Committee

HB1001 – Requires the BEP formula to fund a full-time school counselor for every 250 students. House Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee

HB1143 - Increases, from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony, the penalty for a third or subsequent conviction of driving on a license that is canceled, suspended, or revoked. Could target minority and immigrant communities and disenfranchise voters. House Criminal Justice Committee

HB1388 - Deletes criminal offense prohibiting a person from carrying a firearm with the intent to go armed. House Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee

HB1393 – Restores right of suffrage if a person pays the full amount of restitution owed to a victim. House Criminal Justice Subcommittee

SB1402 – Amendment to bill cuts the number of weeks unemployment benefits are paid to 12 weeks when the unemployment rate is 5.5% or less. Senate Commerce and Labor Committee

SB136 - Enacts the "CROWN Act: Create a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair" to define race and protective hairstyle for purposes of the Tennessee Human Rights Act. Senate Commerce and Labor Committee