Valerie Chandler 3/8/19 Valerie Chandler 3/8/19

2019 Updated Legislative Priority List

Post Conviction Relief for Survivors of Human Trafficking (Expungement)

HB193/SB577 - Expunction

This bill permits an eligible survivor of human trafficking to have multiple, nonviolent convictions for offenses that resulted from his/her status as a victim of human trafficking expunged, easing access to basic necessities like employment, education, and housing. (Aligns with Poverty & Opportunity, Violence & Safety, and Employment & Earnings measures from 49 to One report.)

Update: HB - Assigned to Constitutional Protections and Sentencing subcommittee; SB - Assigned to Judiciary

Partner Organizations’ Proactive Legislative Priorities

Intimate Partner Violence Emergency Screening - led by AWAKE

HB682/SB826 - Health Care

This bill requires facilities that employ licensed healthcare providers and deliver emergency care to patients to adopt protocols requiring training in the detection and treatment of victims of domestic abuse, sexual assault, and human trafficking; it also provides immunity from liability for the failure to detect, identify, or refer victims to local resources. (Aligns with Violence & Safety and Health & Wellness measures from 49 to One report.)

Update: HB - Assigned to Facilities, Licensure, & Regulations subcommittee; SB - Assigned to Health & Wellness

Handgun Permit Surrender by Domestic Violence Offenders - led by AWAKE

HB1447/SB865 - Domestic Violence

This bill requires a handgun carry permit holder convicted of domestic assault to surrender the permit to the court within 48 hours of conviction to be forwarded to the department of safety for revocation. Currently offenders are asked to transfer possession of guns only. (Aligns with Violence & Safety measures from 49 to One report.)

Update: HB - Assigned to Constitutional Protections and Sentencing subcommittee; SB:Scheduled in Judiciary for March 12

Pregnancy Workers Fairness Act - led by A Better Balance

HB986/SB758 - Employees/Employers

This bill prohibits public employers from discriminating against applicants and employees with pregnancy-related conditions by not providing them with reasonable accommodations. (Aligns with Work & Family measures from 49 to One report.)

Update: HB - scheduled in Employee Affairs subcommittee for March 12; SB: Assigned to Commerce & Labor

Improving the Health Outcomes of Incarcerated Women and Their Pregnancies - led by Healthy & Free Tennessee

HB1240/SB1150 - Prisons and Reformatory Institutions

This bill restricts the use of physical restraints on pregnant inmates, requires regular prenatal and postpartum medical care for pregnant inmates, and prohibits the use of solitary confinement for pregnant inmates and inmates who have given birth within the past eight weeks. (Aligns with both Health & Wellness and Reproductive Rights measures from 49 to One report.)

Update: HB - Assigned to Corrections subcommittee; SB - Assigned to State & Local Government

Maintaining Past Gains

Ending Child Marriage in Tennessee

HB189/SB1376 - Marriage

This is simply a clean-up bill clarifying the definition of parent in the 2018 legislation eliminating child marriage and removing obsolete language about the marriage of minors from the code.

Update: HB - Passed as filed; SB - recommended for pass, sent to Calendar Committee

Combating Suicide in Tennessee

HB159/SB1465 - Health Care

As introduced, extends the Suicide Prevention Act of 2018 indefinitely; requires the department of health to compile data on the medications that were prescribed to those dying from suicide; requires that a report be made to the health committee of the house of representatives and the health and welfare committee of the senate no later than June 30, 2020, and by June 30 every two years thereafter.

Update: HB - Scheduled in Health Committee March 12; SB - Assigned to Health & Welfare

Supporting Victims of Human Trafficking

HB397/SB447 - Public Funds and Financing

As introduced, establishes a victims of human trafficking fund in the state treasury to provide comprehensive treatment and support services to victims of human trafficking.

