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Tennessee House sets special-session return, schedules State of the State and budget transmittal
Summary
The Tennessee House adopted three resolutions setting recess and return dates for a special session, scheduled a joint convention for Gov. Bill Lee’s State of the State, and approved deadlines for budget-related filings. Lawmakers debated timing and bill-filing logistics before approving the measures.
NASHVILLE — The Tennessee House of Representatives on the House floor adopted a set of resolutions on procedural timing for an upcoming special session, including a House recess to Feb. 3, 2025, a joint convention to hear the governor’s State of the State on Feb. 10, and a Feb. 14 transmittal date for the governor’s budget documents.
House Majority Leader Blair Lambert moved the measures and the chamber approved them after members debated how long the special-session work would require. "At this juncture, members, there are 7 bills filed and that includes the appropriation bill," Lambert said, noting the legislature had a limited number of filed items to consider in the special session.
The actions matter because they set the chamber’s calendar for the special session and the timing for receipt of the governor’s budget. The House adopted House Joint Resolution 61 to recess the regular session and return on Feb. 3; adopted House Joint Resolution 62, a companion measure setting an alternate date for the Senate; and adopted House Joint Resolution 63 to call a joint convention for the State of the State and to authorize transmittal of the budget documents.
Debate centered on whether the two chambers should mirror return dates and on practical effects for bill sponsors. "So we're assuming that we're going to address the weighty business of this special session in less than 1 week. Is that what I'm hearing here?" Chairman Clemens asked during floor debate. Representative Camper urged flexibility, saying lawmakers should allow time to "vet these bills" thoroughly rather than compress work into just a few days.
Lawmakers also voted to suspend rules to permit the administration to file appropriations, bond and related administration bills by the close of business Feb. 14, and separately moved to treat bills filed by the close of business on Feb. 6 as timely for introduction on the next legislative day. Chairman Clemens raised concerns about the filing deadline while the Senate is not in session and the difficulty of securing Senate sponsors when the upper chamber is out of session.
The House clerk and leadership announced an extraordinary session would convene at 4 p.m. the same day to begin consideration of the special-session business. The chamber also processed a number of withdrawals: members moved to withdraw several house bills from committee and the chamber during the morning's unfinished-business period.
Votes at a glance: House Joint Resolution 61 (recess to Feb. 3) — Adopted (Ayes 84, Nays 7). House Joint Resolution 62 (alternate Senate return date) — Adopted (Ayes 72, Nays 19). House Joint Resolution 63 (call joint convention for State of the State; authorize budget transmittal) — Adopted (Ayes 78, Nays 13). Consent calendar (third and final consideration) — adopted; vote count not specified in transcript. Several bill-withdrawal motions were granted without recorded roll-call tallies.
The passage of these calendar and procedural measures puts in place the schedule for receipt and initial handling of the administration’s budget and related bills; lawmakers repeatedly said they expected to take as much time as necessary to consider the filings once the special session convenes.
