Our 2020 Legislative Priorities
Below are the bills that the Women’s Fund has designated as legislative priorities for this session of the Tennessee General Assembly. This list includes bills that touch on 49 to One report priority areas, as well as some that continue the work that the Women’s Fund has prioritized in previous years (Maintaining Past Gains). This year’s list also includes a number of bills that are being led by our partner organizations across the state - if we want to move Tennessee from 49 to One, it’s going to require the collaborative efforts of all of the women working so hard to improve lives in Tennessee. This list of bills certainly doesn’t include every bill impacting women and girls in our state, so we will be watching all of the action in our legislature and providing updates to keep you informed about what you can do to make progress for women in our state. As always, if you have any questions or if you want to join our efforts to move Tennessee from 49 to One in the Status of Women, please reach out - we’d love to meet you!
2020 Legislative Priorities - Feb 10 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.)
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.)
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 assigned to Correction subcommittee; 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.
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.
Survivor Victim Relief
FOLLOW: 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.
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 on Education calendar Feb. 12; SB assigned to Education
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: 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: 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.
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.
(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.
Updated Legislative Priority List
Women’s Fund’s Proactive Legislative Priority
Post Conviction Relief for Survivors of Human Trafficking (Expungement)
HB193 (Carter)/SB577 (Gardenhire) - 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: PASSED
Partner Organizations’ Proactive Legislative Priorities
Intimate Partner Violence Emergency Screening - led by AWAKE
HB682 (Helton)/SB826 (Akbari) - 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: deferred to 2020 session
Handgun Permit Surrender by Domestic Violence Offenders - led by AWAKE
HB1447 (Moody)/SB865 (Bowling) - 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: FAILED in Senate
Pregnant Workers Fairness Act - led by A Better Balance
HB986 (Shaw)/SB758 (Yarbro) - Employees/Employers
The original intent of this bill prohibits employers from discriminating against applicants and employees with pregnancy-related conditions by not providing them with reasonable accommodations. It has since been amended to weaken the bill beyond what would protect women. We will still follow this bill, but we will advocate for the bill below. (Aligns with Work & Family measures from 49 to One report.)
Update: HB: taken off notice until 2020
HB978 (Cooper)/SB57 (Gilmore) - Public Employees
This bill is a Pregnant Workers Fairness Act directed at public employers. We will pursue calls to action on this bill as it/ if it moves through committee.
Update: HB: taken off notice until 2020
Improving the Health Outcomes of Incarcerated Women and Their Pregnancies - led by Healthy & Free Tennessee
HB1240 (Camper)/SB1150 (Akbari)- 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: FAILED in House.
Maintaining Past Gains
Ending Child Marriage in Tennessee
HB189 (Carter)/SB1376 (Yager)
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: PASSED
Combating Suicide in Tennessee
HB159 (Sexton)/SB1465 (Bailey)
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: moved to first calendar of 2020; SB: Finance, Ways, & Means on April 23
Supporting Victims of Human Trafficking
HB397 (Moody)/SB447 (Bell)
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: Floor Vote April 22; SB: PASSED.
49 to One Strategic Priorities
Firearms Restrictions for Offenders
HB1119 (Freeman)/SB1415 (Jackson) - 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: deferred to 2020
HB1224 (Potts)/SB1025 (Yarbro) - 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: FAILED in Senate
Sexual Harassment Protections for Contract Workers
HB387 (Freeman)/SB380 (Yarbro) - 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 pushed to summer study; nothing will happen before 2020.
HB81 (Johnson)/SB986 (Gilmore) has very similar intentions, also off notice until 2020.
Sexual Harassment in Tennessee Government
HB594 (Beck)/SB1262 (Gresham)- 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: PASSED; SB: Judiciary April 23
Equal Pay for Tennessee Women
HB216 (Clemmons)/SB255 (Kyle)- 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: FAILED
Family Leave Legislation
HB514 (Johnson)/SB647 (Kyle)- Employees, Employers
As introduced, enacts the "Tennessee State Family Leave Act." (Aligns with Work & Family measures from 49 to One report.)