Update: HB - Assigned to Criminal Justice subcommittee; SB - Assigned to General Subcommittee of Judiciary

49 to One Strategic Priorities

Firearms Restrictions for Offenders

HB1119/SB1415 - Firearms and Ammunition

As introduced, creates a Class A misdemeanor of possessing a firearm if a person has a prior conviction of stalking. This was the number one priority issue in our 2018 Advocacy survey. (Aligns with Violence and Safety measures from 49 to One Report.)

Update: HB - Assigned to Constitutional Protections & Sentencing subcommittee; SB - Assigned to Judiciary

HB1224/SB1025 - Domestic Violence

This bill requires the court to order that a defendant convicted of domestic violence who transfers possession of firearms to a third party must have the third party complete and return to the court an affidavit certifying that the third party is not prohibited from possessing firearms, acknowledges receipt of firearms from the defendant, and accepts their responsibility under this section. This was our Voices priority issue. (Aligns with Violence and Safety measures from 49 to One report.)

Update: HB - Scheduled inConstitutional Protections & Sentencing subcommittee March 13; SB - Scheduled in Judiciary March 12

Sexual Harassment Protections for Contract Workers

HB387/SB380 - Employees,Employers

This bill makes it a discriminatory practice for a person who is paying a non-employee for labor or services to engage in harassment of the non-employee because of the non-employee's sex; holds such persons liable for the actions of their employees in engaging in such harassment under certain circumstances. (Aligns with both the Employment and Earnings and Violence and Safety measures from 49 to One report.) (Follow also: HB81/SB986.)

Update: HB - Assigned to Employee Affairs subcommittee; SB - Assigned to Commerce & Labor.

Sexual Harassment in Tennessee Government

HB594/SB1262 - Tort Liability and Reform

This bill declares settlement agreement provisions that have purpose or effect of concealing details relating to claim of sexual harassment or sexual assault as void and unenforceable and contrary to public policy of this state if settlement agreement is entered into by governmental entity; maintains confidentiality of victim's identity. (Aligns with Violence and Safety measures from 49 to One report.)

Update: HB - Sent back to Civil Justice Subcommittee March 12; SB - Assigned to Judiciary

Equal Pay for Tennessee Women

HB216/SB255 - Sex Discrimination

This bill forbids discrimination by an employer on the basis of sex by paying any employee a wage rate less than than that paid to any employee of the opposite sex for comparable work, performance, skill and responsibility in similar working conditions. (Aligns with both the Employment & Earnings and Poverty & Opportunity measures from 49 to One report.)

Update: HB - Assigned to Employee Affairs subcommittee; SB - Assigned to Commerce & Labor.

Family Leave Legislation

HB514/SB647 - Employees, Employers

As introduced, enacts the "Tennessee State Family Leave Act." (Aligns with Work & Family measures from 49 to One report.)

Update: HB - Assigned to Employee Affairs subcommittee; SB assigned to Commerce & Labor.

Preventing Suspension of Drivers Licenses

HB839/SB1143 - Driver Licenses

This bill prevents suspension of a driver license for failure to pay fines or costs imposed for a driving offense if the person is indigent or enters into payment plan; requires person be issued restricted driver license until moneys owed the court are fully paid. (Aligns with Poverty and Opportunity measures from 49 to One report.)

Update: HB - Scheduled in Safety & Funding subcommittee March 12; SB - Assigned to Transportation & Safety

Childcare Expenses for Candidates for Public Office

HB7/SB86 - Campaigns and Campaign Finance

This bill authorizes the use of campaign funds for the child care expenditures of a candidate that are incurred by the candidate as a direct result of the candidate's participation in campaign-related events and activities. (Aligns with both Work & Family and Political Participation measures from 49 to One report.)

Update: HB - Rescheduled in Elections and Campaign Finance subcommittee 13 March; SB - Scheduled in State and Local Government 19 March

Restrictions on Public Vaping

HB97/SB26 - Tobacco, Tobacco Products

This bill limits the places in which one may use vapor products. (Aligns with Health & Wellness measures from the 49 to One report.)

Update: HB - Assigned to Public Health subcommittee; SB - Passed.

