NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee legislature will reconvene on Aug. 21 to discuss several bills meant to be focused on public safety.
Discussions on the proposed special session began soon after a former student shot and killed three nine-year-olds and three adults in March at The Covenant School. Following the shooting, demonstrations were held at the capitol by activists calling for gun restrictions.
The proclamation calling the special session was issued on Aug. 8. It says the session will start at 4 p.m. Central Time and lawmakers will consider and act on proposed laws focusing on 18 specific subjects.
Those subjects include mental health resources, school safety plans, information about victims of violent offenses, stalking offenses, measures encouraging the safe storage of firearms and several others.
Lawmakers were also expected to discuss temporary mental health orders of protection, a measure proposed by Gov. Bill Lee that would allow law enforcement to ask judges for rulings allowing them to remove weapons from people demonstrating they could be a harm to themselves or others.
A list of the upcoming committee meetings and lawmakers' planned sessions for the Tennessee House and Senate is available online. A live stream for the House is also available online.
A list of the bills proposed so far, along with their descriptions from the Tennessee legislature and the lawmakers who introduced them, is available below.
HB 7006 - Rep. Scott Cepicky (R - Culleoka)
Authorizes the department to direct available state funds to contract with additional private service providers across the state to provide inpatient psychiatric services for uninsured individuals in this state; requires the department to report to the speakers of both houses on whether additional inpatient psychiatric services are needed in the City of Knoxville and whether additional state funds should be expended for the construction of a state-owned and -operated inpatient psychiatric facility in the City of Knoxville.
HB 7008 - Rep. Jason Zachary (R - Knoxville)
Requires a qualified mental health professional or behavior analyst to take certain steps to warn or protect an identified victim or group of people when the professional determines that a service recipient has made an actual threat of bodily harm or has an intention to commit such harm; provides immunity from civil, criminal, and regulatory liability for a professional who takes reasonable action to provide such warning or protection.
HB 7009 - Rep. John Gillespie (R - Knoxville)
As introduced, establishes a mental healthcare professionals student loan repayment grant program to incentivize certain mental healthcare providers to provide services in this state
HB 7016/SB 7002 - Rep. Mark Cochran (R - Englewood)
As introduced, creates the criminal offense of recklessly, by any means of communication, threatening to commit an act of mass violence; requires the court to determine whether a defendant charged with threatening to commit an act of mass violence is a threat to the public prior to release on bail.
HB 7001 - Rep. Dwayne Thompson (D - Cordova)
Specifies that classes that qualify as training for issuance of an enhanced handgun carry permit or concealed handgun carry permit must include training on the use of gun locks
HB 7010 - Rep. Antonio Parkinson (D - Memphis)
As introduced, creates the Class D felony of knowingly inducing or coercing a minor under 18 to commit theft of a firearm or a robbery or burglary offense involving theft of a firearm.
HB 7011 - Rep. Antonio Parkinson (D - Memphis)
As introduced, makes a person who illegally transfers a firearm to a minor criminally responsible for any resulting act of mass violence or a threat of mass violence in which the minor threatens to use the firearm.
HB 7012 - Rep. William Lamberth (R - Portland)
Directs the Department of Safety to provide free firearm locks to Tennessee residents upon request; requires department-approved handgun safety courses to contain instruction on the safe storage of firearms; exempts the retail sale of firearm safes and firearm safety devices from sales and use taxes beginning November 1, 2023; defines firearm safes and firearm safety devices
HB 7002/SB 7001 - Rep. William Lamberth (R - Portland)
Requires each LEA, public charter school, private school, and church-related school to develop a policy to direct how students, teachers, substitute teachers, and staff are to respond when a fire alarm is activated on school premises outside of a scheduled fire drill to protect students, teachers, substitute teachers, and staff in the event the fire alarm was activated due to the presence of an active shooter on school premises
HB 7003 - Rep. William Lamberth (R - Portland)
Expands the eligibility for filing a petition to obtain a lifetime order of protection to include victims of aggravated stalking and especially aggravated stalking.
