There are two great Tenth Amendment bills moving this week in the Tennessee General Assembly.  The Real ID Nullification bill (SB1638/HB1874) sponsored by Sen. Stacey Campfield and Rep. Frank Niceley will go before the General Subcommittee of the House Transportation Committee on Tuesday, April 12 and before the Senate Transportation Committee on Wednesday, April 13.

The bill is straightforward in listing the concerns that the bill raises for Tennesseans and citing the reasons that the Real ID Act is unconstitutional.  It then goes on to simply say that the state of Tennessee will not comply with the Real ID Act passed by Congress in 2005.  Contact members of the House subcommittee and Senate committee to encourage them to move this bill forward.

General Subcommittee of the House Transportation Committee

Rep. Vince Dean, Chair: Republican, District 30
107 WMB, (615) 741-1934, rep.vince.dean@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Terri Lynn Weaver, Vice-Chair: Republican, District 40
105 WMB, (615) 741-2192, rep.terri.lynn.weaver@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Barbara Cooper: Democrat, District 86
38 LP, (615) 741-4295, rep.barbara.cooper@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Dale Ford: Republican, District 6
202A WMB, (615) 741-1717, rep.dale.ford@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Bill W. Harmon: Democrat, District 37
24 LP, (615) 741-6849, rep.bill.harmon@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Matthew Hill: Republican, District 7
G-24 WMB, (615) 741-2251, rep.matthew.hill@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Phillip Johnson: Republican, District 78
104 WMB, (615) 741-7477, rep.phillip.johnson@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Michael Ray McDonald: Democrat, District 44
37 LP, (615) 741-1980, rep.michael.mcdonald@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Tony Shipley: Republican, District 2
204 WMB, (615) 741-2886, rep.tony.shipley@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Mike Stewart: Democrat, District 52
22 LP, (615) 741-2184, rep.mike.stewart@capitol.tn.gov

Senate Transportation Committee

Sen. Jim Tracy, Chair: Republican, District 16
2 LP, (615) 741-1066, sen.jim.tracy@capitol.tn.gov

Sen. Steve Southerland, Vice-Chair: Republican, District 1
10 LP, (615) 741-3851, sen.steve.southerland@capitol.tn.gov

Sen. Ken Yager, Secretary: Republican, District 12
10A LP, (615) 741-1449, sen.ken.yager@capitol.tn.gov

Sen. Tim Barnes: Democrat, District 22
305 WMB, (615) 741-2374, sen.tim.barnes@capitol.tn.gov

Sen. Mae Beavers: Republican, District 17
7 LP, (615) 741-2421, sen.mae.beavers@capitol.tn.gov

Sen. Andy Berke: Democrat, District 10
310 WMB, (615) 741-6682, sen.andy.berke@capitol.tn.gov

Sen. Dolores Gresham: Republican, District 26
308 WMB, (615) 741-2368, sen.dolores.gresham@capitol.tn.gov

Sen. Douglas Henry: Democrat, District 21
321 WMB, (615) 741-3291, sen.douglas.henry@capitol.tn.gov

Sen. Bill Ketron: Republican, District 13
13 LP, (615) 741-6853, sen.bill.ketron@capitol.tn.gov

On Tuesday, April 12 the Intrastate Commerce bill, SB1712/HB1945 will be reviewed by the Senate Commerce, Labor & Agriculture Committee.  The following day, April 13, it will be reviewed by the General Subcommittee of the House Commerce Committee.  The Intrastate Commerce bill seeks to exempt goods made, produced, or grown in Tennessee; sold in Tennessee, and retained or consumed in Tennessee from the overreach of the federal government in interpreting the Constitution’s Commerce Clause.  It is important that we not let up in contacting the members of the committees to ensure that they know of our support for this bill.

Senate Commerce, Labor & Agriculture Committee

Sen. Jack Johnson, Chair: Republican, District 23
11 LP, (615) 741-2495, sen.jack.johnson@capitol.tn.gov

Sen. Mike Faulk, Vice Chair: Republican, District 4
11A LP, (615) 741-2061, sen.mike.faulk@capitol.tn.gov

Sen. Charlotte Burks, Secretary: Democrat, District 15
304 WMB, (615) 741-3978, sen.charlotte.burks@capitol.tn.gov

Sen. Mae Beavers: Republican, District 17
7 LP, (615) 741-2421, sen.mae.beavers@capitol.tn.gov

Sen. Dolores Gresham: Republican, District 26
308 WMB, (615) 741-2368, sen.dolores.gresham@capitol.tn.gov

Sen. Steve Southerland: Republican, District 1
10 LP, (615) 741-3851, sen.steve.southerland@capitol.tn.gov

Sen. Eric Stewart: Democrat, District 14
310A WMB, (615) 741-6694, sen.eric.stewart@capitol.tn.gov

Sen. Reginald Tate: Democrat, District 33
320 WMB, (615) 741-2509, sen.reginald.tate@capitol.tn.gov