Additional Priority

Removing Statutes of Limitations on Child Sexual Assault Victims

HB286/SB368 - Statutes of Limitation and Repose

This bill removes the statute of limitations for prosecution of certain Class A or Class B felony sex offenses committed against a child on or after July 1, 2019, and deletes a provision that sets a lower statute of limitations for aggravated rape, rape of a child, rape, and aggravated rape of a child if notice of the offense is not given to law enforcement within three years of the offense. (Follow also HB285/SB18; HB112/SB592; HB140/SB1131; HB660/SB545; HB1035/SB954.)

Update: HB - Currently off notice in Criminal Justice subcommittee.; SB - Sent to Calendar to Schedule Final Floor Vote

Limiting Firearms Possession for At Risk Individuals

HB754/SB1402 - Firearms and Ammunition

This bill prohibits certain persons voluntarily admitted to a mental health treatment facility from possessing a firearm.

Update: HB - Currently off notice in Constitutional Protections & Sentencing; SB - Assigned to Judiciary

Valerie Chandler 2/28/19 Valerie Chandler 2/28/19

2019 Updated Legislative Priorities List

Women’s Fund’s Proactive Legislative Priority

Post Conviction Relief for Survivors of Human Trafficking (Expungement)

HB193/SB577 - Expunction

Update: HB - Assigned to Constitutional Protections and Sentencing subcommittee; SB - Assigned to Judiciary

Partner Organizations’ Proactive Legislative Priorities

Intimate Partner Violence Emergency Screening - led by AWAKE

HB682/SB826 - Health Care

Update: HB - Assigned to Facilities, Licensure, & Regulations subcommittee; SB - Assigned to Health & Wellness

Handgun Permit Surrender by Domestic Violence Offenders - led by AWAKE

HB1447/SB865 - Domestic Violence

Update: HB - Assigned to Constitutional Protections and Sentencing subcommittee; SB: Assigned to Judiciary

Pregnancy Workers Fairness Act - led by A Better Balance

HB986/SB758 - Employees/Employers

Update: HB - currently off notice in Employee Affairs subcommittee; SB: Assigned to Commerce & Labor

Improving the Health Outcomes of Incarcerated Women and Their Pregnancies - led by Healthy & Free Tennessee

HB1240/SB1150 - Prisons and Reformatory Institutions

Update: HB - Assigned to Corrections subcommittee; SB - Assigned to State & Local Government

Maintaining Past Gains

Ending Child Marriage in Tennessee

HB189/SB1376 - Marriage

This is simply a clean-up bill clarifying the definition of parent in the 2018 legislation eliminating child marriage and removing obsolete language about the marriage of minors from the code.

Update: HB - scheduled for Floor vote on 7 March; SB - Scheduled in Judiciary 5 March

Combating Suicide in Tennessee

HB159/SB1465 - Health Care

Update: HB - Scheduled in Mental Health and Substance Abuse subcommittee 6 March; SB - Assigned to Health & Welfare

Supporting Victims of Human Trafficking

HB397/SB447 - Public Funds and Financing

As introduced, establishes a victims of human trafficking fund in the state treasury to provide comprehensive treatment and support services to victims of human trafficking.

Update: HB - Assigned to Criminal Justice subcommittee; SB - Scheduled in Judiciary 5 March

49 to One Strategic Priorities

Firearms Restrictions for Offenders

HB1119/SB1415 - Firearms and Ammunition

Update: HB - Assigned to Constitutional Protections & Sentencing subcommittee; SB - Assigned to Judiciary

HB1224/SB1025 - Domestic Violence

Update: HB - Assigned to Constitutional Protections & Sentencing subcommittee; SB - Assigned to Judiciary

Sexual Harassment Protections for Contract Workers

HB387/SB380 - Employees,Employers

Update: HB - Assigned to Employee Affairs subcommittee; SB - Assigned to Commerce & Labor.

Sexual Harassment in Tennessee Government

HB594/SB1262 - Tort Liability and Reform

Update: HB - Scheduled in Judiciary 6 March; SB - Assigned to Judiciary

Equal Pay for Tennessee Women

HB216/SB255 - Sex Discrimination

Update: HB - Assigned to Employee Affairs subcommittee; SB - Assigned to Commerce & Labor.