HB 7004 - Rep. William Lamberth (R - Portland)
Requires the court or chief officer of a mental health facility that orders the release of a person from the mental health facility to notify the law enforcement agency that transported the person to the mental health facility of the person's release
HB 7007 - Rep. Gino Bulso (R - Brentwood)
As introduced, clarifies that a private school serving students in any of the grades pre-kindergarten through twelve is authorized to adopt a handgun carry policy for the private school's property.
HB 7013 - Rep. William Lamberth (R - Portland)
As introduced, changes from 30 days to 72 hours the time frame within which a clerk of the circuit or general sessions court must notify the TBI of the final disposition of criminal proceedings against a person after final disposition of such proceedings; requires the clerk to notify the TBI of the final disposition of such proceedings by electronic submission; requires the clerk of the municipal court, when exercising concurrent general sessions court jurisdiction, to notify the TBI by electronic submission of the final disposition of such proceedings against a person no later than 72 hours after final disposition of such proceedings.
HB 7014 - Rep. William Lamberth (R - Portland)
Requires the commissioner of finance and administration to obtain a new demonstration waiver or amendment to provide medical assistance to members who are receiving care in an institution for mental diseases through TennCare
HB 7015 - Rep. William Lamberth (R - Portland)
As introduced, expands, from certain violent offenses to any felony offense, the offenses for which a person who has been arrested is required to have a biological specimen taken for the purpose of DNA analysis to determine identification characteristics specific to the person if probable cause exists for the arrest
HB 7017 - Rep. Anthony Davis (D - Davidson County)
As introduced, increases the penalty by one classification for the offenses of stalking, aggravated stalking, or especially aggravated stalking if the offense was committed because of the victim's status as a healthcare provider who performs abortions and classifies the offense as a hate crime.
HB 7018 - Rep. Anthony Davis (D - Davidson County)
As introduced, increases the penalty by one classification for the offenses of stalking, aggravated stalking, or especially aggravated stalking if the offense was committed because of the victim's status as a healthcare provider who provides gender-affirming care and classifies the offense as a hate crime.
HB 7020 - Rep. Anthony Davis (D - Davidson County)
As introduced, creates the Class B felony of knowingly committing an act of mass violence against another; states that the offense is a hate crime, which shall be punished one classification higher than otherwise provided if the defendant committed the act of mass violence against the other person due to the person's status as a healthcare provider who performs abortions.
HB 7021 - Rep. Anthony Davis (D - Davidson County)
As introduced, creates the Class E felony of knowingly threatening to commit an act of mass violence against another and frightening the other person; classifies the offense as a hate crime, to be punished one classification higher than otherwise provided, if the offense was committed due to the other person's status as a healthcare provider who provides gender-affirming care.
HB 7022 - Rep. Anthony Davis (D - Davidson County)
As introduced, creates the Class E felony of threatening to commit an act of mass violence against another; classifies a violation of threats of mass violence as a hate crime, which must be punished one classification higher than otherwise provided, if the defendant threatened to commit the act of mass violence against the other person due to the person's status as a healthcare provider who performs abortions.
HB 7023 - Rep. Scott Cepicky (R - Culleoka)
As introduced, authorizes a law enforcement agency to assign a law enforcement officer to serve as a school resource officer at a school within a local board of education's control that has not entered into a memorandum of understanding with a law enforcement agency to assign a school resource officer to the school.
HB 7024 - Rep. Gino Bulso (R - Brentwood)
As introduced, requires each public and private school facility to be equipped with an alarm system to be used in cases of an active shooter; requires the Department of Education to provide grants to local education agencies and private school operators to cover the cost of the installation and maintenance of the system.
HB 7025 - Rep. Chris Todd (R - Madison County)
As introduced, adds categories of victims and geographic targets that are the subject of threats communicated by a service recipient as targets that require certain actions by a qualified mental health professional or behavior analyst; requires reports of certain information about communicated threats to be reported to local law enforcement; makes certain other changes regarding reporting requirements by mental health professionals to whom threats are communicated by service recipients.
