House Supports Resolution Calling For New Ad Hoc Task Force On Education
This week, House lawmakers supported a Joint Resolution that creates a new Ad Hoc Task Force on Education.
This House-led initiative — in partnership with the Governor and the Senate Speaker — will focus on untying the hands of our educators, students, and schools in efforts to solidify Tennessee’s future.
Under House Joint Resolution 394, the task force will study and evaluate the overall effectiveness and necessity of state testing practices, curriculum, and other mandated academic policies and procedures that are currently imposed upon our school boards, school directors, principals, teachers, students, and their parents. This will improve overall education outcomes and enhance Tennessee’s future economic standing.
I am the prime sponsor of this resolution and I look forward to doing what I can to help reduce the burden placed on our teachers and administrators in our public schools that prevents them from effectively educating every student to their full potential. This week in committee I expressed that it is my desire to take a 30,000 foot look at the testing and mandates that the state sends down to our local LEA’s.
The Ad Hoc Task Force on Education will include members of the Governor’s Cabinet as appointed by the Governor, as well as members of both the House and Senate as appointed by the Speakers. Tennessee educators, school administrators, and parents will also be chosen to participate by the Governor, the Lt. Governor, and the House Speaker as they see fit.
Tennessee has made remarkable progress improving education over the past decade. Because of strategic and record-breaking Republican-led investments, our students are now the fastest improving in the entire nation across math, reading, and science. Last year, we also achieved the best high school graduation rates ever — 89.1 percent.
The creation of this important task force is another example of the House’s commitment to education and strong desire to lead. It is imperative that we build upon our recent successes in the areas of career readiness and aptitude for our K-12 students, and this task force gives us that opportunity.
Three More Bills Passed on the House Floor
Today, I was able to successfully pass three more bills that I was sponsoring on the House floor.
HB 496 passed with a vote of 96-0. As introduced, this bill creates exemptions to licensure and certification requirements, as applicable, for certain health professionals who are participating in federal Innovative Readiness Training programs.
HB 1032 passed with a vote of 97-0. With certain exceptions, this bill requires a court of the state of Tennessee to recognize a foreign-country judgment to the extent that the judgment grants or denies recovery of a sum of money and that, under the law of the foreign country where rendered, is final, conclusive, and enforceable. However, this bill will not apply to a foreign-country judgment, even if the judgment grants or denies recovery of a sum of money, to the extent that the judgment is a judgment for taxes; a fine or other penalty; or a judgment for divorce, support, or maintenance, or other judgment rendered in connection with domestic relations. A party seeking recognition of a foreign-country judgment will have the burden of establishing that this bill applies to the foreign-country judgment.
HB 1514 passed with a vote of 96-0. Subject to local approval, this bill moves date of election for mayor and aldermen of the City of Ripley from April to the first Thursday in August at the regular general election.
Republican-Led Bill Promoting Civics Education Passes House
Republican lawmakers passed House Bill 944 recognizing Tennessee’s public schools and school districts that implement high-quality civic education because it is essential to preserving our constitutional democracy.
In partnership with the Secretary of State’s office, this initiative seeks to promote efforts to increase access to quality civics education, while also recognizing our schools for their excellence in civics education.
Standards established by this legislation include instructional criteria, professional development for teachers, project-based assessment implementation, real-world learning activities, and high-performance on Tennessee’s mandated exam for our high school seniors.
This legislation will have an incredible impact on our current and future leaders, and House Republicans will continue to support legislation that strengthens the academic foundations of our students.
Republican Lawmakers Pass Legislation To Protect Tennessee’s Elections From Fraud
Legislation to protect Tennessee’s elections from fraud and abuse passed the House of Representatives with strong support this week.
House Bill 1079 requires a person or organization that plans to conduct a registration drive attempting to collect 100 or more voter registration forms and pays individuals to collect the voter registration forms to register with the Coordinator of Elections and receive training prior to conducting drives.
This measure makes intentional violations a Class A misdemeanor for each offense on an individual or an organization that fails to adhere to new requirements under the measure. It also allows the State Election Commission to assess civil penalties to persons/organizations submitting a high number of deficient forms.
As amended, House Bill 1079 only applies to a person or organization that pays individuals to collect voter registration forms. The bill would not apply to individuals or organizations that collect forms using unpaid volunteers, such as the Boy Scouts, churches, or college student government associations.
It is important for every Tennessean to vote, but we must ensure voter registration is done in a responsible and lawful manner. This bill will ensure applications are timely filed and our election process is not compromised.
Republican Lawmakers Create Balance Within Community Oversight Boards
This week, House Republicans strengthened House Bill 658 by adopting a recent Conference Committee amendment that gives community oversight boards subpoena power through their local legislative body.
As amended, the local legislative body must vote in support of a community oversight board’s subpoena request. Additionally, the subpoena may not be issued in the form of a blanket authorization; it must specify each document to be produced or witness to testify and cannot be issued for confidential documents.
