Legislative Update, March 17, 2018

Tennessee General Assembly information, click HERE. For information on State Senators, including phone numbers and email addresses, click HERE; for House members, click HERE. For information on legislation, click HERE.
Don't forget that you can now watch the Senate committee meetings and floor sessions online by going HERE; House committee meetings and floor sessions online HERE.
Phone calls can go to the legislative Switchboard at 615-741-3011 or to the Toll Free number 1-800-449-8366+1 last four digits of office phone number (available online).

 

"We must reject the idea that every time a law's broken, society is guilty rather than the lawbreaker. It is time to restore the American precept that each individual is accountable for his actions." Ronald Reagan

FOR YOUR PRAYER LIST: 
Rep. Mary Littleton continues to recuperate. Please continue to pray that her recovery is quick and uneventful.  Sen. Reggie Tate lost his mother this week.  Please remember that family.  One is never ready to lose their momma. I know that all too well. Some of the Committees are shutting down now, which means that the pace of work will pick up and things will become even more hectic. Wisdom, patience, clarity and understanding are needed. 


JONATHAN'S CORNER:
The day began at full speed. As soon as we were there, Mrs. Bobbie rushed off to the offices of several legislators to make sure they had all the necessary paperwork. With our bills up that morning, it was important that everyone be on the same page. We had to double check amendments and find missing items. All that culminated in a rather unhappy ending. The website with the amendments on it conveniently crashed during committee and thus the bills were rolled until next week. On the plus side, the issues with them seem to be resolved. During lunch, we talked about how the House and the Senate resolve the differences between similar bills, and about the Governor's veto power. Finally, we watched an interesting committee where some legislators had a pointless discussion over a bill that no one opposed. A bill protecting the life of the unborn passed anticlimactically with no debate. This was one of the most rushed days so far


LUKE'S CORNER:
This week with the internship was quite interesting. We went to many different committee meetings. Miss Bobbie's bills were unfortunately pushed one more week. We talked about the process of the committee meeting and I learned a lot about the specifics of it. We met with many different people to talk about her bills. My favorite part throughout the day was definitely the committee meetings and all I learned from them and just how precise and complicated it is.


LAURABETH'S CORNER:
Here we go again -- HB 1749 by Faison, or it's more notable name, the Medical Marijuana bill, was rolled to next week! Every time we think we're going to listen in on it, it always gets passed on without us knowing! Even though we didn't get to listen to the bill, the Criminal Justice committee was the most fun we had on Wednesday! We've been keeping an eye on several bills concerning immigration and had to watch HB 2552 by White get deferred to summer study. Still, the other committees weren't too boring! HB 1885 by Moody seems to be going on the right path, thanks to the Finance, Ways & Means subcommittee! And in Civil Justice, we listened to HB 1785 by Jernigan, HB 1940 by Ragan, and HB 2620 by Holt, all of which garnered incredbly interesting conversations! I absolutely adore listening to the committees speak on these important topics, and while watching representatives and senators go back and forth on the language of a bill might not be that interesting to most people, it certainly is to me! It's always a blessing to spend the day with Ms. Bobbie, and I can't wait to see what happens next!


I know this Update is going to look a lot like the last two weeks' updates, but we are in the time of the session when we 'hurry up and wait' while the legislative 'sausage' is being made.  The key is not to grow weary and give up
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9.

QUICK REFRESHER COURSE:  When contacting legislators, ALWAYS be gracious, respectful and pleasant.  No matter how passionate one is about an issue, rude, demanding behavior is never acceptable nor is it effective.  A word to the wise!!!!
It isn't good to have zeal without knowledge; nor being hasty with one's feet and missing the way. Proverbs 19:2
 

NO IN-STATE TUITION FOR ILLEGALS:
SB 2263 by *Gardenhire, HB 2429 by *White M
Education, Higher - As introduced, exempts certain students from paying out-of-state tuition at state institutions of higher education
NOTE: This has been a multi-year battle that so far, opponents have won, but we need to be as faithful and persistent at the proponents.
In-state college tuition for illegal aliens will give benefits to adult or nearly-adult individuals over the age of 18 (I was married at that age) whose parents are also illegal aliens. This is not a bill that just gives benefits to "youngsters". Taxpayers will pay the difference.
Remember, whatever you legalize you get more of.  Since no other state around TN offers instate tuition for illegal aliens, if this bill passes TN will become a magnet for illegals.