HB 7026 - Rep. Jason Zachary (R - Knoxville)
As introduced, requires a court that makes mental health adjudications regarding children to enter a standing and continuing order instructing the juvenile court clerk to collect and report certain information regarding children who have been adjudicated as a mental defective or judicially committed to a mental institution within three business days for the purposes of complying with federal law.
HB 7027 - Rep. William Lamberth (R - Portland)
As introduced, requires the state to pay the cost of a court-ordered mental health evaluation and treatment for criminal defendants who have been charged with a misdemeanor and are believed to be incompetent to stand trial or for whom there is a question about mental capacity at the time of the offense.
HB 7028/SB 7006 - Rep. Mark White (R - Memphis)
As introduced, clarifies the meaning of “local law enforcement” for purposes of the required notification to law enforcement by an inpatient mental health treatment facility or hospital that a service recipient has been committed; requires the clerk of court who maintains records of the adjudication as a mental defective or judicial commitment to a mental institution of a Tennessee resident to notify the clerk of court in the county of the person’s permanent residence.
HB 7029 - Rep. Mary Littleton (R - Dickson)
As introduced, requires juvenile offenders 16 years of age or more who are alleged to have committed certain offenses and meeting certain other criteria to be transferred to adult criminal court for disposition as if the juvenile were an adult.
HB 7030 - Rep. Rusty Grills (R - Newbern)
As introduced, expands the offenses for which a juvenile court may transfer a child to be tried as an adult in criminal court, if the child was 16 years of age or more at the time of the offense, to include burglary involving the theft of a firearm or an attempt to commit such offense; adds an appeal process for a criminal court to review a juvenile court's determination for such transfers.
HB 7031 - Rep. Rusty Grills (R - Newbern)
As introduced, expands the offenses for which a juvenile court may transfer a child to be tried as an adult in criminal court, if the child was 16 or older at the time of the offense, to include theft of a firearm or attempt to commit theft of a firearm; adds an appeal process for a criminal court to review a juvenile court's determination for such transfers.
HB 7032 - Rep. Cameron Sexton (R - Crossville)
As introduced, requires health insurance carriers, including TennCare providers, to provide mental health services and treatment to the same extent that the carriers and providers provide alcoholism and drug dependence services and treatment.
HB 7033 - Rep. Cameron Sexton (R - Crossville)
As introduced, requires a bail hearing, which must be open to the public, before a defendant who has been arrested or held to answer for a bailable offense may be admitted to bail.
HB 7034 - Rep. Cameron Sexton (R - Crossville)
As introduced, raises from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony knowingly violating an order of protection or a restraining order issued due to domestic abuse when based on stalking; raises the classification range for stalking from a Class A misdemeanor or Class E felony to a Class E or D felony; raises the classification of aggravated stalking from a Class E to a Class D felony; requires a court to order a mental health assessment of a defendant's need for mental health treatment if convicted of a stalking offense, at cost to the defendant unless indigent; requires the sentence to include the defendant undergoing treatment and monitoring of drug intake if the assessment indicates that the defendant is in need of and amenable to treatment.
HB 7035 - Rep. Cameron Sexton (R - Crossville)
As introduced, establishes a loan forgiveness program for psychiatrists, psychologists, and counselors.
HB 7036 - Rep. Cameron Sexton (R - Crossville)
As introduced, changes prerequisites for emergency detention and admission to a treatment facility from "immediate" substantial likelihood of serious harm to "imminent" substantial likelihood of serious harm.
HB 7037 - Rep. Anthony Davis (D - Davidson County)
As introduced, requires that, by October 1, 2024, the bureau enter each final disposition of criminal proceedings received by the bureau into the national crime information center and any other databases maintained by the bureau for the purpose of criminal history record checks within 30 days of the bureau's receipt of the disposition from a court clerk.
HB 7038 - Rep. Ron Gant (R - Piperton)
As introduced, requires the Department of Education to establish a school safety alert grant program to provide grants to LEA's to offset expenses incurred by schools for the installation of school safety alert systems.
