[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-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",[32,75],{"_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":56,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6573224,"mediaKeyId","3100527-73a9806b04d39a019ce67192ab2a1993","parentId",3100527,"title","Votes at a glance: key measures the Tennessee Senate acted on in today’s floor session","audioSeconds",10464,"startMs",1275000,"endMs",11739000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3100527-73a9806b04d39a019ce67192ab2a1993&start=1275&end=11739","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3100527-73a9806b04d39a019ce67192ab2a1993/thumbnail_1275000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6573224/Tennessee/Votes-at-a-glance-key-measures-the-Tennessee-Senate-acted-on-in-todays-floor-session","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6573224-f338506d36384059a9be72c44a7eb166/orig.mp4?Expires=1771147985&Signature=Oe5s5G4O-u1A3twEh8ZkshZsw81Tcz10g1Y2rfKPBGu97hDN6EAATjK96jgscJ084B4YEiPpO5SkUb7WyNM1UHtKuC8RLB0uNMLZyE70cjf3j2CGmhe2bDvHu0DyBz3OmYNEWcsVtjIGT~r7dfv5rQFDS-RX0O89hfOUphLHvdXXCdaOa4gViD6xCUlmY3ldbf1OhDFA-mpT8VNfRpkzuuTSFt5MJT8H4kcUuVhw8PjKkA9-5J8~v0EtVU~5ntUfnzH6ZCyI4uII7GNwFI08EoXbIDt8eM519UeLyPEWvsS~dFDf4HYg1ZhVhkK6yRoQ3KPWQPrjYZxjBOdttGPObQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Tennessee","date","2025-04-22T00:00:00Z","article","Below are the principal items acted on during today’s Tennessee Senate floor session with final outcomes recorded on the floor. This list summarizes motions and roll-call results recorded in the transcript; where roll-call names were not read the vote tallies below are taken from the recorded clerk totals.

- Consent calendar No. 1 (memorializing and congratulatory resolutions and similar items) — Passed by voice/roll, Aye 33, No 0.

- Local bill consent calendars (multiple consent calendars) — Passed by voice/roll, recorded tallies show Ayes 33, No 0 on multiple consent calendars.

- Senate Bill 246 (concurrence on House Amendment) — Concurred; unanimous recorded (Ayes 33, Nays 0).

- Senate Bill 438 (Solid Waste Task Force language; concur in House amendment) — Concurred by unanimous action (recorded unanimous vote).

- Senate Bill 644 (rules promulgation language; concur in House amendment) — Concurred (unanimous recorded vote).

- Senate Bill 1115 (private prisons; House amendment imposing 90-day compliance timeframe in certain conditions) — House Amendment #3 adopted by unanimous vote; Senate Bill 1115 final action recorded as passed after adoption of the amendment.

- House Bill 13 14 (as conformed to Senate Bill 12 96; criminalizes knowingly making threats of mass violence with enhancements; includes doxxing language) — Passed on final consideration, recorded Ayes 29, Nays 3 on final action.

- House Bill 13 83 (sober living home regulation; permissive local regulation limited to Hamilton County) — Passed on third and final consideration (Ayes 32, Nays 0 recorded).

- House Bill 9 69 (earmark sales tax on tires to state highway fund; recurring transportation revenue) — Passed on final consideration (Ayes 33, Nays 0 recorded).

- House Joint Resolution 147 (kratom regulation/ban request) — Adopted (Aye 30, No 0 recorded).

- House Bill 5 77 (stipend increases for jails participating in reentry programs) — Passed without recorded roll-call objections per clerk (constitutional majority declared).

- Senate Bill 229 (ethics/campaign finance changes as conformed to House bill) — Passed (Ayes 28, Nays 3 recorded).

- House Bill 132 (amendments affecting emergency declarations and legislative termination of state of emergency) — Passed (Ayes 26, Nays 6 recorded).

- House Bill 486 (public defender self-funding five assistant positions from salary equity fund) — Passed (Ayes 32, Nays 0 recorded).

- House Bill 641 (increased funding for child advocacy centers and forensic interviews) — Passed (Ayes 31, Nays 0 recorded).

