Tennessee House adopts honors resolution, approves consent calendar and refers joint resolution to committee; dozens of bills withdrawn

NASHVILLE — The Tennessee House of Representatives on Feb. 26 passed its consent calendar, adopted House Joint Resolution 119 honoring a music educator and referred Senate Joint Resolution 17 to the Naming and Designating Committee, while a large number of House bills were formally withdrawn from committee.

The actions took place during a regular floor session at the House chamber of the 114th General Assembly. Chair Lady Moody moved the consent calendar on third and final consideration; the clerk later reported a constitutional majority and the presiding officer declared the consent calendar passed. Lawmakers also moved to adopt House Joint Resolution 119 honoring Adrian Macklin after suspending the rules for its immediate introduction and consideration. Several members moved to withdraw dozens of House bills from committee or from the desk, and the House recorded those withdrawals with and without objection.

Why it matters: The consent calendar bundles noncontroversial measures for expedited final passage, and the formal withdrawals remove bills from committee consideration or the chamber’s active docket. Referral of a senate joint resolution to the Naming and Designating Committee sends proposed honorary namings or memorials for committee review rather than immediate floor action.

Major floor actions and outcomes

Votes at a glance - Consent calendar: Passed on third consideration after Chair Lady Moody moved its passage; the clerk reported a constitutional majority and the presiding officer declared the consent calendar passed. - Senate Joint Resolution 17 (memorializing former U.S. President Jimmy Carter): Chairman Bozzo moved that the resolution be referred to the Naming and Designating Committee; the motion carried and the resolution was referred to committee (clerk reported ayes 52, nays 31, present not voting 4, per the floor record). - Senate Joint Resolution 24 (recognizing the Tennessee Federation of Republican Women on its 70th anniversary): Representative Russell moved to concur; the clerk recorded 83 ayes and 6 nays and the House concurred. - House Joint Resolution 119 (honoring Adrian Macklin as 2025 Grammy Music Educator of the Year): Rules were suspended for immediate consideration; Representative Parkinson (listed in the motion) moved adoption and the House adopted the resolution (adoption recorded on the floor as carried).

Withdrawals from committee Multiple representatives moved to withdraw individual House bills from committee or from the house desk. The floor recorded withdrawals with and without objection for the following (motion language in the record: “I move to withdraw”): HB 80; HB 362; HB 690; HB 472; HB 360; HB 670; HB 460 and HB 461 (moved together); HB 750; HB 730; HB 301; HJR 93; HB 80806 (as recorded); HB 613; HB 356 and HB 776 (moved together); HB 0616 (as recorded); HB 159 and HB 619 (moved together); HB 112; HB 636 and other bills listed earlier on second consideration (record shows a set of house bills numbered 359 through 636 moved to be passed on second consideration and held on the desk or referred to committee). The record notes whether each withdrawal was made “without objection” or “with objection.”

Scheduling and administrative announcements The clerk announced a special alcohol calendar to be set by the Departments and Agencies Subcommittee for Tuesday, March 11, 2025, which will include the previously announced liquor-by-the-drink omnibus bill; the deadline for amendments to that omnibus bill was set for 10 a.m. Monday, March 10, 2025. The clerk also reminded members that the bill-filing deadline is the next business day at 4:30 p.m. and that the deadline to put bills on notice for next week was 3:30 p.m. the same day as the session.

Procedure and next steps Several members asked to be recorded as co-prime sponsors on items listed on the consent calendar. After completing business the presiding officer recessed the House until 9 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 26, 2025.

Ending The session’s actions mainly advanced ceremonial measures, set scheduling deadlines and cleared items from committee dockets. The chamber will reconvene at the time announced by the presiding officer to continue consideration of legislative business.