[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-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",[32,76,88,100],{"_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":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6595291,"mediaKeyId","3038210-df2819076af36d10837fc86c89f6f1b8","parentId",3038210,"title","House approves policy directing DOT to develop policy for removal of personal property from dangerous highway locations amid heated debate","audioSeconds",213,"startMs",9095000,"endMs",8882000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3038210-df2819076af36d10837fc86c89f6f1b8&start=9095&end=8882","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3038210-df2819076af36d10837fc86c89f6f1b8/thumbnail_9095000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6595291/Tennessee/House-approves-policy-directing-DOT-to-develop-policy-for-removal-of-personal-property-from-dangerous-highway-locations-amid-heated-debate","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6595291-50f84d4a94f7d69eeebfa40b379ca5fc/orig.mp4?Expires=1775538422&Signature=jywhG8els4DviqMyqTalRZcd2gTR0uMsEBUbdNM-hxSiCZsP~PZ5qoPjqOgzJZNosQdpBfkZPmwINpgToGeq51CcvP06zfXv79xiH1npWZ-9u1-PkT2npbJgGfdU0nApU98V91okJFCn2ALEQxTUd8J9KdxUmqg94HcXx2NsarRjPS1tyB3ovbOjDoM90BYlijn1IZpIh3ADzHCfB0kExNqrNLgop-HnxTMHdLgA9-6N7Dqy-XNGzdSJKX4u7NHe8w9Jwa~T8~yoX5ETEK7v5~NdnP6BE8BDPyinKg8xA472ovFrNd~wfZhHnLYXwrGxZPap3X4axdIhtXsKO6OIyw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Tennessee House of Representatives","date","2025-04-15T00:00:00Z","article","The Tennessee House passed Senate Bill 217, a bill requiring the Tennessee Department of Transportation to develop and implement a policy for removing abandoned personal property used for camping in dangerous locations on state and interstate highways, including underpasses and bridge shoulders.

Sponsor Representative Leatherwood said the bill directs the department to coordinate with local governments and service providers, create memoranda of understanding with local agencies, and work with local homeless coalitions and nonprofits to find transitional housing and services for people living in roadside encampments. “Instead of ignoring the people residing in these dangerous locations, this requires the Department of Transportation come up with a memorandum of understanding with local governments and local agencies to see the problem, not ignore it,” Leatherwood said.

Opponents and amendments
Representative Pearson and Representative McCallman and other members offered a series of floor amendments that sought to add procedural protections for unhoused people: notice periods before removal, requirements that local homeless-service providers be notified and that the removal not proceed until housing or shelter options were available, and other safeguards intended to prevent disposal of personal identifying documents, benefit cards, medical supplies and paperwork. Floor motions to consider and adopt several of those amendments were put to recorded votes; each motion to consider the amendment failed to secure the two-thirds vote required under the House rule for consideration of late-filed amendments.

Representative Pearson described the bill as “weaponiz[ing] our Tennessee Department of Transportation” against people who are unhoused and argued for safeguards to ensure dignity and continuity of benefits and medical care for those affected. Sponsor Leatherwood replied that the bill requires local coordination with homeless coalitions and service providers and that the measure was designed to move people out of dangerous locations while connecting them with housing and services.

Vote and outcome
The House ultimately passed Senate Bill 217 on third and final consideration. The clerk recorded the roll and leadership declared the bill had received the constitutional majority and passed. Multiple late-filed amendments proposed on the floor were not adopted after consideration votes failed to meet the two-thirds threshold to allow debate.

Key implementation points
- The Department of Transportation is required to develop a policy and implement an MOUs process with local governments, homeless coalitions, nonprofits and service providers to remove personal property used for camping in dangerous highway locations.
- The bill instructs coordination with local providers and a goal of connecting people with transitional housing and services; it does not itself appropriate funds for housing.

