Tennessee Senate convenes, advances batches of bills and sets committee review on rural health grant

The Tennessee Senate convened for a floor session, advanced several groups of bills and resolutions and set committee referrals while leaders announced committee meetings and grant deadlines.

Leader Johnson moved that a group of Senate bills listed on the floor be passed on first consideration; the motion was adopted without objection, and those bills were held on the clerk's desk for further action. Johnson later moved — citing Senate rule 33 and Article 2, Section 18 of the Tennessee Constitution — that another set of Senate bills (read on the floor) pass second consideration and be referred to the appropriate standing committees; that motion also carried without objection. The clerk and presiding officer handled the procedural confirmations, and no formal roll‑call tallies were recorded in the transcript for these actions.

The clerk also reported a motion concerning House Bill 884 for second consideration and referral; the motion was processed and the bill was introduced, passed on first consideration and held on the clerk's desk per the floor action.

Chairman Stevens announced that a new joint Ways and Means committee meeting with the House will meet this afternoon to review the Rural Health Transformation Act grant application and to hear administration officials outline how federal funds would be spent. "We will hear from the administration, more details on their plan for, how to spend that, very large tranche of money," Stevens said, inviting members to attend.

Chairman Watson reminded members that the first round of Tennessee America 250 grants has been awarded and urged counties and nonprofits to apply for the second round before the application deadline. "The application deadline for the second round is 01/20/2026," Watson said, directing members and constituents to tn250.com/backslashgrants for information and applications.

On procedural and ceremonial business, Senator Massey introduced Bill Gissel as "minister of the day," and Gissel delivered an invocation that quoted Deuteronomy 33: "The eternal God is your dwelling place and underneath are the everlasting arms." The clerk conducted a roll call; one speaker noted 32 members present and, citing Article 2, Section 11 of the Tennessee Constitution, declared the Senate had a quorum and was in session.

Senator Lamar announced the eighth annual "Capital's Closet" clothing drive for professional attire, scheduled for Jan. 28 in Conference Room 8C, and asked members to donate new or gently used clothing to help constituents seeking work attire. Several members also introduced guests and interns in the gallery.

Leader Johnson moved to adjourn the Senate until 8:30 a.m. Thursday next; the presiding officer called for those in favor to say "aye," the body responded and the Senate adjourned until that time.

Votes at a glance: several groups of Senate bills were advanced on first consideration and a separate set advanced on second consideration and referred to committee (as read on the floor); House Bill 884 was taken up per the clerk's announcement and held on the clerk's desk; the adjournment motion was approved by voice vote. Specific roll‑call tallies for individual bills were not recorded in the transcript.