Tennessee Senate passes multiple bills including increased recess and bail amendments

The Senate Session of the Tennessee State Legislature convened on March 10, 2025, for its 11th Legislative Day, addressing a range of legislative matters and resolutions.

The session began with a motion to suspend the rules to add Senate Bill 849 to the health and welfare calendar, which was approved without objection. Senator Crow then took the floor to share a personal note about the upcoming legislative bash, celebrating the 60th reunion of his band, the Sleepless Nights, and inviting members to attend.

Senator Lowe recognized local 4-H members from Ray, Meigs, and McMinn Counties, encouraging the Senate to welcome them. He also introduced his intern, Destiny Rayner, a senior at Tennessee State University, who is pursuing a career in law and working on a poetry book.

Senator Seale moved for the immediate consideration of House Joint Resolution 310, honoring Carl Dean, husband of Dolly Parton, which passed unanimously. Following this, Leader Johnson introduced several bills for first consideration, including Senate Bill 1447, which was passed without objection.

The session continued with the introduction of resolutions, where Leader Johnson moved to introduce Senate Joint Resolution 216 and Senate Resolutions 42 and 43, which were also passed on first consideration. A series of resolutions were laid over for further consideration, including those related to various commemorative events and recognitions.

In the unfinished business section, Senator Lamar recognized intern Taylor Holland and her family, welcoming them to the Senate floor. The Senate then moved to a consent calendar of memorializing resolutions, which passed without objection after a brief discussion highlighting notable items, including a resolution honoring a state champion wrestler and recognizing the centennial anniversary of the Scopes Trial.

The session proceeded with the introduction of general bills and substantive resolutions, with several bills passing through various stages of consideration. Notably, Senate Bill 158, which aims to increase recess time for elementary students, received support from several senators who emphasized the importance of physical activity for children's development. The bill passed with a vote of 28 in favor and 1 against.

Senate Bill 204, which regulates unsolicited property purchase offers, also passed after amendments were discussed and adopted. The session concluded with the passage of several other bills, including those related to organ transplant regulations and cemetery company regulations.

Chairman Reeves announced that the Senate Energy, Agriculture, and Natural Resources Committee would finalize its calendar for the year, urging members to submit bills for consideration by the upcoming deadline. The session wrapped up with reminders from various committee chairs regarding deadlines for bill submissions and amendments.

Overall, the session was marked by a blend of personal anecdotes, legislative actions, and community recognitions, reflecting the ongoing work of the Tennessee State Legislature.