Tennessee House State and Local Government Committee adopts rules for 2025 session; mock vote on House Bill 0000 fails

The Tennessee House State and Local Government Committee agreed on its operating rules for the 2025 session and conducted a procedural test vote during its organizational meeting on Wednesday.

Chair John Crawford opened the meeting, read staff introductions and directed clerks to take the roll; the clerk reported a quorum was present. The committee then held a test vote on a placeholder measure identified in the meeting as "House Bill 0000." After the clerk reported the electronic tally, Chair John Crawford announced, "This bill fails." The clerk reported the results as "6 I, 13 a, and 0 present non voting," which the chair treated as a failing margin and closed the vote.

Committee leaders spent the meeting reviewing and adopting rules to govern full-committee and subcommittee business for the session. Key deadlines and procedures the chair emphasized include: bill notices must be submitted through the online portal by 3:30 p.m. each Wednesday to be eligible for the following week's committee; amendments must be filed electronically by 10 a.m. the day before a committee meeting and must come from a member's email or that member's legislative assistant; guest speakers require chairman preapproval no later than 24 hours before they appear; and presentation materials or handouts must be provided to the chairman at least 24 hours in advance.

The chair said the committee will use electronic distribution of documents and will not routinely provide hard copies; members may ask their assistants to print materials if needed. In accordance with what the chair cited as "House Rule 83," a bill or resolution may be calendared three times in committee; if a bill is not reported out by the third calendar it will be placed on a special calendar and, if still not reported, returned to the clerk's desk.

On voting procedures the committee clarified that final actions will be taken by roll call or the committee electronic system, and that any member may request a roll call vote if at least three members raise the request. The chair also said two-thirds of the members present are required to move the previous question. Sponsors presenting bills in committee are limited to three to five minutes for explanation.

Members asked procedural questions during the review. Representative Gabby Salinas asked when the three-member roll call request must be made; the chair replied it may be requested "at any time." Representative Todd Warner asked whether amendments would be acted on by voice vote; the chair said the chairman generally will decide and that more often amendments will be handled by voice while final actions use roll calls or the electronic system. Representative Jerome Moon asked whether unfinished calendars carried forward would be placed at the head of the next calendar; the chair said placement is at the chairman's discretion and explained he will attempt to accommodate members with scheduling conflicts.

The chair also announced a scheduled presentation for the committee next week by the University of Tennessee on its work with local government and reminded members that the committee will limit props during presentations and that guests and members of the public may livestream or record so long as it does not disturb the meeting; committee members and staff, however, are not allowed to livestream or record committee proceedings.

The meeting concluded after the rules review and the test vote; the chair entertained a motion to adjourn and closed the session.