Firefighters ask White County Commission to sponsor amendment to Back the Blue Act to increase penalties for assaults on first responders

White County emergency management coordinator and volunteer fire chief Matt McBride presented a petition on March 17, 2025 asking the White County Commission to sponsor a county letter supporting an amendment to the state Back the Blue Act that would raise penalties for assaults against first responders.

McBride said he was speaking on behalf of firefighter Jay Callister, who could not attend. McBride asked the commission for a written confirmation of support that the county could forward to state legislators, including Senator Bailey and the speaker of the Tennessee House. "I asked this county commission for the sponsorship for us to get something drawn up out of the mayor's office showing support for this to go to the state level," McBride said.

The petition requests that the Back the Blue Act be amended so that assaults on all first responders carry the same statutory penalty as assaults on law enforcement officers: the petition described the desired change as elevating the penalty to a Class E felony with a mandatory minimum 60‑day sentence and a $10,000 fine. McBride and the firefighter who authored the letter described the current penalty for assaulting a first responder as a Class A misdemeanor with a mandatory minimum 30‑day sentence and a $5,000 fine, and said plea reductions create opportunities for repeat offenders.

McBride told the commission the petition had been circulated among local fire departments and city councils, and county staff said the proposal may need to wait for next legislative session but that gathering local government endorsements now would strengthen the request. McBride noted the volunteer nature of much of the nation's fire service in explaining the urgency: "It is very hard when, as a nation, 70 plus percent of the nation's fire service and rescue service is volunteers," he said.

After discussion the commission took a voice vote on whether to support the requested amendments and for McBride to forward a letter and the minutes showing the vote. A commissioner moved and another seconded; the chair asked if there were any opposed and no opposition was recorded. The chair directed staff to prepare a letter of support for transmission to the state representatives cited by petitioners.

Ending The commission agreed to provide written support (a letter and meeting minutes) to accompany the petition to state lawmakers. County staff noted the bill's timing in the legislative session could require follow‑up next year.