- House Bill 485 (hybrid instructional days for school systems in severe weather) — Passed (Ayes 31, Nays 0 recorded).

- House Bill 479 (TRICARE premium reimbursement for National Guard members) — Passed (Ayes 33, Nays 0 recorded).

- House Bill 12 78 (use of Hurricane Helene interest payment fund to pay local borrowing costs) — Passed (Ayes 32, Nays 0 recorded).

- House Bill 717 (extension of the Alzheimer’s/dementia respite pilot program) — Passed (Ayes 29, Nays 0 recorded).

- House Bill 594 (increase from 2 to 4 of temporary sales events exempt for bona fide religious institutions) — Passed (Ayes 26, Nays 2 recorded).

- House Bill 504 (Future Teacher Scholarship Act adjustments) — Passed (Ayes 32, Nays 0 recorded).

- House Bill 99 (changes to photography/unlawful conduct; floor amendment adopted) — Passed (Ayes 33, Nays 0 recorded).

- House Bill 726 (extensions and adjustments for Hurricane Helene property relief and deadlines) — Passed (Ayes 32, Nays 0 recorded).

- House Bill 691 (low-income housing community investment tax credit revision) — Passed (Ayes 33, Nays 0 recorded).

- Senate Bill 925 / House bill counterpart (broadband equipment sales tax exemption extension) — Passed as amended (Ayes 32, Nays 0 recorded).

- Senate Bill 1233 / House counterpart (fentanyl and related opioid possession penalties and related provisions as amended in finance committee) — Passed as amended by committee consideration (roll-call recorded: Ayes 33, Nays 0 recorded in final action items recorded earlier in session).

- House Bill 7 73 (related to legal notices and other procedural items) — Referred to Finance calendar and scheduled for finance committee meeting this afternoon per the chair.

- Senate Bill 714 (Memphis/Shelby County intervention bill) — Passed (Ayes 26, Nays 6 recorded) — substantive debate on floor (see separate article).

- Senate Bill 10 84 (limits on use of DEI policies in state/local government employment and programs; companion) — Passed (Ayes 26, Nays 6 recorded).

Notes on tallies: Where the clerk recorded a numerical tally, the number is shown above. Several consent calendar and \"house bills passed first consideration\" items were handled without extended discussion and are recorded as passing by constitutional majority. If a bill is described as \"passed without objection\" the transcript indicated the clerk declared a constitutional majority and the measure passed.

For reporters: individual bill texts, roll-call printouts and enrolled versions filed with the Secretary of the Senate should be consulted for the precise statutory language and effective dates; this roundup lists recorded floor outcomes and short descriptions based on the floor record.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Tennessee - Senate Session - 28th Legislative Day (Part 1) - Apr 22, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","A roundup of bills and resolutions the Senate considered and finalized on the floor, with outcomes and short descriptions.","taxTitle","Senate Floor Session, Senate, Committees, Legislative, Tennessee","taxId",79856,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":56,"_72":73,"_74":73},6573229,"Senate approves bill allowing state intervention, expanded vouchers and charter options for struggling Shelby County schools",2745,9001000,11746000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3100527-73a9806b04d39a019ce67192ab2a1993&start=9001&end=11746","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3100527-73a9806b04d39a019ce67192ab2a1993/thumbnail_9001000.jpg","/articles/6573229/Tennessee/Senate-approves-bill-allowing-state-intervention-expanded-vouchers-and-charter-options-for-struggling-Shelby-County-schools","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6573229-54765c75f563483fbc1cc2da3f516751/orig.mp4?Expires=1771147985&Signature=CdxdPSZSYhwrZgXx~9FrXH5mrftBi9C~laIg0aFCEl56fIFjz7HHimasvnojsZEfqDpoFcAnJn0k5ol4s6sm8HFgyTLqoEIkt8YsH7HGWNs1jpum5QutJPcF7oEaZbL1Uzx9ADXnoVswGZcoOK-gO4XxaNlIY2KFjK4B9Dzms0rXFOHlb97qoy2LTxcp5VVqdHDhzWle~3tW4bqRI2SjYINyOv6PO~Wqw5pYJgYQTn23z-dliGWG2DXaexfM0buWk5LprtXlPHFnktCvMr~ONzBNwoyWRbEA3d-inaF-~J-kZM8tlN5o8mexyxPYuiCphM~yCdN3WrG1jvZ~UJs1cw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Tennessee Senate on the floor approved legislation that creates a stepped intervention framework for chronically underperforming school districts, expands Education Savings Account eligibility in qualifying districts and creates an oversight/advisory board with review powers over school contracts and governance.