Update: HB: FAILED
Preventing Suspension of Drivers Licenses
HB839 (Lamberth)/SB1143 (Akbari)- 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: PASSED; SB: Finance, Ways, & Means April 23
Childcare Expenses for Candidates for Public Office
HB7 (Powell)/SB86 (Akbari) - 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: FAILED
Restrictions on Public Vaping
HB97 (Howell)/SB26 (Gardenhire) - 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: PASSED
Additional Priority
Removing Statutes of Limitations on Child Sexual Assault Victims
HB286 (Coley)/SB368 (Massey) - was absorbed into HB565 (Dunn)/SB1252 (Gresham) - now following
This bill extends civil and criminal statutes of limitation for certain acts of abuse against minors and increases the penalty for intentional failure to report child sexual abuse.
Update: HB: Finance, Ways, & Means April 23; SB: sent to Calendar for final vote
Limiting Firearms Possession for At Risk Individuals
HB754 (Smith)/SB1402 (Bell)- Firearms and Ammunition
This bill has been significantly amended, but we are still in strong support of this legislation. As amended, this bill prohibits the transfer of a firearm to a person who is mentally ill or in treatment as required for being a danger to oneself or to others.
Update: HB: PASSED; SB: Judiciary April 23
A New Month and an Updated Priority List
Women’s Fund’s Proactive Legislative Priority
Post Conviction Relief for Survivors of Human Trafficking (Expungement)
HB193 (Carter)/SB577 (Gardenhire) - 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 - passed committee, sent to Calendar; SB - PASSED
Partner Organizations’ Proactive Legislative Priorities
Intimate Partner Violence Emergency Screening - led by AWAKE
HB682 (Helton)/SB826 (Akbari) - 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 & Welfare
Handgun Permit Surrender by Domestic Violence Offenders - led by AWAKE
HB1447 (Moody)/SB865 (Bowling) - 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 & Sentencing subcommittee; SB: in Judiciary Tuesday, April 2
Pregnant Workers Fairness Act - led by A Better Balance
HB986 (Shaw)/SB758 (Yarbro) - Employees/Employers
The original intent of this bill prohibits employers from discriminating against applicants and employees with pregnancy-related conditions by not providing them with reasonable accommodations. It has since been amended to weaken the bill beyond what would protect women. We will still follow this bill, but we will advocate for the bill below. (Aligns with Work & Family measures from 49 to One report.)
Update: HB: taken off notice; SB: assigned to Commerce & Labor
HB978 (Cooper)/SB57 (Gilmore) - Public Employees
This bill is a Pregnant Workers Fairness Act directed at public employers. We will pursue calls to action on this bill as it/ if it moves through committee.
Update: HB: in Public Service & Employees subcommittee Wednesday, April 3; SB: assigned to State & Local Government
Improving the Health Outcomes of Incarcerated Women and Their Pregnancies - led by Healthy & Free Tennessee
HB1240 (Camper)/SB1150 (Akbari)- 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: in Corrections subcommittee Tuesday, April 2; SB: in State & Local Government Tuesday, April 2.
Maintaining Past Gains
Ending Child Marriage in Tennessee
HB189 (Carter)/SB1376 (Yager)
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: PASSED
Combating Suicide in Tennessee
HB159 (Sexton)/SB1465 (Bailey)
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: passed Health, forwarded to Finance, Ways, & Means; SB: passed Health, sent to Finance, Ways, & Means
Supporting Victims of Human Trafficking
HB397 (Moody)/SB447 (Bell)
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: in Judiciary Wednesday, April 3; SB: final vote Monday, April 1.