Family Leave Legislation

HB514/SB647 - Employees, Employers

As introduced, enacts the "Tennessee State Family Leave Act." (Aligns with Work & Family measures from 49 to One report.)

Update: HB - Assigned to Employee Affairs subcommittee; SB assigned to Commerce & Labor.

Preventing Suspension of Drivers Licenses

HB839/SB1143 - Driver Licenses

Update: HB - Assigned to Safety & Funding subcommittee; SB - Assigned to Transportation & Safety

Childcare Expenses for Candidates for Public Office

HB7/SB86 - Campaigns and Campaign Finance

Update: HB - Rescheduled in Elections and Campaign Finance subcommittee 13 March; SB - Scheduled in State and Local Government 19 March

Restrictions on Public Vaping

HB97/SB26 - Tobacco, Tobacco Products

This bill limits the places in which one may use vapor products. (Aligns with Health & Wellness measures from the 49 to One report.)

Update: HB - Assigned to Public Health subcommittee; SB - Sent to Calendar to Schedule Final Floor Vote.

Additional Priority

Removing Statutes of Limitations on Child Sexual Assault Victims

HB286/SB368 - Statutes of Limitation and Repose

Update: HB - Currently off notice in Criminal Justice subcommittee.; SB - Sent to Calendar to Schedule Final Floor Vote

Limiting Firearms Possession for At Risk Individuals

HB754/SB1402 - Firearms and Ammunition

This bill prohibits certain persons voluntarily admitted to a mental health treatment facility from possessing a firearm.

Update: HB - Scheduled in Constitutional Protections & Sentencing 6 March; SB - Assigned to Judiciary

Valerie Chandler 2/12/19 Valerie Chandler 2/12/19

Our 2020 Legislative Priorities

2020 Legislative Priorities - Feb 21 Update

Partner Organizations’ Legislative Priorities

Advocate Confidentiality - led by AWAKE

HB2171/SB2742 - Victim’s Rights: This bill prohibits an advocate from disclosing communications received from a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking in a judicial, legislative, or administrative proceeding unless the victim gives express written consent. (Aligns with Violence & Safety measures from 49 to One report and supports our victim advocate partners locally and statewide.)

Update: HB in Criminal Justice subcommittee on 2/25; SB in Senate Judiciary on 2/25

Pregnant Workers Fairness Act - led by A Better Balance

HB2708/SB2520 - Employees/Employers: This bill prohibits employers from discriminating against applicants and employees with pregnancy-related conditions by not providing them with reasonable accommodations. (Aligns with Work & Family measures from 49 to One report.)

Update: HB in Employee Affairs subcommittee on 2/25; SB assigned to Commerce & Labor

Improving the Health Outcomes of Incarcerated Women and Their Pregnancies - led by Healthy & Free Tennessee

HB1651/SB1839 - Prisons and Reformatory Institutions: This bill requires a physician to provide prenatal and postpartum medical care to pregnant prisoners and detainees; requires correctional institutions to provide pregnant prisoners nutritionally appropriate meals and supplemental provisions. (Aligns with both Health & Wellness and Reproductive Rights measures from 49 to One report.)

Update: HB in Correction subcommittee on 2/26; SB assigned to Health & Welfare

Voting Rights Restoration - led by Think Tennessee

HB547/SB589 - Criminal Procedure: This bill restores the voting rights of persons convicted of certain crimes upon receipt of a pardon or completion of any sentence of incarceration, parole, or probation. Among other things, it removes legal/financial obligations as a barrier to voting eligibility. (Aligns with Political Participation measures from 49 to One report.)

Update: HB assigned to Judiciary; SB assigned to Judiciary subcommittee

Maintaining Past Gains

Ending Child Marriage and Forced Marriage in Tennessee

OPPOSE: HB2310/SB2290: This bill deletes the statutes on marriage licensing and ceremonies, effectively rolling back the strides we made to end child marriage and to impose penalties for forced or coerced marriage.