A 1996 Federal law mandates that if instate rates are given to illegals, those rates must also be given to all applicants of each state's colleges and universities from the other 49 states. Although the law is not actively enforced, giving in-state tuition to illegal aliens is a clear violation of federal law. It is fundamentally unfair to students from out-of-state who are U.S. citizens
Providing In-State Tuition for Illegal Aliens: A Violation of Federal Law

STATUS:  HB2429 was in the Education Administration and Planning subcommittee on Tuesday, with four of the six members present: Harry Brooks, John DeBerry, Mark White, and Dawn White. With the room filled with illegal aliens, HB2429 was voted out of that committee withONE NO vote, that of Rep. Dawn White. That action moved it to the full Education Administration and Planning Committee, but it is not on next week's calender.
HOWEVER, SB2263 IS scheduled in the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday.
ACTION:  This newest effort to break federal law and make Tennessee a magnet for illegals can be STOPPED.  PLEASE click on the link above, then on the picture for contact info and politely (See number 2 above) urge the members to vote NO on this bill.

Education Subcommittee Passes In-State Tuition for Illegals Bill That Dismantles Public Benefits Law on Voice Vote with No Discussion

State Rep. Mark White Continues to Mislead Legislators on His In-State Tuition Bills

STOPPING IN-STATE TUITION FOR THE FUTURE:
SB 2031 by *Green, HB 2101 by *Terry , WHITE D
Education, Higher - As introduced, adds any postsecondary education benefit for which payments or assistance are provided by, or appropriated by funds of, any state or local governmental entity, and any use of money provided to the state through taxes, to the definition of "state or local public benefit" in the Eligibility Verification for Entitlements Act

Among other things, this bill extends present law verification procedures for persons applying for a state or local public benefit to persons receiving a postsecondary education benefit, or any other use of tax revenue. It also extends the present law definition of "state or local public benefit" to include any postsecondary education benefit for which assistance or payments are provided. Such benefits will include, but not be limited to, any tuition at a rate below an out-of-state tuition rate as defined by rules promulgated by the board of regents, a state university board, or the University of Tennessee. This bill also extends the definition to any other use of tax revenue.
STATUS: SB2031 is in Senate Education Committee calendar for Wednesday; HB2101 is in Education Administration & Planning Subcommittee On Tuesday.
ACTION: Please click on the committee links, then the pictures, and contact the members of both committees POLITELY asking them to vote YES on this bill. It may have a hard time especially in the house, so please be faithful. (Remember, this is the same committee that passed Rep. White's bill this week.)

 

UNFORTUNATELY - when we got in committee with both the bills below, the members' computer 'dashboard' was not working which meant that they didn't have access to the amendments to read, discuss, and understand.  Therefore, both bills had to be postponed yet once again.  No wonder I have wrinkles and gray hair!!

ALERT: ANTI-SANCTUARY CITY BILL:
SB 2332 by *Green , Bell, Ketron, Roberts, Pody, Southerland, Bowling, Jackson, HB 2315 by *Reedy, Terry, Sexton J, Moody, Rogers, Hill M, Goins, Eldridge, Byrd, Matheny
Immigration - As introduced, prohibits state and local governmental entities and officials from adopting sanctuary policies; authorizes Tennessee residents and members of the general assembly to submit complaints to the attorney general; provides that violations subject entities to ineligibility of state moneys; requires law enforcement agencies to enter into memorandums of agreement with federal officials concerning enforcement of federal immigration laws