Senator Taylor moved Senate Bill 714 (conform and substitute to House Bill 771 on the floor) on third and final consideration; the motion passed, Ayes 26, Nays 6. The bill defines a \"challenge\" school district by a three-part test — at least 50% economically disadvantaged students, failure to meet math and English expectations, and presence of at least one school on the state priority list for five consecutive priority-list publications — and authorizes a cascade of interventions when a district meets those criteria.

Under the bill, the commissioner of education, with the State Board of Education's concurrence, may remove the director of schools and recommend removal of elected board members; removed officials would be replaced as described in the bill. The measure also removes the income cap for ESA eligibility in qualifying districts so families meeting the district criteria would be eligible regardless of income. The legislation expedites charter opportunities in designated districts and authorizes the commissioner to recommend charter conversion for certain schools.

The bill requires creation of an oversight board of up to nine members (three gubernatorial appointees, two appointed by the lieutenant governor, two by the speaker of the House, plus the county mayor and city mayor or designee in affected counties). That board would be paid the same as an elected school board member and be provided three staff positions funded by the county commission. Duties given in the bill include producing a comprehensive needs assessment, a transformation plan, reviewing school-board agendas and contracts over $50,000 and providing comments to be read into the public record at school-board meetings.

The sponsor, Senator Taylor, framed the bill as an intervention for a decades-long problem in Shelby County, saying the district \"has more than $1 billion of deferred maintenance,\" that proficiency rates remain low and that \"we have to do something.\" He said the bill is intended as an intervention and not a takeover and noted an attorney general opinion from 1995 he said supports state authority for some removals.

Opponents said the measure is overbroad and constitutionally suspect and argued it targets Memphis. Senator Lamar said the bill “is not the way to do it,” arguing local voters and local governance deserve deference and warning it shifts responsibility from state lawmakers to local residents. Senator Yarbrough questioned whether the measure would create unequal treatment across the state and raised concerns about the effect on local control and on voters’ choices.

Senator Akbari and others warned the bill injects the state into local personnel and contract decisions and could produce uncertainty in communities. Supporters, including Senator Wally and others from non-urban districts, said the bill provides tools and resources for chronically struggling systems and emphasized the measure has statewide application — not only Shelby County.

The bill passed third and final consideration with a 26-6 vote. The motion to reconsider was tabled.

What the bill does and does not do: it expands ESA eligibility for districts that meet the bill’s criteria (removes the ESA income cap for those districts), authorizes the commissioner and State Board to remove and replace local leaders in specified circumstances, expedites charter options and creates an oversight/advisory board with specified duties. The bill delegates some appointment and staffing duties to local governments and requires local funding for the advisory board staff.

What proponents say: the bill’s sponsor argued it is a targeted intervention that pairs local responsibility with state oversight where a long record of underperformance has persisted.

What opponents say: critics called the bill punitive, said it risks constitutional and statutory conflicts over powers to remove elected local officials and said it may be an unfair, targeted action against Shelby County rather than a constructive statewide policy.

Next steps: The bill passed the Senate and will proceed per legislative procedures to the other chamber or to enrollment as provided by session rules. The law’s implementation details — notably who will serve on the oversight board and how local funding will be provided for staffing — will follow if the measure becomes law.

Votes and key figures: The final roll-call on the Senate floor read Ayes 26, Nays 6. The recorded debate included extended questioning on constitutionality, ESA mechanics and local fiscal impacts.","After hours of debate, the Tennessee Senate passed a bill that creates a tiered intervention process for chronically underperforming school districts, expands eligibility for Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) in qualifying districts and authorizes an oversight board with powers to review contracts and recommend removals of local officials.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: key measures the Tennessee Senate acted on in today’s floor session

Senate approves bill allowing state intervention, expanded vouchers and charter options for struggling Shelby County schools