Sen. Jamie Woodson: Republican, District 6
6 LP, (615) 741-1648, sen.jamie.woodson@capitol.tn.gov

General Subcommittee of the House Commerce Committee

Rep. Jon C. Lundberg, Chair: Republican, District 1
205 WMB, (615) 741-7623, rep.jon.lundberg@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Pat Marsh, Vice-Chair: Republican, District 62
110 WMB, (615) 741-6824, rep.pat.marsh@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Charles Curtiss: Democrat, District 43
34 LP, (615) 741-1963, rep.charles.curtiss@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. JoAnne Favors: Democrat, District 29
25 LP, (615) 741-2702, rep.joanne.favors@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Bill W. Harmon: Democrat, District 37
24 LP, (615) 741-6849, rep.bill.harmon@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Ryan A. Haynes: Republican, District 14
203 WMB, (615) 741-2264, rep.ryan.haynes@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Steve McManus: Republican, District 96
107 WMB, (615) 741-1920, rep.steve.mcmanus@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Richard Montgomery: Republican, District 12
201 WMB, (615) 741-5981, rep.richard.montgomery@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Joe Pitts: Democrat, District 67
34 LP, (615) 741-2043, rep.joe.pitts@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Dennis E. Roach: Republican, District 35
217 WMB, (615) 741-2534, rep.dennis.roach@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Charles Michael Sargent, Jr.: Republican, District 61
206 WMB, (615) 741-6808, rep.charles.sargent@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. David A. Shepard: Democrat, District 69
34 LP, (615) 741-3513, rep.david.shepard@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. Kent Williams: Independent, District 4
19 LP, (615) 741-7450, rep.kent.williams@capitol.tn.gov

 

Other Bills of Interest

There are several other critical Tenth Amendment bills before the Tennessee General Assembly.  While these bills are not currently scheduled for a vote, it is important that we begin contacting legislators now to express support.  Each bill has been assigned to a committee in the House and Senate.  A link is included with each bill to a list of the members of each committee in the Tennessee General Assembly.

SJR0098 – Constitutional Tender

Sen. Bill Ketron has introduced a resolution in the Tennessee General Assembly that will create a committee to study creating an alternative currency for Tennessee in the even of a collapse of the Federal Reserve.  SJR0098 is an important step towards bringing constitutional tender to Tennessee.  Article 1, Section 10 of the U.S. Constitution states:  “No State shall … make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts.”

Currently assigned to the Senate Delayed Bills Committee.

SB0251/HB0294 – Safe Access to Medical Cannabis Act

Sen. Beverly Marrero and Rep. Jeanne Richardson have teamed to introduce the Safe Access to Medical Cannabis Act.  While this is not specifically nullification legislation, the goal is to help those who have legitimate medical needs that could be helped by the use of medical cannabis.  Federal drug laws prohibit the use of cannabis (marijuana) for any purpose, including legitimate therapeutic uses of the drug, in spite of the fact that the U.S. Constitution gives the federal government no powers over controlling what substances people are able put into their bodies, making the issue of cannabis fall strictly under the powers of the individual state governments.  Please contact Sen. Marrero and Rep. Jeanne Richardson to thank them for their sponsorship of this important bill.

Currently assigned to the Senate Government Operations Committee and the General Subcommittee of the House Health and Human Resources Committee.

SB 1108/HB 0959 – Sheriffs First

Sen. Stacey Campfield and Rep. Bill Dunn have introduced legislation that will require federal law enforcement officers to seek the permission of the county sheriff before executing an arrest, search, or seizure in the state of Tennessee except in specific situations.  The bill states:

“A federal employee who is not designated by state law as a Tennessee peace officer may not make an arrest, search, or seizure in this state without the written permission of the sheriff or designee of the sheriff of the county in which the arrest, search, or seizure will occur.”

SB1108/HB0959 is critical in ensuring that the federal government is not able to enforce unconstitutional laws in the state of Tennessee.  Please contact Sen. Campfield and Rep. Dunn to thank them for introducing this bill.

Currently assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee and the General Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee.

HJR0032 – Tennessee Health Care Freedom Amendment

Rep. Glen Casada has introduced the Tennessee Health Care Freedom Amendment, which is a resolution to begin the process of amending the Tennessee Constitution to prohibit public officials from interfering with the ability of Tennesseans to choose or decline any method of securing health services.

Currently assigned to the General Subcommittee of the House Commerce Committee.

SB1580/HB1626 – Unfunded and Unconstitutional Mandates

Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey and Rep. Scotty Campbell are sponsoring SB1580/HB1626 to declare that Tennessee does not have to comply with unconstitutional and unfunded mandates, as well as to forbid any state budget expenditures on such mandates.  This is an exciting development for Tennessee and a definite challenge to the federal government’s overreach into the state government.

Currently assigned to the Senate Finance, Ways & Means Committee and the General Subcommittee of the House Finance, Ways & Means Committee.

Michael Boldin

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