49 to One Strategic Priorities
Firearms Restrictions for Offenders
HB1119 (Freeman)/SB1415 (Jackson) - 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; SB: assigned to Judiciary
HB1224 (Potts)/SB1025 (Yarbro) - 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: FAILED in Senate
Sexual Harassment Protections for Contract Workers
HB387 (Freeman)/SB380 (Yarbro) - 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 pushed to summer study; nothing will happen this year with this particular bill
Following HB81 (Johnson)/SB986 (Gilmore) for the rest of this session - it has very similar intentions
Sexual Harassment in Tennessee Government
HB594 (Beck)/SB1262 (Gresham)- 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: Floor Vote Monday, April 1; SB: assigned to Judiciary
Equal Pay for Tennessee Women
HB216 (Clemmons)/SB255 (Kyle)- 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: FAILED
Family Leave Legislation
HB514 (Johnson)/SB647 (Kyle)- Employees, Employers
As introduced, enacts the "Tennessee State Family Leave Act." (Aligns with Work & Family measures from 49 to One report.)
Update: HB: FAILED
Preventing Suspension of Drivers Licenses
HB839 (Lamberth)/SB1143 (Akbari)- 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: in Finance, Ways, & Means Wednesday, April 3; SB: in Transportation & Safety Wednesday, April 3
Childcare Expenses for Candidates for Public Office
HB7 (Powell)/SB86 (Akbari) - 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: FAILED
Restrictions on Public Vaping
HB97 (Howell)/SB26 (Gardenhire) - 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: final vote Thursday, April 4; SB: PASSED
Additional Priority
Removing Statutes of Limitations on Child Sexual Assault Victims
HB286 (Coley)/SB368 (Massey) - was absorbed into HB565 (Dunn)/SB1252 (Gresham) - now following
This bill extends civil and criminal statutes of limitation for certain acts of abuse against minors and increases the penalty for intentional failure to report child sexual abuse.
Update: HB: in Finance, Ways, & Means Wednesday, April3; SB: passed Committee, sent to Calendar for final vote
Limiting Firearms Possession for At Risk Individuals
HB754 (Smith)/SB1402 (Bell)- Firearms and Ammunition
This bill has been significantly amended, but we are still in strong support of this legislation. As amended, this bill prohibits the transfer of a firearm to a person who is mentally ill or in treatment as required for being a danger to oneself or to others.
Update: HB: passed committee, sent to Calendar; SB: assigned to Judiciary
2019 Legislative Priorities Update!
Women’s Fund’s Proactive Legislative Priority
Post Conviction Relief for Survivors of Human Trafficking (Expungement)
HB193 (Carter)/SB577 (Gardenhire) - 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 - passed subcommittee, in Judiciary Tuesday, March 26 or Wednesday, March 27; SB - passed committee, Final vote today, Monday, March 25
Partner Organizations’ Proactive Legislative Priorities
Intimate Partner Violence Emergency Screening - led by AWAKE
HB682 (Helton)/SB826 (Akbari) - 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 & Welfare
Handgun Permit Surrender by Domestic Violence Offenders - led by AWAKE
HB1447 (Moody)/SB865 (Bowling) - 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 & Sentencing subcommittee; SB: in Judiciary Tuesday, March 26
Pregnant Workers Fairness Act - led by A Better Balance
HB986 (Shaw)/SB758 (Yarbro) - Employees/Employers
The original intent of this bill prohibits employers from discriminating against applicants and employees with pregnancy-related conditions by not providing them with reasonable accommodations. It has since been amended to weaken the bill beyond what would protect women. We will still follow this bill, but we will advocate for the bill below. (Aligns with Work & Family measures from 49 to One report.)
Update: HB: in Consumer & Human Resources today, Monday, March 25; SB: assigned to Commerce & Labor
HB978 (Cooper)/SB57 (Gilmore) - Public Employees
This bill is a Pregnant Workers Fairness Act directed at public employers. We will pursue calls to action on this bill as it/ if it moves through committee.
Improving the Health Outcomes of Incarcerated Women and Their Pregnancies - led by Healthy & Free Tennessee
HB1240 (Camper)/SB1150 (Akbari)- 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: in State & Local Government Tuesday, March 26.
