[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":-5,"_68":69,"_70":-5,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6417941,"mediaKeyId","2753189-cbe9180a5fdf7fca8719de075b94dc97","parentId",2753189,"title","Votes at a glance: key Senate Judiciary Committee actions","audioSeconds",6735,"startMs",333000,"endMs",7068000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2753189-cbe9180a5fdf7fca8719de075b94dc97&start=333&end=7068","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2753189-cbe9180a5fdf7fca8719de075b94dc97/thumbnail_333000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6417941/Votes-at-a-glance-key-Senate-Judiciary-Committee-actions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6417941-13a198eff524fe1b42c0e034bbf739c3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770441430&Signature=nfz~oofvE4DdByECvaJOykRDrWGi6OSWW0rf1jawciHNAht8SvIgo-JCc1NDygwzuuAZJg-KsCVgMAUZL2X~5Zi~q35NQ45-Mmrpgry7Bhoc73WaUN-PFAiS6vJLf7Mudl9y84J2wmIhotnu0C3R2IM0IJQ3OjCJ3HLJsGVjut76fxxN9CkdvSANCqWygH5WsPPmFZH-Njaj1KZB7NCbArwCqUVxWn3insBaxWIevX8dJrgq513Xqkt-YQ3HY1KZqvFxt8LvJqiRo8qLL6d11yo70OUX34mcqdStUBvhlBdUYwCnjAo989XXSMcIea57tXtsn48SmbqWNA1Vz-vEPA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","TN State Legislature","date","2025-03-24T00:00:00Z","article","The Senate Judiciary Committee recorded the following actions during the meeting. Where the transcript provided a roll call tally, that tally is shown. Short descriptions reflect sponsor statements or on-record explanations at the committee.

- Senate Bill 2-27 (item 40): Moved with amendment; advanced to the Senate calendar. Committee reported \"5 ayes, 1 no, 1 present not voting.\" Description by sponsor: private right of action against nonprofits that knowingly assist certain undocumented persons with long-term housing (excludes temporary shelters).

- Senate Bill 2-38 (item 41): Clarifies venue for prosecution of bail-condition violations; advanced to the Senate calendar. Committee recorded 6 ayes and 1 no.

- Senate Bill 8-57 (item 44): Allows counties initially funding a THDA low-interest homebuyer program to withdraw funds and reimplement local programs; passed unanimously in committee (8 ayes).

- Senate Bill 5-35 (item 47): Amended to limit notice from electronic service providers in child-exploitation subpoenas (allows up to 90-day notice); advanced to the Senate calendar (recorded vote: 8 ayes, 1 present not voting).

- Senate Bill 5-27 (item 45): Liability-label carveout for pesticides (see separate article). Committee recorded 6 ayes, 2 nos, 1 present not voting; bill advanced to the Senate calendar.

- Senate Bill 10-97 (item 50): Changes to the electronic monitoring indigency fund (criteria for indigency tied to SNAP/TANF/Medicaid status); advanced to the calendar (recorded 9 ayes).

- Senate Bill 5-25 (item 51): Municipal charter amendment preclearance and three-judge panel for constitutional challenges; advanced with recorded tally 7 ayes, 2 noes.

- Senate Bill 8-61 (item 49): Transfer of Tennessee Human Rights Commission duties to the attorney general’s office; advanced to Government Operations (recorded 7 ayes, 2 noes).

- Senate Bill 13-99 (item 56): Expands protected categories in criminal-threat statute for court participants and clarifies scope; advanced to the calendar (vote recorded as 7 ayes, 1 present not voting).

Several items were rolled or continued: multiple bills were rolled to later dates as noted in the committee calendar; where transcript notes a roll (\"rolled one week\" or \"rolled April 1\"), those items were not decided at this session.

This summary reflects votes and brief descriptions stated on the record. For full particulars, sponsors’ language and amendment texts should be consulted in the official bill files.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Judiciary Committee\tMar 24, 2025\t11:55 AM","oneSentenceSummary","The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced several bills to the Senate calendar and to other committees. The list below summarizes votes recorded on the transcript for bills considered during the session.","taxTitle","taxId",0,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":-5,"_68":69,"_70":-5,"_71":72,"_73":72},6417979,"Committee advances plan to move Tennessee Human Rights Commission enforcement to attorney general’s office",4339,2089000,6428000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2753189-cbe9180a5fdf7fca8719de075b94dc97&start=2089&end=6428","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2753189-cbe9180a5fdf7fca8719de075b94dc97/thumbnail_2089000.jpg","/articles/6417979/Committee-advances-plan-to-move-Tennessee-Human-Rights-Commission-enforcement-to-attorney-generals-office","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6417979-dd673ca63932233c08ef35f76b3ae25f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770441430&Signature=gmbqCocUPXj1LFTuh4o9oZg0v14KbdZpag2pthw0KDhw1b4VgdjJcflQP8bA0ZclN-8A-Jw6yHrng2HVwtpY8GJqF85A0X~hrtVjVrCySvuiLmhglqjTnGSdMCsMN2QE2dtwQqLcR0qFzz3lhqNF8hQoWOeZlTpX-p7fy35C3JZt1oWV3l-TChkW4oa4D-AKMPXD8lEZXII4A5FWMmIsMUD3ehBG6ndpLeMwwHVO3x7xMgPxOYSCLM9fHCDhmAsKANdwkqjICrREpjcnUbEGZhQOhpvOpdEXX9ZBJD59W40A6OMjcriJyq-p8wVHYatg9ZJWqAefA61GGbQiE1qqCA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sen. Stevens introduced an amendment and moved Senate Bill 8-61, a measure that would abolish the Tennessee Human Rights Commission effective July 1, 2025, and create a civil-rights enforcement division inside the attorney general’s office to assume investigative and enforcement responsibilities.