HB 7039 - Rep. Ron Gant (R - Piperton)
As introduced, makes appropriations to provide funding for any legislation enacted during the first extraordinary session of the 113th General Assembly that creates a grant program to assist LEAs and public charter schools with costs for school safety alert systems.
HB 7040 - Rep. William Lamberth (R - Portland)
As introduced, establishes the designation of a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner and enumerates the permitted activities for an individual with such designation.
HB 7041 - Rep. William Lamberth (R - Portland)
As introduced, requires the bureau to submit a report on child and human trafficking crimes and trends in this state, based upon data available to the bureau, as well as current programs and activities of the bureau's human trafficking unit, to the governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the speaker of the senate by December 1, 2023, and by each December 1 thereafter.
HB 7042 - Rep. Jody Barrett (R - Dickson)
As introduced, requires the department to audit each public school in this state to assess its compliance with all applicable safety laws, rules, and policies designed to ensure the safety of students, staff, and visitors in the event of an active threat or active shooter situation on school premises, and to report the results of the audit to the general assembly; requires an audit of each public school no less than once every five years.
HB 7043 - Rep. Jody Barrett (R - Dickson)
As introduced, authorizes persons with an enhanced handgun carry permit to carry a handgun on school property unless the person knows that the respective school provides armed security on the school property; removes certain exemptions of a law enforcement officer's authority to possess a firearm on school property; authorizes certain community corrections officers to possess a handgun on school property.
HB 7044 - Rep. William Slater (R - Gallatin)
As introduced, requires each local education agency to post a notice in a conspicuous place on each school bus in operation by the LEA to notify others that no person shall enter onto school buses except for those authorized; requires new bus drivers and transportation supervisors to receive training regarding procedures concerning persons improperly on school buses.
HB 7045 - Rep. G.A. Hardaway (D - Memphis)
As introduced, establishes a pilot program under which a juvenile court may retain jurisdiction over a child until the child's 25th birthday and impose a sentence upon the child that could be imposed if the offense was committed by an adult; requires any portion of the disposition imposed that extends prior to the child's 25th birthday to be stayed pending completion of requirements set forth by the court at the time of disposition.
HB 7046 - Rep. G.A. Hardaway (D - Memphis)
As introduced, creates a pilot program under which a juvenile court may retain jurisdiction over the child who was adjudicated delinquent for an offense that was eligible to be transferred to criminal court; allows the court to impose a sentence upon the child that could be imposed if the offense was committed by an adult, but any portion of the disposition imposed that extends prior to the child's 25th birthday must be stayed pending completion of requirements set forth by the court at the time of disposition.
HB 7047 - Rep. Anthony Davis (D - Davidson County)
As introduced, creates a Class E felony of threatened mass violence for the reckless handling, display, or discharge of a firearm while operating, or as a passenger in, a motor vehicle.
HB 7048 - Rep. Scott Cepicky (R - Culleoka)
As introduced, authorizes physician assistants to be designated professionals in order to complete the first certificate of need in support of hospitalization for a person when other specified professionals are not available.
HB 7049 - Rep. John Ray Clemmons (D - Nashville)
As introduced, creates the Class C felony of knowingly inducing or coercing a minor under 18 to commit theft of a firearm or a robbery or burglary offense involving theft of a firearm from a residence or motor vehicle.
HB 7050 - Rep. John Ray Clemmons (D - Nashville)
As introduced, requires the Department of Safety to distribute firearm locks to each county's sheriff for distribution to members of the public; requires each sheriff to distribute firearm locks to any person who makes a request; authorizes the sheriff to distribute multiple locks to the same person; authorizes transfers of locks amongst sheriffs based on demand
HB 7051 - Rep. John Ray Clemmons (D - Nashville)
As introduced, requires the AOC in conjunction with the Department of Finance and administration's Office of Criminal Justice Programs to establish an extended pilot program for the rehabilitation of juvenile offenders to be administered by clerks of juvenile courts in this state.
