Tennessee House approves bills on license-plate devices, school program alternative, stricter penalties for hemp-derived gummies and commemorative days

The Tennessee House of Representatives approved a slate of bills on Wednesday on the House floor in Nashville, advancing measures that sponsors said respond to public-safety and education concerns and designating special observance days.

Lawmakers approved legislation to give law-enforcement officers discretion to impound vehicles fitted with “license plate flippers,” authorize a law-enforcement–led classroom program as an alternative to DARE, and tighten penalties for sales of certain hemp-derived cannabinoid products. Members also adopted resolutions and bills naming days of observance to honor local figures and organizations.

Supporters said the bills address problems raised by educators, law enforcement and local officials. Representative Martin, sponsor of House Bill 300, said the measure "authorizes law enforcement to impound a vehicle fastened with a license plate flipper if the device cannot be removed quickly or safely by the owner or operator of the vehicle. Additionally, it requires a reasonable cost associated with impoundment to be paid by the offender." Martin renewed his motion for passage after a Transportation Committee amendment was adopted; the bill passed on third reading.

On education, Representative Butler described House Bill 382 as permitting the "law enforcement against drugs and violence" program to be made available to local education agencies as an alternative to the DARE program. Committee amendment 1 was adopted and the bill passed on third reading.

Representative Howell, sponsor of House Bill 72, told members the measure was prompted by educators' reports of students obtaining hemp-derived cannabinoid gummies that resemble candy. "What this bill does is set a minimum penalty of a mandatory 48 hours in jail and a minimum $500 fine," Howell said. Lawmakers debated whether the products are intoxicants; Howell said they can be, and recounted an incident he said left a teenager in an intensive-care unit. The bill passed after recorded roll-call voting.

Lawmakers also approved bills designating days of observance. House Bill 326 names March 3 as Sister Sandra Smithson Day to honor her work in education, and House Bill 325 designates March 12 as Father Charles Strobel Day to recognize his work founding Room in the Inn and his advocacy for people experiencing homelessness. Members who knew or worked with those honorees made brief remarks in support before the measures passed.

Votes at a glance: - House Bill 300 (Martin) — License-plate flippers: Adopted (committee amendment adopted). Tally: Ayes 95; Nays 1. Outcome: approved. - House Bill 382 (Butler) — Law-enforcement–led drug-education program as an alternate to DARE: Adopted (committee amendment adopted). Tally: Ayes 96; Nays 0. Outcome: approved. - House Bill 72 (Howell) — Hemp-derived cannabinoids: Sets a mandatory minimum penalty of 48 hours in jail and $500 fine for certain sales. Tally: Ayes 87; Nays 8. Outcome: approved. - House Bill 326 (Bolesall) — Designates March 3 as Sister Sandra Smithson Day: Adopted (committee amendment adopted). Tally: Ayes 96; Nays 0. Outcome: approved. - House Bill 325 (Bolesall) — Designates March 12 as Father Charles Strobel Day (Room in the Inn founder): Adopted (committee amendment adopted). Tally: Ayes 95; Nays 0. Outcome: approved. - House Bill 56 (Lambert) — County legislative bodies: Amended to allow removal of appointed board/commission members in specified circumstances. Tally: Ayes 95; Nays 0; Present 1. Outcome: approved. - House Bill 191 (Lambert) — Pointing laser beams at operators of motor vehicles/aircraft: Adopted (committee amendment adopted). Tally: Ayes 97; Nays 0. Outcome: approved. - House Bill 297 (Lambert) — Agriculture, forest and open-space land act change: Adopted (committee amendment adopted). Tally: Ayes 97; Nays 0. Outcome: approved. - House Bill 321 (Lambert) — Replace facsimile references with "electronic transmission" across numerous code sections: Adopted (committee amendment adopted). Tally: Ayes 97; Nays 0. Outcome: approved.

Discussion and context Representative Martin framed HB 300 as a tool to address devices intended to conceal license plates from automated or human observation; he and Chairman Howe moved and secured adoption of a Transportation Committee amendment before final passage. Members clarified that the underlying misdemeanor penalty for possessing or manufacturing a plate flipper remains in statute, and that the bill gives officers discretion to impound a vehicle if the device cannot be removed quickly.

On HB 72, Representative Howell said superintendents and educators in his district urged tougher penalties after incidents in which children obtained gummies that resemble candy. Howell said educators reported access among elementary students and described at least one episode in which a 17-year-old was sold a product and required hospitalization. Multiple members asked whether the products are intoxicants; Howell replied they are.

On HB 382, sponsors and committee members described the bill as giving local education agencies the option to use a law-enforcement–run curriculum dubbed "law enforcement against drugs and violence" instead of DARE. Committee amendment language was adopted before final passage; supporters said the change reflected local requests from superintendents and school leaders.

Other actions and recognitions The chamber also received ceremonial items and recognitions earlier in the session: a Scouting America year-end report from scouts across Tennessee and House Resolution 32 honoring the Christ Presbyterian Academy football team for its 2024 state championship were read and entered into the record, and members made several floor announcements and remembrances.

What the bills do next Passed bills will proceed through the usual enrollment and transmission process to the governor or to other procedural steps required by state law. Sponsors and committee chairs noted that committee amendments rewritten in committee were explained on the floor prior to final votes.

The House recessed until 9 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025.