Update: HB assigned to Children & Families subcommittee; SB assigned to Judiciary

Combating Suicide in Tennessee

HB159/SB1465 - Health Care: This bill extends the Suicide Prevention Act of 2018 indefinitely and requires the department of health to compile data on the medications that were prescribed to those dying from suicide. It also includes reporting requirements.

Update: HB assigned to Finance, Ways and Means subcommittee; SB assigned to Finance subcommittee

Supporting Victims of Human Trafficking

HB2093/SB2043 - Children’s Services, Department of: This bill requires the department to publish the guidelines for best practices in identifying and reporting signs of child abuse, child sexual abuse, and human trafficking in which the victim is a child on the department’s website.

Update: HB assigned to Children & Families subcommittee; SB assigned to Judiciary

Streamlining the Rape Kit Process - Priority Bill of Coalition to End DV and SV

HB2191/SB2121 - Sexual Offenses: This bill revises and enacts various provisions regarding the rights of victims of sexually oriented crimes, including decreasing the time period within which a law enforcement agency must submit a sexual assault evidence collection (SAEC) kit to the TBI, requiring the TBI to begin analyzing an SAEC kit within 30 days of receipt, requiring the TBI to create a tracking system for SAEC kits, and prohibiting the use of forensic evidence against the victim in certain circumstances.

Update: HB assigned to Criminal Justice subcommittee; SB assigned to Judiciary

Survivor Victim Relief

FOLLOWING, NO POSITION YET: HB2530/SB2811 - Criminal Procedure: This bill specifies that a trafficking victim filing a petition for expunction must not have been convicted of any federal offenses or offenses in any other state. This was filed as a caption bill, and we are working hard to determine the intended direction of the bill.

Update: HB in Constitutional Protections subcommittee on 2/25; SB assigned to Judiciary

49 to One Strategic Priorities

Eliminating Barriers to Secondary Education

HB379/SB823 - Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation: This bill requires TSAC to promulgate rules designating pregnancy as an approved medical leave of absence for purposes of the Tennessee HOPE scholarship. (Aligns with Poverty and Opportunity measures from 49 to One report.)

Update: HB in Government Operations on 2/24 (already passed Education); SB in Education on 2/26

Firearms Restrictions for Offenders

OPPOSE: HB1662/SB1999 - Firearms and Ammunition: This is a bill that we opposed and stopped (with partners across the state) last session, but it’s back. This bill replaces the firearms surrender affidavit completed by those convicted of domestic violence crimes and instead requires a defendant, prior to entering a guilty plea for a domestic violence offense, to sign a domestic violence offense firearm notification form stating the requirements of lawful dispossession. (Aligns with Violence and Safety measures from 49 to One report.)

Update: HB assigned to Constitutional Protections subcommittee; SB assigned to Judiciary

Equal Pay for Tennessee Women

HB1588/SB1721 - Sex Discrimination: This bill enacts the “Tennessee Pay Equality Act.”

Update: HB assigned to Employee Affairs subcommittee; SB assigned to Commerce & Labor

HB2387/SB1853 - General Assembly, Directed Studies: This bill directs the Tennessee advisory commission on intergovernmental relations to perform a study to determine what disparities persist between equal pay for equal work between men and women of the public sector in this state. (These bills align with both the Employment & Earnings and Poverty & Opportunity measures from 49 to One report.)

Update: HB assigned to Employee Affairs subcommittee; SB assigned to Commerce & Labor

Family Leave Legislation

HB2024/SB1786 - Public Employees : This bill provides paid family and medical leave for state employees and teachers. (Aligns with Work & Family measures from 49 to One report.)

Update: HB assigned to Public Service & Employees subcommittee; SB assigned to State & Local

Advancing Sex Education in Tennessee

HB2434/SB2583 - Education, Curriculum: This bill deletes the family life curriculum that only allows students to receive education on sexual risk avoidance through abstinence and requires each LEA and public charter school that serves any of the grades kindergarten through 12 to provide students with medically accurate, age-appropriate sex education that teaches students about abstinence, contraception, consent, and how to develop healthy relationships and communication skills.

