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Tennessee House creates ad hoc committee to review complaint, passes consent calendar and records multiple bill withdrawals
Summary
The Tennessee House adopted House Resolution 5 to form an ad hoc committee to review a complaint filed by Ruben Dockery, approved the consent calendar by recorded vote, and numerous representatives withdrew bills from committee without objection during the floor session on the House Floor.
The Tennessee House of Representatives on the House Floor adopted House Resolution 5, creating an ad hoc committee to receive and review a complaint filed by Ruben Dockery regarding the 50 Third Representative District. The chamber also passed the consent calendar on third and final consideration and recorded the withdrawal of multiple house bills from committee, all without recorded objection.
The resolution was brought up for immediate consideration after Representative Tim Morris moved to suspend the rules “for immediate introduction and consideration of HR 5.” Miss Clark, the clerk, read the caption: “House resolution 5 by Speaker Pro Tem Marsh, a resolution to create an ad hoc committee to receive and review the complaint filed by Ruben Dockery with respect to the 50 Third Representative District.” Speaker Pro Tem Marsh then moved adoption, and the presiding officer declared, “Ayes have it. I declare it adopted.”
The consent calendar was moved for passage on third and final consideration by Chair Lady Moody “in keeping with rule 50.” The clerk recorded the vote with 90 ayes and no nays, and the presiding officer announced that a constitutional majority had been received and the calendar passed.
Separately, a series of motions from individual members withdrew specific house bills from committee and from the House. Those motions were presented on the floor and each was approved “without objection.” The measures withdrawn included HB 419, HB 903, HB 815, HB 31, HB 1070, HB 877, HB 837, HB 367, HB 1007, HB 451, HB 844, HB 467, HB 287, HB 289, HB 709, HB 710, House Joint Resolution 65, HB 41, and HB 1055. Each withdrawal was announced by the member who moved it, followed by the presiding officer’s standard language that the motion was ordered without objection.
The floor also recorded scheduling and procedural announcements: the clerk announced a bill-filing deadline of 4:30 p.m. the same day, and leadership moved the House into its standard recess until 4 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 10, 2025.
Why it matters: HR 5 establishes a legislative mechanism for reviewing a complaint that pertains to a representative district, which may lead to a committee inquiry or recommendations depending on the ad hoc committee’s findings. Passage of the consent calendar advances a bundle of measures toward finalization. The withdrawal of bills from committee clears those measures for later floor consideration or other procedural handling.
Votes at a glance
- House Resolution 5 (caption: create an ad hoc committee to receive and review the complaint filed by Ruben Dockery with respect to the 50 Third Representative District) — Motion to suspend rules to consider HR 5: moved by Representative Tim Morris; adoption moved by Speaker Pro Tem Marsh; outcome: adopted (voice vote; presiding officer: “Ayes have it”).
- Consent calendar (third and final consideration, per Rule 50) — moved by Chair Lady Moody; outcome: passed (recorded vote: Ayes 90; No nays recorded).
- Withdrawals from committee (each moved and ordered without objection): HB 419 (Representative Alexander); HB 903 (Representative Bridal); HB 815, HB 31, HB 1070 (Deputy Speaker Zachary); HB 877 (Representative White); HB 837 (Representative Miller); HB 367 (Representative Hill); HB 1007 (Representative Hicks of Washington); HB 451 (Representative Glenn); HB 844 (Representative Renault); HB 467 (Representative Reeves); HB 287 and HB 289 (Representative Lafferty); HB 709, HB 710, HJR 65 (Representative Piquet); HB 41 (Representative Howell); HB 1055 (Representative McKenzie). All withdrawals were announced on the floor and approved “without objection.”
Meeting context and next steps: The ad hoc committee named by HR 5 will need to be constituted and assigned members according to the resolution’s terms; the transcript records only the creation of the committee, not its membership or timeline. Bills withdrawn from committee are now free for further floor action per chamber procedure; the transcript shows those withdrawals but not subsequent referrals or scheduling. The clerk’s announced bill-filing deadline and the leadership’s scheduling motion set near-term deadlines and the next floor meeting time.
Ending: The House recessed to reconvene at the time announced by leadership, and members were reminded of the 4:30 p.m. filing deadline for bills the same day.
