Tennessee General Assembly information, click HERE. For information on State Senators, including phone numbers and email addresses, click HERE; for House members, click HERE. For information on legislation, click HERE.
Don't forget that you can now watch the Senate committee meetings and floor sessions online by going HERE; House committee meetings and floor sessions online HERE.
Phone calls can go to the legislative Switchboard at 615-741-3011 or to the Toll Free number 1-800-449-8366+1 last four digits of office phone number (available online).
 

DON'T KNOW WHO YOUR SENATOR OR REPRESENTATIVE IS?  
Just go HERE and you can find out!!

LIVE VIDEO
 

FOR YOUR PRAYER LIST:
Well, we are definitely 'off and running' now.  Despite the fact that the bill limit was reduced to 12 per legislator, 1431 bills were filed before the 'cut off date'.  Now clearly, not all of these will be heard this first session, but those not heard in 2025 could be heard in 2026, plus all the new bills introduced in that session.  Knowing that these decisions will impact every citizen of our state, we need prayer and thoughtful consideration of every bill heard during this process. 

GWEN ADAMS - Executive Director
This week we were met with overwhelming support for our bill fighting human smuggling connected to trafficking.  With over 12 co-sponsors already signed on, it has been amazing to see those who may have disagreed with each other on previous legislation now firmly joining together to fight human trafficking. 

This is a meaningful example of finding common ground to make a difference. It's also inspiring to see the trust legislators have in Bobbie's research and knowledge of legislation, and its potential impact.  Once again, I'm proud to be serving with her and honored to meet so many legislators ready to take a stand to protect the vulnerable.

HUMAN TRAFFICKING TO INCLUDE SMUGGLING
SB 0392 by *Taylor, Johnson - HB 0322 by *Barrett, Lamberth 
Criminal Offenses - As introduced, creates the offense of human smuggling; creates the offense of harboring or hiding, or assisting another in harboring or hiding, within this state an individual who the person knows or should have known has illegally entered or remained in the United States; authorizes the attorney general to take certain actions against a person or organization who commits or is about to commit a human trafficking offense or an aggravated human trafficking offense. - Amends TCA Title 39.
             NOTE: This is our very special bill for 2025.  A friend in LA with the Center for Security Policy asked if we would take it, and we were thrilled to have the opportunity. We have done some other bills on trafficking and count it a privilege to do this one. Their goal is to get this legislation passed in every state. 
 

What does SB392- HB322 do?

SB392 - HB322 improves and expands Tennessee’s human trafficking statute:

1. by creating a new crime of human smuggling;
2. by defining human smuggling as transporting or harboring 10 illegal immigrants or 5 minor illegal immigrants;
3. by empowering the attorney general to go to court to stop organizations involved in human trafficking and human smuggling;
4. by carefully and broadly defining the “organizations” the attorney general is empowered to stop from committing human trafficking and human smuggling; and
5. by clarifying when corporations can be liable for human trafficking or human smuggling.             

(For item 2, we do have a proposed amendment to take the number limit out so that if even one person meets this criteria, they can be rescued.)
 
STATUS:
HB 0322 by *Barrett, Lamberth is scheduled for the Criminal Justice Subcommittee on Wednesday at 10:30am. You might notice that the first co-sponsors on the both bills are the Floor Leaders for each house.  We are very grateful to Sen. Johnson and Rep. Lambberth. Gwen and I have been working, and I am very pleased to report that we have seven additional co-sponsors in the House including these members of the committee: Doggett, Atchley, Russell. We will be seeing others before Wednesday.

ACTION:
Please contact these committee members - some have the packet for review, some we haven't seen yet - and POLITELY ask them to support this bill and help to save children.
Rep. Mary Littleton rep.mary.littleton@capitol.tn.gov, Rep. Andrew Farmer rep.andrew.farmer@capitol.tn.gov. Rep. Jason Powell rep.jason.powell@capitol.tn.gov. 
ALSO, contact YOUR house member and urge him or her to support what we are trying to accomplish.  (If you don't know your house member, see link above.) Let's get this job done!!
 

PROTECTING MINORS FROM HEMP-DERIVED CANNABINOID:
SB 0215 by *Gardenhire - HB0072 by Howell, Russell
Criminal Offenses - As introduced, establishes mandatory minimum penalties of 48 hours in jail and a $500 fine for a person convicted of knowingly selling or distributing a product containing a hemp-derived cannabinoid to a person who is under 21; prohibits a retailer from knowingly allowing an employee younger than 21 to access, handle, or sell any product containing a hemp-derived cannabinoid on the premises of the retail establishment. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17; Title 43, Chapter 27 and Title 49, Chapter 6
STATUS: HB0072 passed the subcommittee

and is in House Judiciary on Wednesday at noon.
ACTION:  Click on red link, then link beneath the picture and urge the other committee members to vote in favor of this important bill. 

UNLAWFUL PHOTOGRAPHY
SB 0685 by *White - HB 0099 by *Bulso
Criminal Offenses - As introduced, increases the penalties for certain violations of the offense of unlawful photography; requires the court, rather than allowing the court discretion, to order a person convicted of certain unlawful photography offenses to register as a sexual offender; makes various other changes to the offense of unlawful photography. - Amends TCA Section 39-13-605 and Title 40, Chapter 39, Part 2.
STATUS:
This kind of photography took place in Nashville not long ago. 
ACTION:
This bill is also in the House Criminal Justice Committee. Click on the link, then click on the email address under the desired picture to send the message.

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