Update: HB assigned to Curriculum subcommittee; SB assigned to Education

HB2527/SB2411 - Education, Curriculum: This bill requires the state board of education to develop standards, and the department of education to develop an aligned curriculum, for instruction on healthy relationships in the lifetime wellness standards.

Update: HB assigned to Curriculum subcommittee; SB assigned to Education

(These bills align with the Reproductive Rights measures from the 49 to One report.)

Additional Priority

HB2509/SB2797 - Public Funds and Financing : This bill adds requirements to the spending, dedicating, or reserve of certain funds from the temporary assistance for needy families (TANF) program by the department of human services and the department of health.

Update: HB assigned to Public Health subcommittee; SB assigned to Health & Welfare

Valerie Chandler 4/25/18 Valerie Chandler 4/25/18

Final Legislative Update of the 110th Tennessee General Assembly

Thank you to everyone who made a phone call, sent a postcard, wrote a letter, visited a legislator, emailed a legislator or spread the word about the important issues that we prioritized this legislative session. This is the final week of the 110th Tennessee General Assembly, and as of this afternoon, all of our priority bills have completed their moves through the House and Senate.

The Women's Fund had three significant wins this year, and we also have a number of bills that were not written into law, but that we anticipate returning to the General Assembly stronger and with greater public awareness next year.

Below is the final update on our priority list organized by 49 to One areas.

POLITICAL PARTICIPATION

HB2372/SB1488 - Election Laws - This bill lengthens the voter registration period to 15 days before an election instead of 30 days before an election. Position: Support

Update: HB2372 was assigned to the Local Government subcommittee and SB1488 was assigned to the general subcommittee of State and Local Government. Neither bill saw movement after committee assignment.

VIOLENCE & SAFETY

HB1984/SB2130 - Sexual Harassment - This bill allows a contract employee to bring a sexual harassment action against the entity to which the person is under contract in certain situations. (Also aligns with the Employment and Earnings measures from 49 to One report.) Position: Support

Update: HB1984 was taken off notice in the Consumer and Human Resource subcommittee on March 14 because it did not have the support to pass this year. We are hopeful it will be reintroduced next year.

EMPLOYMENT & EARNINGS

HB1904/SB1863 - Tennessee Pay Equality Act - This bill forbids discrimination by an employer on the basis of sex by paying any employee a wage rate less than than that paid to any employee of the opposite sex for comparable work, performance, skill and responsibility in similar working conditions. (Also aligns with Poverty & Opportunity measures from 49 to One report.) Position: Support

Update: HB1904 was taken off notice in the Consumer and Human Resource subcommittee on March 14; We do not anticipate any movement for the Tennessee Pay Equality Act this session. This bill likely will be introduced every year until it passes.

HB 1861/SB1769 - Employment Protections for Victims of Domestic Violence - This bill establishes employment protections for people who are victims of domestic abuse or sexual assault to attend court, meet with law enforcement, attend counseling, or find new housing. Position: Support

Update: SB1769 failed in Judiciary Committee.

WORK & FAMILY

HB1985/SB2092 - Pregnancy Workers Fairness Act - This bill prohibits public employers from discriminating against applicants and employees with pregnancy-related conditions by not providing them with reasonable accommodations. Position: Support

Update: HB1985 failed in State Government Committee. We anticipate that it will continue to be introduced each year until it passes.

REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS

HB2164/SB1510 - Family Life Curriculum - This bill requires instruction on the detection, intervention, prevention, and treatment of child sexual abuse as part of a family life curriculum and extends immunity from a cause of action to instructors or organizations providing such instruction. Position: Support

Update: Passed!

