Votes at a glance: Key actions taken by Tennessee Senate Judiciary Committee on Feb. 25

Below are the formal actions recorded by the Tennessee Senate Judiciary Committee during its Feb. 25 meeting. Each item lists the motion, mover/second when available, the roll-call votes recorded in the hearing transcript and the committee outcome as announced at the proceeding.

1) Senate Bill 19 (cleanup amendment) Motion: Move the bill (clean-up amendment changing a few words in statute). Mover/Second: Sponsor moved; second recorded. Vote: Senator Harshbarger (aye); Senator Kyle (aye); Senator Lamar (abstain); Senator Roberts (aye); Senator Rose (aye); Senator Stevens (aye); Senator Taylor (aye); Senator White (aye); Chairman Gordon Hire (aye). Tally/Outcome: 8 ayes, 1 abstention; "The bill moves out to calendar." (as recorded in committee minutes)

2) Attorney General budget referral (presentation by Jonathan Scrimetti) Motion: Motion to refer the Attorney General's budget request to the Finance Committee. Mover/Second: Motion by Chairman Gardner; second by Senator Stevens (as announced by the chair). Vote: Senator Harshbarger (aye); Senator Kyle (no); Senator Lamar (no); Senator Roberts (aye); Senator Rose (aye); Senator Stevens (aye); Senator Taylor (aye); Senator White (aye); Chairman Gardner (aye). Tally/Outcome: 7 ayes, 2 noes; budget referred to Finance Committee.

3) Senate Bill 45 (sentencing enhancement when adult uses a minor) Motion: Move Senate Bill 45 (enhancement when adult commits offense with a minor; expands enhancements to nonviolent offenses involving minors). Mover/Second: Sponsor moved; second recorded. Vote: Senators Harshbarger, Kyle, Lamar, Roberts, Rose, Stevens, Taylor, White, and Chairman Gordon Hire recorded as "Aye" on the roll call. Tally/Outcome: 9 ayes; committee announced "Congratulations" and moved the bill out to calendar.

4) Senate Bill 252 (Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund administrative change) Motion: Motion to move SB 252 (modify frequency of recalculation of maximum award amount from annually to every three years; administrative efficiency changes). Mover/Second: Motion by sponsor (Senator Hill); second by Senator White. Vote: Unanimous roll call recorded with all members voting aye. Tally/Outcome: 9 ayes; bill sent to calendar.

5) Senate Bill 299 (medical cannabis commission quorum and membership amendment) Motion: Motion to adopt amendment (drafting code 3503) and move bill as amended (reconstitute appointments, expand eligibility so commission can make policy recommendations if federal scheduling changes). Mover/Second: Motion by Chairman White on amendment; second by Senator Hunter (per transcript record); sponsor explained the amendment; voice vote adopted the amendment; roll call on amended bill recorded. Vote: Senators Harshbarger, Kyle, Lamar, Roberts, Rose, Taylor, White and Chairman Gordon Hire recorded aye; Senator Stevens recorded no on the final vote. Tally/Outcome: 8 ayes, 1 no; bill with amendment goes to calendar.

6) Senate Bill 591 (reporting duty expansion to child care, preschools, religious institutions) — ROLL/DEFER Action: Sponsor presented bill and amendment; committee engaged in questions about scope and whether the bill would create duplicate reporting duties for mental health providers; members requested more stakeholder conversations. Outcome: Sponsor moved to roll the bill to next week to allow time for amendment drafting and stakeholder discussions (committee granted the roll/deferral).

7) Senate Bill 221 (judge access to juvenile records for bail decisions; amended to five-year lookback) Motion: Move SB 221; adopt amendment 3523 limiting juvenile lookback to five years for bail-setting purposes. Mover/Second: Motion by sponsor; second by Senator White on amendment. Vote: Roll-call recorded: Senator Harshbarger (aye); Senator Kyle (no); Senator Lamar (no); Senator Roberts (aye); Senator Rose (aye); Senator Stevens (aye); Senator Taylor (aye); Senator White (aye); Chairman Roberts (aye). Tally/Outcome: Committee announced 6 ayes and 2 noes; bill advanced to Senate calendar as amended.

8) Senate Bill 672 (increase penalties for intentionally obstructing highways/bridges — sponsor seeks targeted amendment) Action: Sponsor explained prior-year history, described intent to limit penalties to intentional obstruction of roadways and bridges; legal counsel explained that language as written could be broader than sponsor intended and could reach sidewalks and other public passageways. Outcome: Sponsor requested the bill be rolled to next week to allow counsel to draft an amendment narrowing the text; the committee agreed to defer the bill for one week for amendment drafting and stakeholder discussion.

9) Senate Bill 678 (aggravated sexual battery penalty increase for victims under 18 or incapacitated) Motion: Move SB 678 (increase penalty when aggravated sexual battery committed against a victim under 18 or a known incapacitated/physically helpless person). Mover/Second: Motion moved and seconded; youth advocate presented testimony in support. Vote: Roll call recorded with the majority voting aye; the roll-call summary recorded the committee result as 7 ayes and 2 recorded otherwise per transcript roll notation. Tally/Outcome: Bill moved to calendar (committee recorded the bill as advancing to calendar).

10) Senate Joint Resolution 9 (victims' bill of rights constitutional amendment — amendment adopted) Motion: Adopt amendment with additional whereas clauses and move the resolution as amended. Mover/Second: Motion by Senator Stevens; second recorded. Vote: Roll call recorded: A majority voted aye; committee recorded the resolution as approved to calendar by 7 ayes and 2 noes on the roll. Tally/Outcome: Resolution moved to calendar as amended.

11) Senate Bill 371 (address gaps in DNA collection and require facility collection timelines) Motion: Move SB 371 (standardize DNA collection from felons in custody; authorize submission of DNA from incarcerated deceased offenders not previously submitted). Mover/Second: Motion by Senator Rose; second noted in transcript. Vote: Roll call recorded with unanimous ayes (nine ayes on the roll recorded in the transcript). Tally/Outcome: SB 371 moved to Senate calendar for further consideration.

Notes: This "Votes at a glance" summary captures the motions and roll-call outcomes recorded in the committee transcript; wording of some motions was clarified by sponsors or staff during discussion. If exact statutory text or amendment language is needed, consult the bill packets or staff-drafted amendments filed with the Senate clerk.