House Bill 658 balances both the interests of our citizens to voice their opinion while also protecting the fundamental rights of officers and their families from malicious or politically focused persecution.
Community oversight boards have existed since the 1950s, and there are presently no guidelines outlined in Tennessee state law that defines how they are created, who can serve on them, and what their specific function is.
This important initiative provides much needed structure to all current and future community oversight boards in Tennessee, which is critical to their overall success, as well as overall safety in Tennessee.
House Republicans Continue To Lead On Criminal Justice Reform
Earlier this week, Republican lawmakers advanced House Bill 839 to ensure accountability and also support rehabilitation efforts for those with a strong desire to work towards prosperity.
This measure creates a statewide payment plan for individuals who submit proof of their inability to pay fines, taxes, or court costs on citations and have had their licenses suspended. This will allow them to obtain restricted drivers licenses so they can work, pursue their education, or attend church.
Additionally, Republican leaders passed House Bill 950, which funds the state’s electronic monitoring indigency fund, which was exhausted last year. The measure adds $1.5 million in new funding and creates a state and county matching grant program to distribute funds.
These and other initiatives throughout the 111th General Assembly are a small part of a much larger criminal justice reform plan that will create a system of justice tempered with mercy.
Governor Lee Signs Legislation Tossing Gym Tax
This week, the Governor signed legislation that tosses the amusement tax on small gyms.
House Bill 1138 eliminates the amusement tax on small gyms, fitness studios, and similar entities across Tennessee. It levels the playing field for these facilities so they can compete against their larger counterparts, which obtained an exemption from this burdensome regulation in 1986.
Currently, Tennessee ranks in the bottom five states for obesity and fitness. The overall goal of this initiative is to promote a healthier workforce, reduce obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and improve the overall quality of life for the citizens of this state.
Republican lawmakers remain committed to eliminating burdensome regulations on Tennessee’s small businesses, as well as improving the health and well-being for all of our citizens.
Rural Republican Lawmakers Negotiate With Governor To Protect Against Possible Negative ESA Impact
As momentum builds in the House builds for the Governor’s proposed Education Savings Account legislation, rural Republican leaders are taking steps to safeguard their communities from unintended financial consequences related to House Bill 939.
During discussions and negotiations with the Governor, these members were able to include an amendment to House Bill 939 that guarantees the proposed ESA pilot program is strictly limited to just four Tennessee counties — Davidson, Hamilton, Knox, and Shelby Counties and will be capped at 30,000 students. These school districts have been historically recognized in the bottom 10 percent of all schools in the state and across our country.
The House Finance, Ways and Means Committee passed House Bill 939 this week, which will give Tennessee’s poorest children in the worst schools a fighting chance at a high-quality education.
Feds Grant Governor’s Request for Major Disaster Declaration For Flood Relief In 56 Tennessee Counties
The federal government has approved the Governor’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration to make federal recovery assistance available to 56 county jurisdictions impacted by February’s flooding and severe storms.
The following counties are included in this declaration: Bedford, Bledsoe, Blount, Campbell, Carter, Cheatham, Claiborne, Clay, Cocke, Coffee, Decatur, Dekalb, Dickson, Dyer, Fentress, Gibson, Giles, Grainger, Greene, Hamblen, Hamilton, Hancock, Hardin, Hawkins, Hickman, Houston, Humphreys, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Knox, Lake, Lauderdale, Lewis, Lincoln, Marion, Marshall, McNairy, Moore, Morgan, Obion, Overton, Perry, Rhea, Roane, Robertson, Scott, Sequatchie, Sevier, Smith, Tipton, Unicoi, Union, Van Buren, Warren, and Wayne.
The major disaster declaration covers the time period of Feb. 19, to March 30, 2019, and will allow government entities and certain private non-profits in the eligible counties to apply for reimbursement of specific expenses related to the disaster under the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Public Assistance (PA) program.
FEMA is still reviewing Gov. Lee’s initial request to provide assistance in five other Tennessee counties – Decatur, Hardin, Humphreys, Perry, and Sevier – through the Individual Assistance (IA) program.
The February storms impacted 83 of Tennessee’s 95 counties and caused more than $80 million in damages to the state’s transportation network. The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) has executed more than 50 emergency contracts to repair nearly 300 locations in 73 counties. TDOT has received $10 million in federal disaster relief funds and will work with the Federal Highway Administration for reimbursement for costs related to the storms.
Additionally, the Tennessee Department of Agriculture is coordinating with partners to assist farmers experiencing flooding in low-lying areas and river bottomlands, particularly in West Tennessee.
Information about FEMA’s PA program and its eligible reimbursement categories is available by clicking here.
The federal declaration also makes Tennessee eligible for the federal Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, which provides assistance to communities to prevent or reduce long-term risks to life and property from natural hazards.
