Tennessee Senate advances bill packages, adopts resolution honoring UT baseball and recesses for joint convention

The Tennessee Senate on the floor passed procedural motions advancing multiple bill packages, introduced and referred several joint resolutions, adopted a resolution honoring the University of Tennessee baseball team and recessed for a joint convention to elect statewide officers.

The moves — made largely by unanimous consent or "without objection" — sent large groups of bills forward for committee consideration or final processing and included a motion to recess the Senate to meet in joint convention with the House to elect the comptroller of the treasury, the state treasurer and the secretary of state.

Leader Johnson moved that, pursuant to Senate Rule 32 and Article 2, Section 18 of the Constitution of the State of Tennessee, Senate Bills 124 through 147 be passed on first consideration; the motion carried by unanimous consent and the motion to reconsider was tabled. Leader Johnson separately moved that, pursuant to Senate Rule 33 and Article 2, Section 18, Senate Bills 1 through 22 and 24 through 123 pass second consideration and be referred to the appropriate standing committee or held on the clerk's desk; that motion also passed without objection and the motion to reconsider was tabled.

Leader Johnson additionally moved the introduction and first-consideration passage of Senate Joint Resolutions 15 and 16 (as announced on the floor); those measures were introduced and passed on first consideration and held on the clerk's desk. Leader Johnson moved that Senate Joint Resolutions 1 through 13 and Senate Resolution 1 be laid over and referred to the appropriate standing committees; the chamber carried that motion and the resolutions were referred or held on the clerk's desk.

Senator Massey moved for immediate consideration of Senate Joint Resolution 8, a resolution honoring and congratulating the University of Tennessee Volunteer baseball team for its College World Series championship; the body suspended the rules, considered SJR 8 and adopted it.

Near the close of the floor session, Leader Johnson moved pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 14 that the Senate recess and repair to the House chamber for a joint convention to elect the comptroller of the treasury, the state treasurer and the secretary of state, and that at the conclusion of the joint convention the Senate stand adjourned until 8:30 a.m. Thursday, January 16, 2025. The motion carried and the Senate recessed for the joint convention.

Votes at a glance

- Motion (first consideration): "Pursuant to Senate Rule 32 and Article 2, Section 18, Senate Bills 124–147 be passed on first consideration." Mover: Leader Johnson. Outcome: Passed by unanimous consent; motion to reconsider tabled. Vote details: not specified (recorded as "without objection").

- Motion (second consideration/referral): "Pursuant to Senate Rule 33 and Article 2, Section 18, Senate Bills 1–22 and 24–123 pass second consideration and be referred to the appropriate standing committee or held on the clerk's desk." Mover: Leader Johnson. Outcome: Passed by unanimous consent; motion to reconsider tabled. Vote details: not specified.

- Motion (introduction/first consideration): "Senate Joint Resolutions 15 and 16 be introduced, pass first consideration and be held on the clerk's desk." Mover: Leader Johnson. Outcome: Introduced and passed on first consideration; held on clerk's desk. Vote details: not specified.

- Motion (layover/referral): "Senate Joint Resolutions 1–13 and Senate Resolution 1 lie over and be referred to the appropriate standing committee or held on the clerk's desk." Mover: Leader Johnson. Outcome: Laid over and referred/held. Vote details: not specified.

- Resolution (immediate consideration and adoption): SJR 8, honoring the University of Tennessee Volunteer baseball team. Mover: Senator Massey. Outcome: Rules suspended; SJR 8 adopted. Vote details: "Ayes carry" as recorded on the floor; no roll-call tally provided.

- Motion (recess/adjourn): "Pursuant to SJR 14, the Senate recess to the House chamber for a joint convention to elect the comptroller of the treasury, state treasurer and secretary of state; thereafter the Senate stand adjourned until 8:30 a.m. Thursday, January 16, 2025." Mover: Leader Johnson. Outcome: Carried; Senate recessed for the joint convention. Vote details: not specified beyond "ayes carry."

Context and significance

Most of the day's floor action was procedural: the Senate used unanimous-consent procedures to move large blocks of bills through first and second consideration and to refer measures to committees. Those procedural steps do not represent final passage into law but move bills along the legislative process by clearing initial readings or assigning them to committee for substantive review. The adopted SJR 8 is an honorary resolution; it does not create law but directs that the body recognize the University of Tennessee baseball team.

Statements, recognitions and announcements filled portions of the session but did not alter the formal actions listed above. The session record shows no roll-call vote tallies for the measures described; outcomes are recorded on the transcript as having passed "without objection," "ayes carry," or by suspension of the rules.

What was not decided

The transcript records referrals and first/second consideration passages but not final enactment of the bills listed; committee action, subsequent readings or final votes would be required for any bill to become law. The transcript does not specify individual bill sponsors, committee assignments for each bill, fiscal notes, or roll-call vote counts for the measures advanced by unanimous consent.

Provenance

Topic intro excerpt: "The senate will come to order. Mister sergeant Arce, please invite the members in and close the door. Here we go. The minister of the day is Bill Geisel. He's the guest of senator Massey." (transcript block b0)

Topic finish excerpt: "All those in favor stand in the recess for the purpose of attending the joint commission, say aye. Aye. Those opposed, say no. The ayes carry. With that objection, we stand in recess for the purpose of joint convention and thereafter, the senate shall stand in adjournment until 8:30 AM Thursday next." (transcript block bN)

Ending

The Senate's use of unanimous consent moved a large set of bills forward quickly; most measures will now await committee consideration or further readings. The chamber recessed to a joint convention to elect the named statewide officers and will reconvene as ordered on the Senate calendar.