Context and next steps
Sponsor and supporters framed the bill as responding to a public-safety hazard and as a directive to DOT to coordinate local responses. Opponents called for stronger procedural safeguards and resource commitments. The bill moves forward to the next stage of the legislative process; local officials and service providers will be the primary implementers and partners for DOT.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Tennessee House of Representatives - House Floor Session - 26th Legislative Day - Apr 15, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Tennessee House passed legislation requiring the Department of Transportation to develop and implement a policy for removing abandoned personal property used for camping in dangerous highway locations and to coordinate with local governments and service providers.","taxTitle","House Floor , House of Representatives, Committees, Legislative, Tennessee","taxId",29556,"location","Tennessee","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6595307,"House approves bill on privacy in facilities after lawmakers table transgender-protection amendments",458,2181000,2639000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3038210-df2819076af36d10837fc86c89f6f1b8&start=2181&end=2639","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3038210-df2819076af36d10837fc86c89f6f1b8/thumbnail_2181000.jpg","/articles/6595307/Tennessee/House-approves-bill-on-privacy-in-facilities-after-lawmakers-table-transgender-protection-amendments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6595307-c3f7d1d2fa1d2131807a1f4bb1c7ae19/orig.mp4?Expires=1775538422&Signature=BcE7NjRGJ78YV1Ig-8mc95UbeiC7lq7SBj-YzyRJKH80z8DV08oxN--QxT5UFWTq~CGwjOsdNO4gFrjpzSWpsRPLQSeQkirOo5WOQEWWGJSxnNM8xuYujiJC-LV99ZsF8ksPHeP5fORW17Mnt0nFn0biBzac6balOqH2QUN-VQjYyJA6S7DjWPiQHkE~FgsJOXyaaCwq6ygfZ38Lxr0qtI6hB0NCRQtd4mhMahK5BgxsFI3IorruJR~AdisdkgG9~IBuzjEHSGGLKdJGHS~LAn5siePCHoNxUCPcdYc3UiZGua8ozUDy5DA5p5n288-bvI7Ks-y2x6vnjWnZ8~p3-A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Tennessee House on Tuesday approved Senate Bill 468, a measure lawmakers described as protecting “privacy and security” in private spaces, with provisions that lawmakers said target domestic violence shelters, correctional and detention facilities and public institutions of higher education.

Supporters said the bill is intended to safeguard girls and women in private spaces; opponents called it discriminatory toward transgender, non-binary and gender nonconforming people and offered amendments to make the measure explicitly affirm inclusive facility access.

Representative Mark Boso (Chairman, Public Safety Committee) moved passage of SB 468 on third and final consideration and said the bill “is part of our continuing effort to protect the privacy and security of girls and women in private spaces.”

The bill drew a series of floor amendments introduced by Representative Bain (sponsor of several pro-inclusion changes) that would have: (1) changed the bill title to the “Gender Diversity, Safety, and Dignity Act,” (2) required safe and inclusive facility access and accommodations in correctional and detention settings, juvenile facilities, domestic violence shelters and public institutions of higher education, and (3) clarified that sex and gender are distinct concepts and affirmed participation rights for transgender and nonbinary people. Representative Bain argued the measure as introduced “insinuates that trans individuals who use the bathroom of their choice are predators” and framed the amendments as protections for dignity and access.

Chairman Boso moved to table each of those amendments. The House voted to table Representative Bain’s amendment to change the bill title; the clerk recorded the tabling vote as recorded on the floor. Representative Behn also offered an amendment to secure inclusive facility policies and cited a federal Prison Rape Elimination Act obligation; that amendment was likewise tabled on a recorded floor vote. A fourth amendment from Representative Behn that sought to distinguish sex and gender in the bill language also was tabled.

After the amendments were tabled, Chairman Boso renewed his motion for passage. The bill passed on third and final consideration as amended on the floor.

What the bill does
- Supporters described four discrete areas the bill addresses: domestic violence shelters, correctional facilities, detention facilities and public institutions of higher education.
- Opponents said the bill singles out transgender and gender nonconforming Tennesseans and raises legal risk; they urged instead focusing on backlog of sexual assault kits and funding crisis centers.

Votes and outcomes (as recorded on the floor)
- Committee amendment #1: adopted (committee action recorded on the floor)
- Representative Bain amendment (change title to affirm gender diversity): motion to table — tabled (floor vote recorded)
- Representative Behn amendment (safe and inclusive facility access): motion to table — tabled (floor vote recorded)
- Representative Behn amendment (distinguish sex and gender): motion to table — tabled (floor vote recorded)
- Final passage of Senate Bill 468 (as amended on House floor): recorded vote on third and final consideration; the chair declared the bill passed and received a constitutional majority.