Maintaining Past Gains
Ending Child Marriage in Tennessee
HB189 (Carter)/SB1376 (Yager)
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: PASSED
Combating Suicide in Tennessee
HB159 (Sexton)/SB1465 (Bailey)
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: passed subcommittee, in Health Tuesday, March 26; SB passed Health, sent to Finance, Ways, & Means
Supporting Victims of Human Trafficking
HB397 (Moody)/SB447 (Bell)
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: in Criminal Justice subcommittee Wednesday, March 27; SB: in Judiciary Tuesday, March 26
49 to One Strategic Priorities
Firearms Restrictions for Offenders
HB1119 (Freeman)/SB1415 (Jackson) - 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; SB: assigned to Judiciary
HB1224 (Potts)/SB1025 (Yarbro) - 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: in Constitutional Protections & Sentencing Wednesday, March 27; SB: in Judiciary Tuesday, March 26
Sexual Harassment Protections for Contract Workers
HB387 (Freeman)/SB380 (Yarbro) - 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 pushed to summer study; nothing will happen this year with this particular bill
Following HB81 (Johnson)/SB986 (Gilmore) for the rest of this session - it has very similar intentions
Sexual Harassment in Tennessee Government
HB594 (Beck)/SB1262 (Gresham)- 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: passed committee, sent to Calendar; SB: assigned to Judiciary
Equal Pay for Tennessee Women
HB216 (Clemmons)/SB255 (Kyle)- 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: FAILED
Family Leave Legislation
HB514 (Johnson)/SB647 (Kyle)- Employees, Employers
As introduced, enacts the "Tennessee State Family Leave Act." (Aligns with Work & Family measures from 49 to One report.)
Update: HB: FAILED
Preventing Suspension of Drivers Licenses
HB839 (Lamberth)/SB1143 (Akbari)- 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: in Transportation Tuesday, March 26; SB: in Transportation & Safety Wednesday, March 27
Childcare Expenses for Candidates for Public Office
HB7 (Powell)/SB86 (Akbari) - 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: FAILED
Restrictions on Public Vaping
HB97 (Howell)/SB26 (Gardenhire) - 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: in Health Tuesday, March 26; SB: PASSED
Additional Priority
Removing Statutes of Limitations on Child Sexual Assault Victims
HB286 (Coley)/SB368 (Massey) - was absorbed into HB565 (Dunn)/SB1252 (Gresham) - now following
This bill extends civil and criminal statutes of limitation for certain acts of abuse against minors and increases the penalty for intentional failure to report child sexual abuse.
Update: HB: in Judiciary Tuesday, March 26; SB: passed Committee, sent to Calendar for final vote
Limiting Firearms Possession for At Risk Individuals
HB754 (Smith)/SB1402 (Bell)- Firearms and Ammunition
This bill has been significantly amended, but we are still in strong support of this legislation. As amended, this bill prohibits the transfer of a firearm to a person who is mentally ill or in treatment as required for being a danger to oneself or to others.
Update: HB: in Judiciary Tuesday, March 26 or Wednesday, March 27; SB: assigned to Judiciary
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 - Scheduled in Constitutional Protections and Sentencing subcommittee - March 20; SB - Scheduled in Judiciary - March 19
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 26
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 19; 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: PASSED
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 26; SB - Scheduled in Health & Welfare March 20
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 26
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 - Scheduled in Employee Affairs subcommittee March 19; 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 - Scheduled in Judiciary March 20; 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 - Scheduled in Employee Affairs subcommittee March 19; 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 - Scheduled in Employee Affairs subcommittee March 19; 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 Transportation Committee March 19; SB - Scheduled in Transportation & Safety March 20
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: FAILED in House Subcommittee
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 - Scheduled in Public Health subcommittee March 20; 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 - Scheduled in Criminal Justice subcommittee March 20.; 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 March 20; SB - Assigned to Judiciary