HB 7052 - Rep. Mike Sparks (R - Smyrna)
As introduced, requires hospitals to update the psychiatric bed tracking system daily.
HB 7053 - Rep. Mike Sparks (R - Smyrna)
As introduced, permanently exempts from sales and use tax, the retail sale of gun safes and gun safety devices; removes the temporary sales tax holiday.
HB 7054 - Rep. Mary Littleton (R - Dickson)
As introduced, exempts a person from civil liability for damages, injuries, or death resulting from or arising out of the theft of the person's firearm that is properly stored in the person's motor vehicle unless the person commits an offense involving the use of the stored firearm or intentionally solicits or procures the conduct resulting in damage, injury, or death.
HB 7055 - Rep. Yusuf Hakeem (D - Chattanooga)
As introduced, creates the Class A misdemeanor of knowingly selling, loaning, or making a gift of a firearm to a minor for the purpose of inducing or coercing the minor to commit an offense; subjects a person convicted for such offense to civil liability for any criminal act committed by the minor.
HB 7056 - Rep. Yusuf Hakeem (D - Chattanooga)
As introduced, expands the offense of aggravated stalking to include persons who purchase a semi-automatic rifle or attempt to use a semi-automatic rifle for the course and furtherance of stalking.
HB 7057 - Rep. G.A. Hardaway (D - Memphis)
As introduced, creates an alternative sentencing pilot program for children adjudicated delinquent who are under 25.
HB 7058 - Rep. Mark Cochran (R - Englewood)
As introduced, expands the statutory duty that qualified mental health professionals and licensed behavior analysts have to notify potential victims and law enforcement of an actual threat of bodily harm against a clearly identified victim made by a person receiving mental health services to apply to additional healthcare providers and include credible threats without a clearly identifiable victim.
HB 7059 - Rep. Scott Cepicky (R - Culleoka)
As introduced, authorizes a law enforcement agency to assign a law enforcement officer to serve as a school resource officer at a school within a local board of education's or public charter school governing body's control that has not adopted a policy to assign a school resource officer to the school.
HB 7060 - Rep. Mark White (R - Memphis)
As introduced, requires juvenile offenders alleged to have committed certain offenses and meeting certain other criteria to be transferred to adult criminal court for disposition as if the juvenile were an adult; authorizes an appeal for such transfers.
HB 7061 - Rep. Harold Love, Jr. (D - Nashville)
As introduced, requires the department to annually notify each local education agency (LEA) in writing of all state and federal grant programs available to assist the LEA in expanding mental health services and resources in schools.
HB 7062 - Rep. Rusty Grills (R - Newbern)
As introduced, authorizes the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to inspect files and records of the court in a juvenile court proceeding for the purposes of complying with the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act of 2022 and the NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007.
HB 7063 - Rep. Tim Rudd (R - Murfreesboro)
As introduced, authorizes LEAs and public charter schools to employ retired law enforcement officers who are retired from a federal, state, or local law enforcement agency and honorably discharged veterans of the United States armed forces to serve as school resource officers on school premises; requires local boards of education and public charter school governing bodies to adopt policies to effectuate same.
HB 7064 - Rep. Chris Todd (R - Madison County)
As introduced, allows law enforcement officers, whether on-duty or off-duty, retired law enforcement officers, active duty and retired members of the armed forces of the United States, whether in discharge of official duties or not, and enhanced handgun carry permit holders, except in certain circumstances, to possess or carry, whether openly or concealed, with or without the intent to go armed, a handgun in any public school building or bus, on any public school campus, grounds, recreation area, athletic field, or any other property owned, operated, or while in use by any public board of education, school, college, or university board of trustees, regents, or directors for the administration of any public educational institution.
SB 7007 - Sen. Dawn White (R - Murfreesboro)
As introduced, directs the administrative office of the courts (AOC) to define and develop a centralized system of case management, document management, electronic case filing, electronic payment methods, data reporting, and any other capability deemed necessary for collection and reporting of all state and local court public case-level data.