Supporters and opponents gave floor remarks before the votes. Representative Bain and Representative Behn, who sponsored the amendments, argued the bill as drafted would create barriers and risk litigation in confinement settings; Chairman Boso and other supporters said the measure is necessary to protect privacy in certain settings.

The bill now moves to the governor (or to the other chamber as required by legislative process).","The Tennessee House on Tuesday approved Senate Bill 468, a measure supporters said protects privacy and security in women’s private spaces while opponents said the measure targets transgender and gender nonconforming people; three pro-inclusion floor amendments were tabled before final passage.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6595297,"House approves reporting requirement for bail-bond companies to centralize oversight",112,3176000,3288000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3038210-df2819076af36d10837fc86c89f6f1b8&start=3176&end=3288","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3038210-df2819076af36d10837fc86c89f6f1b8/thumbnail_3176000.jpg","/articles/6595297/Tennessee/House-approves-reporting-requirement-for-bail-bond-companies-to-centralize-oversight","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6595297-62b6d93c4f1bf5ff9cd4f25907c07273/orig.mp4?Expires=1775538422&Signature=Zqwmo4Usn~wQJmTvxXpjEB1mTXDvBQRtBfmPhoaNKIodUfgs7b08bXpPOYd3WoYAgBu0C9HRwJPWg~HeSGNexEBMVeiz5UjLKxPINkeZR1s7kGujmRCUhbPWw-9zrC3-oK6Amh0TZd6axMwYa2R0V6jxrAGHqUn-q00c17uae~fE1qiqhnufZqQdNkMvJ-gve-P0k3A7o64Agb1ywQVbTlEIqLoHE89AQLbpXezFV1kMP4vcc2kzEZv3JSAU0gPpgz3kqOJqvdq~cKU-6AoOhXMyQVsgz5PKN3owaGmFkm4PZzJRTCx7~7cmII1qTitzMRM21D6H8jyOPf2NQy54eg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Tennessee House approved a measure designed to centralize reporting and oversight of commercial bail-bond companies and to help the Department of Revenue detect overextended license limits and uncollected statutory fees.

Representative Howell (chair of the committee handling the bill) said the proposal requires bail-bond companies to file quarterly reports with the court clerk so the Department of Revenue can audit whether a bondsman is overextended and whether the statutorily required $12 fee per bond is being remitted. Howell told the floor the bill responds to cases in which audits discovered a bondsman was far over the approved limit after the owner’s death.

Representative Dixie asked whether quarterly filings would meaningfully improve information sharing among county clerks and whether a statewide centralized system was planned. Howell said the bill creates a reporting framework that the Department of Revenue can use to obtain county clerk data and conduct audits; he said some bonding companies already self-report but that some do not and the bill addresses that gap.

Questions and concerns
Representative Larry Camper asked whether mandatory deductions for monitoring or other obligations would take precedence over child-support garnishments and how the new reporting obligation would interact with existing obligations owed by defendants or system participants. Sponsors said the bill does not change precedence of other legal obligations and that it is designed primarily to enable audits and fee collection oversight.

Vote and outcome
The House passed the measure on third and final consideration; the clerk recorded the roll and the House chair declared the bill had received the constitutional majority.

What the bill does
- Requires quarterly reports from bail bond licensees to county court clerks and gives the Department of Revenue auditing authority to verify license limits and fee remittances.
- Formalizes a $12-per-bond reporting and remittance verification process.

Implementation notes
- Sponsor said the Department of Revenue will aggregate county data and audit licensees; the bill does not itself create a statewide IT system but instructs agencies on reporting and auditing responsibilities.