The Fiscal Burden of Illegal Immigration on Tennessee

The Fiscal Burden of Illegal Immigration on the United State Taxpayers

Border Patrol: California sanctuary laws obstruct public safety, law enforcement

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE GO HERE: NO SANCTUARY CITIES


 ALERT: NO MUNICIPAL IDs:
SB 2333 by *Green, Bell, HB 2312 by *Lamberth, Casada, Hill M, Holt
Public Officials - As introduced, prohibits the use of consular identification cards, and other similar documents not authorized by the general assembly for use for identification purposes, for determining a person's identity or residency by an official or employee of the state or any political subdivision of the state; prohibits local governments and law enforcement agencies from establishing the acceptability of any such cards or documents.

Chicago ID Card can be Used by Noncitizens to Register to Vote? 

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE GO HERE: NO MUNICIPAL IDs

STATUS:  Both SB2332 and SB2333 are in Senate State and Local Government Committee on Tuesday
Both HB2315 and HB2312 are  in the House State Government Subcommittee.
ACTION: Please especially contact (click on link and then picture) the members of the House State Government Committee. Rep. Mary Littleton may not be back and we must have three votes to move this, widely supported, very important bill out to full committee.



REALLY UNFUNDING PLANNED PARENTHOOD:
SB 2148 by *Bell, Gardenhire, Bowling, Hensley, Haile, Bailey, Southerland, Jackson, Pody, Niceley, Yager, Ketron, Stevens, Swann, Watson, Gresham, Crowe, Green, Johnson, Kelsey, Roberts, Briggs, Lundberg, Massey
HB 2251 by *Matlock, Harwell, Gant, Hill T, Moody, Crawford, Byrd, Carr , Rogers, Keisling, Sexton J, Boyd, Tillis, Zachary, Lynn, Eldridge, Rudd, Terry, Weaver, Whitson, Vaughan, White D, Lamberth
TennCare - As introduced, establishes that it is the policy of the state to avoid the use of state funds to promote or support elective abortions; instructs the commissioner of finance and administration to seek a waiver from the federal centers for medicare and medicaid services to require the exclusion of a provider from the TennCare program if inclusion of the provider in the program would result in the direct or indirect use of state funds to promote or support abortion.
STATUS:  SB2148 was in the Senate Health and Welfare Committee where it passed 7-1:   Senators voting aye were: Haile, Hensley, Jackson, Massey, Swann, Watson, Crowe -- 7. Senators voting no were: Kyle -- 1.

HB2251 - I am so please to report that, on Monday evening, under the committed leadership of Rep. Jimmy Matlock, this bill passed the House floor Representatives 71-17.
Representatives Voting aye were: Alexander, Boyd, Brooks H., Brooks K., Butt, Byrd, Calfee, Carr, Carter, Casada, Coley, Crawford, Curcio, Daniel, Doss, Dunn, Eldridge, Faison, Farmer, Forgety, Gant, Goins, Gravitt, Halford, Hawk, Hazlewood, Hicks, Hill M., Hill T., Holsclaw, Holt, Howell, Hulsey, Johnson, Kane, Keisling, Kumar, Lamberth, Lollar, Lynn, Marsh, Matheny, Matlock, McCormick, McDaniel, Moody, Moon, Powers, Ragan, Ramsey, Reedy, Rogers, Rudd, Sanderson, Sargent, Sexton C., Sherrell, Sparks, Terry, Tillis, Travis, Van Huss, Vaughan, Weaver, White D., White M., Whitson, Windle, Wirgau, Zachary, Madame Speaker Harwell -- 71.
          Representatives voting no were: Beck, Camper, Clemmons, Cooper, Favors, Fitzhugh, Hardaway, Jernigan, Jones, Love, Miller, Mitchell, Parkinson, Powell, Shaw, Staples, Stewart -- 17.
House approves bill seeking to defund clinics that offer abortions in Tennessee
 

Speakers retaliate against California: No state-paid travel to NCSL convention

State revenue: A bit below budget in February; year-to-date take shows $181M surplus

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