Here are the major ways the 2023 Tennessee Legislature has impacted your life

Alexis MarshallWPLN News

Protests pushing for gun control measures surrounded the final weeks of the legislative session.

Tennessee’s 113th General Assembly adjourned Friday after passing a slew of new bills and a $56 billion state budget.

Besides a $3.3 billion transportation plan that will bring toll lanes to the state, lawmakers spent a good amount of session focused on transgender legislation, grabbing power from Nashville’s government and — in a final sprint — ignoring Tennesseans asking for gun reform, though there’s more to come on guns during a forthcoming special session.

At the outset, Gov. Bill Lee vowed to fix Tennessee’s congested and pothole-ridden roads. While that happened, it didn’t hardly get the attention that was expected at the time, as abortion rights and trans health care overshadowed nearly every move.

After those topics receded, and in the wake of the Covenant School shooting, the Democratic push for gun reform rose to the forefront. That included intense waves of protests, including on the House floor, where Republicans ultimately expelled two Democrats.

But even with parents, students and Democrats protesting for changes to gun laws, Republicans had their own plan — strengthening school security.

After Republicans passed a school safety bill — but protests continued — the GOP moved quickly to wrap the session. They passed more than 100 bills before heading back to their districts.

Here are highlights of what was passed.

Education

Lawmakers went into session planning to fix the move they made that will likely hold back many third graders. While they did make some changes, many were upset that updates won’t take effect until next school year. Education reporter Alexis Marshall explains it’s far from an overhaul.
Lawmakers also passed a substantial bill that aims to protect children and staff in schools. The measure includes a mandate for public and private schools to collaborate with state and local law enforcement, additional active shooter drills and $140 million to go toward making sure a school resource officer is in every public school. You can read more about what the measure does here.

Cannabis

Another year goes by with no medical marijuana in Tennessee. But there were attempts made by both Democrats and Republicans to create a medical marijuana system in the state. They all failed early in session.
Lawmakers did approve a regulatory system for Delta-8 THC products. The bill died last year due to session wrapping before it could be voted on by both chambers. But this time around it passed with little resistance. This prior story captures the plan, as no substantial changes were made from the bill that advanced last year. It has yet to be sent or signed by the governor.

LGBTQ

A measure that prevents gender-affirming health care was the first bill signed this session. And it was done so at lightning speed, being signed into law the same day it passed out of the legislature. But before it could take effect, a lawsuit was filed to prevent it from ever doing so.
A bill that restricts drag shows in public spaces, and from taking place in front of minors, was the second measure signed into law this session. The move made headlines across the country as Tennessee became the first state to do so. Now several Republican-led states have started following, including Florida. Before the could take effect, a federal judge blocked it.

Health care

After the trigger bill that bans all abortions in Tennessee took effect, lawmakers and those in the health care field found several issues with it. In an attempt to satisfy concerns, the General Assembly passed a bill that creates explicit exceptions for doctors who perform abortions necessary to save a pregnant person’s life or to prevent serious, irreversible harm. Read more about it here.
In the final days of session a bill that prevents the Department of Children’s Services from giving a child a vaccine without parental consent passed. Advocates for kids in state care worry this could cause children to become vulnerable to diseases if parents have abandoned children, leaving DCS with no way to get the approval for routine vaccines. Read more at this link.

Environment

While the governor hasn’t signed the bill yet, the General Assembly did manage to send him a new law that targets protesters who interfere with oil and gas pipeline projects. Specifically, it increases penalties on activity that “destroys, injures, interrupts, or interferes with critical infrastructure,” raising the charge from a Class E felony to a Class C felony when damages are at least $1,000.
The governor’s transportation package has gotten a lot of attention for adding toll lanes to the state through public-private partnerships. It also raises the fees for electric vehicle drivers. The amount will rise nearly $200 by 2026, and can be increased by 3% every year.

Taxes & economy

Tennessee passed legislation to give families a tax cut when they go shopping for groceries. It comes in the form of a three-month sales tax holiday on food. Estimates show it’ll save Tennesseans $407 million during that time.
That same bill also gives more business tax breaks. An Economic Policy Institute report from 2022 shows that more than half of the corporations in Tennessee pay no corporate income taxes. This bill would increase that count.

Criminal justice & courts

In the last days of session a Republican-led movement abolished the ability of cities to create their own police oversight boards. The bill was opposed by Davidson and Shelby counties as well as nearly every Democrat.

Guns

Gun legislation became an urgent matter after the Covenant School shooting, although no gun reform measures passed. But the year isn’t over and the governor said he will call a special session so that lawmakers can focus on public safety. This comes after Lee tried to get lawmakers to expand the state’s order of protection system in the last days of session.
Lawmakers passed a bill that shields gun manufactures from civil liability lawsuits. It was the only gun legislation passed after the Covenant attack.

Elections

There’s already a law that says it’s a misdemeanor to crossover into a political party’s primary without being a “bona fide” member. A bill that passed both chambers requires that a sign be posted at poling sites to let people know of the law. Opponents worry it could intimidate voters, especially since the state does not require party registration to vote.

Resolutions

Easily the most impactful resolutions of the year were House resolutions 63 and 65. The first expelled Rep. Justin J. Pearson, D-Memphis, and the other to expelled Rep. Justin Jones, D-Nashville. The expulsions brought national attention to the push for gun control reform that the Democrats were leading, and raised questions about the priorities of the Republican supermajority. Both were reinstated by their local elected officials.

Metro restrictions

Lawmakers voted to slash the membership of Nashville’s Metro Council in half — though that measure is another that has been blocked by a court injunction.
State leaders gained the power to appoint members to the group that oversees Nashville International Airport and the Metro Sports Authority.