House takes up bill on adult‑oriented performances, adopts amendment and records roll‑call votes

Chairman Todd moved passage of House Bill 884 on third and final consideration, setting off a substantive debate about how the bill defines and treats single adult‑oriented performances.

"I move passage of house bill 8 84 on 3rd and final consideration," Chairman Todd said when the bill was called up. The chamber considered Amendment No. 2, which a sponsor described as correcting the bill's effective date; the amendment was adopted following a recorded vote reported as 72 ayes and 22 nays.

Supporters, led by Chairman Todd, said the bill clarifies that the location requirements of Tennessee Code Annotated §7-51-1407(a) apply to an adult cabaret regardless of whether the cabaret is a single performance or ongoing business activity. "The amendment updates the effective date," Chairman Todd said, and the chamber adopted the amendment.

Opponents pressed concerns about the bill's reach. Representative McKenzie argued that removing the word "predominantly" from prior language widened the scope, saying that, as written, ordinary retailers could be swept in: "So now any entity, any business is established as an adult or in a business, if they carry something that someone deems, adult oriented... Victoria's Secret now becomes part of this bill. Target could potentially now become part of this bill... Walmart would now become part of this adult oriented thing." McKenzie asked whether sponsors had tracked how many establishments would be affected.

Representative Jones of Davidson framed the bill as a distraction from other policy priorities and sharply criticized its premise. "This bill does nothing to protect young people," Jones said, calling the measure "a veneer of hate" and urging colleagues to focus on issues such as Medicaid expansion and support for farmers.

A roll call on the bill as amended was reported as 73 ayes and 24 nays. The presiding officer's subsequent announcement in the transcript about whether the bill achieved a required majority was unclear; the record shows the roll calls and tallies as reported on the floor but does not include a definitive, unambiguous statement of final disposition in the available transcript excerpt.

The debate on the bill included repeated requests from members for clarity about definitions and local impacts; sponsors said the intent was to align single-performance rules with existing distance and location requirements. The clerk and presiding officer handled vote calls and procedural matters; the House then proceeded to other orders of business.