HB1506/SB1491 - Infant Mortality Reduction Program Act - This bill enacts the "Infant Mortality Reduction Program Act," which creates a program for the distribution of baby boxes to parents at the birth of their child. Position: Support

Update: HB1506 was taken off notice in the Health subcommittee on March 7; We anticipate this bill being reintroduced next year with a decreased fiscal note and increased public awareness.

HB 2627/SB2185 - Insurance Coverage/Access to contraception - This bill requires all health benefit plans to provide coverage for contraception and other women's preventive health services (Also aligns with Health & Well-Being measures from 49 to One report.) Position: Support

Update: HB2627 failed in the House Insurance and Banking subcommittee.

HEALTH & WELL-BEING

HB1961/SB1949 - Suicide Mortality Review and Prevention Act - In accordance with the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention as issued by the office of the U.S. Surgeon General, this bill forms and implements the recommended state-based suicide mortality reviews to institute the systemic changes needed to decrease suicide mortality. Position: Support

Update: Passed!

ADDITIONAL PRIORITY

Marriage Age Amendment attached to HB2134/SB2268- This amendment restricts marriage to persons 17 years of age or older and restricts the age of the person marrying a 17 year-old to 21 or younger. This amendment also annuls forced or coerced marriages and implements a cause of action against those who forced or coerced a person into marriage. Position: Support

Update: Passed!

Valerie Chandler 4/2/18 Valerie Chandler 4/2/18

Legislative Agenda - Updated April 2, 2018

This TN Legislative Session is winding down quickly, but some bills of interest are still active in committees and moving toward the Floor for votes. The bills listed below are those that the Women’s Fund designated as legislative priorities for this session of the Tennessee General Assembly. Below each bill, we have updated the current progress of the bill in the Senate and House. If you are interested in finding the names and contact information of committee members for each bill, visit the Tennessee General Assembly site.

POLITICAL PARTICIPATION

HB2372/SB1488 - Election Laws - This bill lengthens the voter registration period to 15 days before an election instead of 30 days before an election. Position: Support

HB2372 has been assigned to the Local Government subcommittee; SB1488 has been assigned to the general subcommittee of State and Local Government. Neither bill has seen movement since being assigned to committee.

VIOLENCE & SAFETY

HB1984 was taken off notice in the Consumer and Human Resource subcommittee on March 14 because it did not have the support to pass this year. We are hopeful it will be reintroduced next year.

EMPLOYMENT & EARNINGS

HB1904 was taken off notice in the Consumer and Human Resource subcommittee on March 14; We do not anticipate any movement for the Tennessee Pay Equality Act this session.

SB1769 failed in Judiciary Committee.

WORK & FAMILY

HB1985 failed in State Government Committee.

REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS

Passed!

HB1506 was taken off notice in the Health subcommittee on March 7; We anticipate this bill being reintroduced next year with a decreased fiscal note and increased public awareness.

HB2627 failed in the House Insurance and Banking subcommittee.

HEALTH & WELL-BEING

HB1961 is on the calendar for Finance, Ways, and Means but is currently placed behind the budget; SB1949 was recommended for passage by committees and sent to the Calendar Committee on March 27.

ADDITIONAL PRIORITY

HB2521/SB2548 - Marriage Age - This bill restricts marriage to persons 16 years of age or older by removing age waivers for marriage certificates. Position: Support

UPDATE: HB1785 (minimum marriage age of 18) was amended to include removing all waivers and loopholes that allow children under 18 to be married except in the case of emancipation or the removal of disability of age for 17 year-olds only. The same amendment was added to SB1790 which then failed in the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 27.

ADDITIONAL UPDATE: An amendment was added to SB2268 (a bill about adoption fee transparency) that sets a hard minimum marriage age at 16 and that limits marriages of 16 and 17 year olds to spouses not more than 4 years older. SB2268 passed the Judiciary Committee on March 28 and was sent to the Senate Calendar Committee. HB2134, the companion bill, is on the Civil Justice Committee calendar for April 3, where we anticipate the same amendment will be proposed to be added.

HB2521 is on the Civil Justice subcommittee calendar for April 3; SB2548 was assigned to the Judiciary subcommittee on March 21.