Next steps
Bill passed the House and will proceed to the next steps in the legislative process.","The House passed a bill requiring bail bond companies to file regular reports with county court clerks and creating an audit process for the Department of Revenue to detect overextension and unpaid fee collection. Supporters said the bill closes enforcement gaps; questions focused on frequency and federal obligations.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6595302,"House approves unified restoration-of-rights process after prolonged floor debate",95,5644000,5739000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3038210-df2819076af36d10837fc86c89f6f1b8&start=5644&end=5739","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3038210-df2819076af36d10837fc86c89f6f1b8/thumbnail_5644000.jpg","/articles/6595302/Tennessee/House-approves-unified-restoration-of-rights-process-after-prolonged-floor-debate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6595302-1782704802f49836398eceb749e58bff/orig.mp4?Expires=1775538422&Signature=JpE4ItlHHdMXjPU8ycT55hiJ8yxnu1NXlyTC391HWlxgZbsJMV80HSqfzJPJ-BB~~Y9OH04XkosXhEPBGQJGUCIBBTozan1OAW7177s874drrA~v05HtMJ5PIiZzdrpqtzlhKLtLKgbl3BbTffaKQICErT-hZwnQUKe2urvyVeNKHAMNEArIjQlWepPM28XuxkApFrwtZVF0q5gvJmCU1Lf2fdM6TvYrX5S12N3woa7O8l82IF7rdpfjCKfPhX5y7ClDjNZKbhLXLta0O03whNd9aVxErMLURHfHBemqT5-e1ThFfdzQy3-LfqNsrXhyKYwouRGFPlPAsMtZG1Mp5g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Tennessee House approved Senate Bill 407 on third reading after extensive floor discussion about how people convicted of felonies regain rights of citizenship, including voting and firearm rights.

Sponsor Representative Hosey and others said SB 407 creates one process for anyone seeking restoration of rights of citizenship, requires petition to a circuit court, requires notice to the district attorney and elections coordinator, and clarifies which rights may be restored and in what circumstances. The bill allows courts to restore one or more rights (for example, voting but not firearm rights) and codifies factors a court should consider for restoration.

Several members warned the bill could erect barriers for returning citizens. Representative Parkinson and Representative Pearson—both of whom said they worked on related proposals previously—objected to provisions they said would discourage or financially burden people seeking restoration. Representative Pearson raised concerns that the bill reintroduces a pre-2006 petition process and that filing fees in some counties can be hundreds of dollars; she said some returning citizens would be required to sign sworn statements that could expose them to legal risk if records are inaccurate. Representative Parkinson asked whether child support and other arrearages would continue to block restoration; the sponsor said that remains a practical barrier and that judges retain some discretion under current law.

Sponsor response and vote
Sponsor Representative Hosey and other backers said the bill was the result of work across committees to streamline and standardize the process and to allow rights to be granted separately where appropriate. Supporters described cases of long-term rehabilitated residents who remain unable to vote under the current patchwork process.

After floor debate, the House voted and passed SB 407 on third and final consideration; leadership announced the bill had received the constitutional majority and the chair declared passage with objections noted on the record.

What the bill does and outstanding concerns
- Creates a single judicial petition process for restoration of rights of citizenship and clarifies which rights are eligible for restoration in whole or in part.
- Requires notice to specified state actors (district attorney general, coordinator of elections, attorney general) and gives certain officials standing to intervene when they object.
- Does not alter filing fees statewide; members and advocates said local fees and child-support obligations continue to be practical barriers for many seeking restoration.

Votes and outcomes
- Committee amendment (withdrawn/handled by floor): withdrawn as noted on the record.
- House adoption: Senate Bill 407 passed third reading; clerk recorded the roll and leadership declared constitutional majority present and bill passed.

Next steps
The bill will proceed through the enrollment process and onward to the governor (or other procedural steps as applicable). Lawmakers and advocates signaled intent to continue working on issues such as child-support arrearages and fee waivers to reduce barriers for returning citizens.","Lawmakers passed Senate Bill 407 to establish a single court petition process for restoring rights of citizenship, clarifying when voting and firearm rights can be restored separately. The bill drew extended debate over costs, sworn statements and barriers such as child support and fees.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

House approves policy directing DOT to develop policy for removal of personal property from dangerous highway locations amid heated debate

House approves bill on privacy in facilities after lawmakers table transgender-protection amendments

House approves reporting requirement for bail-bond companies to centralize oversight

House approves unified restoration-of-rights process after prolonged floor debate