Supporters said the change would consolidate enforcement and align state practice; opponents and current commission staff warned the bill lacks an adequate wind-down period and would dismiss or force re-filing of more than 1,000 active matters, disproportionately affecting vulnerable complainants.

Jocelyn Wurzberg, who said she once served on the Tennessee Human Rights Commission, described the original intent of the state agency and cautioned against moving from an administrative remedial framework that relied on mediation to criminal-like enforcement. Mariel O’Nolan, executive director of the Tennessee Human Rights Commission, told the committee the agency currently manages “over a thousand active cases” and said she would request at least six to 12 months to complete orderly transitions of active matters and to avoid depriving complainants of protections.

Lacey Mace, chief deputy attorney general, said the attorney general’s office would receive records and would work to determine priority matters, but acknowledged logistical questions — including software and file-transfer arrangements with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission — would require coordination.

Senators asked for data and timelines. Committee members heard from staff about case mixes (employment, housing, disability and veteran-status claims) and about the administrative burden of re-filing. The commission’s director said some litigated matters are already pending board review and that a lack of a transition risks dismissal of cases that have been pending for years.

The committee voted to send the bill to Government Operations after debate. The roll call was recorded as 7 ayes and 2 noes; the chair noted the measure will proceed to the next committee for consideration.

","The Senate Judiciary Committee voted to move legislation that would abolish the Tennessee Human Rights Commission and transfer its enforcement duties to a new civil-rights division in the attorney general’s office, prompting testers to request a longer transition period for active cases.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":-5,"_68":69,"_70":-5,"_71":72,"_73":72},6418004,"Senate committee advances bill limiting some lawsuits over pesticide labels after hours of testimony",3669,1235000,4904000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2753189-cbe9180a5fdf7fca8719de075b94dc97&start=1235&end=4904","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2753189-cbe9180a5fdf7fca8719de075b94dc97/thumbnail_1235000.jpg","/articles/6418004/Senate-committee-advances-bill-limiting-some-lawsuits-over-pesticide-labels-after-hours-of-testimony","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6418004-106d5d226ac7a8e5f4dea3450a07bf31/orig.mp4?Expires=1770441430&Signature=UPSq9ZAxXbVeeAIWpoiH281zFZbePPGmTn9ZVZ--ibQ4QB5~nigCRAAuS6MXhP0Ks7HUuxHYSATAjkebtgE1dYlnAyHn9rjVMMUS~W7lWbtGTPBgnq4vfSXoZTYCgxJpTFiJWDv8HTMwiG8FeIooXapphjaIIT~4zvDubXhinCWxkP~021w-eP8PwTQ~IRlFNQWxXkQ-gE7QuMNJ0gdlzZS4LxzXATmz7AYVTOYghKLbJWK4Lw491lH0H-2BFADor4b049FbcWh-ErIixjhmrsMUvT-VKRrV8kwbx5A2LHqv5iKlR9H6V7~FURChylUxCLJ92xoxFUySWvUX3ni-cw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sen. Stevens, sponsor of Senate Bill 5-27, moved the bill and an amendment during the Senate Judiciary Committee meeting and the panel voted to advance the measure to the Senate calendar after public testimony and extended questioning.

The bill, as described on the floor, would limit plaintiffs’ ability to pursue lawsuits based on a product’s label where that label was federally approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Supporters said the measure narrows exposure to costly litigation that can force manufacturers to pull agricultural products from the market; opponents said it would unduly restrict injured Tennesseans’ access to courts.

The issue drew a long public-comment period. Bernadette Pager, volunteer Tennessee director of Stand for Health Freedom, warned lawmakers that “Monsanto was found guilty in court of committing fraud to get the label, with the EPA,” and argued the amendment did not protect residents because fraud is discovered through jury discovery and trial. Amy Miller, identifying herself as “a mother,” said the bill “is taking away our ability to fight for truth, for discovery, and if we get harmed.” Danny Ellis, president of the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association, invoked constitutional protections and argued jury trials are the proper forum to determine whether corporate conduct justified punitive awards.

Farmers and agriculture groups testified in support. John Dodson, a Dyer County farmer, told the committee adoption of Roundup Ready and no-till practices had helped soil health on his operation. Kevin Hensley of the Tennessee Farm Bureau said the bill is narrowly tailored to claims about the label and that other claims — for property damage, negligence or wrongful death — would remain available. George McDonald, a fourth-generation farmer, said the products preserve yields and reduce erosion.

Committee members asked detailed legal questions. Vice Chair Roberts and others pressed trial-lawyer witnesses about whether an EPA determination could ever substitute for a jury’s finding and whether the amendment’s reference to an EPA “determination” actually created a workable exception. Andrea McKellar, an attorney representing a farmer with pending litigation, said courts and the discovery process — not the EPA — are where evidence of misrepresentation emerges.

After the hearing and debate, the committee voted to advance the bill. The roll call recorded 6 ayes, 2 nos and 1 present not voting; the clerk recorded each senator's cast vote during the roll call.

Supporters said the measure protects access to agricultural tools and prevents manufacturers from withdrawing products needed for modern farming if faced with repeated litigation. Opponents said the measure would remove incentives for manufacturers to correct or strengthen labels, and could limit remedies for people who claim injury from pesticide exposure.

The bill now moves to the Senate calendar for further consideration.

","The Senate Judiciary Committee voted to advance Senate Bill 5-27, which would bar certain failure-to-warn lawsuits tied to pesticide labels approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, after extensive public testimony from farmers, trial lawyers and health advocates.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: key Senate Judiciary Committee actions

Committee advances plan to move Tennessee Human Rights Commission enforcement to attorney general’s office

Senate committee advances bill limiting some lawsuits over pesticide labels after hours of testimony