Republicans seek to increase school bus safety in Tennessee
Republicans last week advanced legislation strengthening punishment for drivers who illegally pass a school bus that is picking up or dropping off children.
House Bill 818 , sponsored by State Rep. Sam Whitson, R-Franklin, would make it a Class E felony if a driver illegally passes a school bus and strikes another person. It would be a Class C felony if the individual died.
The legislation would also increase the fine for not stopping for a school bus from $200 to $250 for the first offense based solely on video camera footage from the bus. The minimum fine for a second or subsequent offense would increase from $250 to $500.
Rural Brownfield Investment Act conserves green space, creates greater economic opportunities
Both chambers of the General Assembly last week unanimously passed legislation that will fast-track the redevelopment of former industrial sites, known as brownfields, throughout Tennessee.
State Rep. Ron Gant, R-Piperton, guided passage of the bill, known as the Rural Brownfields Investment Act. House Bill 319 creates a state-administered brownfield grant program with the goal of providing technical and financial resources directly to communities while bolstering incentives for developers. It will provide $5 million annually for investigation, assessment and remediation to local governments, economic development agencies, development boards and county land banks.
Republicans aim to prohibit taxpayer-funded abortions
Republicans last week advanced legislation that would prevent any city, county or metropolitan government from using taxpayer dollars to directly or indirectly assist with obtaining an abortion or abortion-related services.
House Bill 90 , sponsored by State Rep. Debra Moody, R-Covington, prohibits taxpayer funds from being used as part of a health benefit plan or for travel to a state where abortion is legal.
House Bill 90 ensures no municipality, county or metropolitan government in Tennessee reallocates tax dollars, cuts critical services or staff positions to pay for abortions or abortion-related services.
Republicans seek to protect personal data from Chinese companies
The House Higher Education Subcommittee last week advanced legislation to prevent Chinese social media companies from collecting the personal data of individuals who access the internet at public colleges and universities in Tennessee.
House Bill 1445 , sponsored by House Republican Caucus Chairman Jeremy Faison, R-Cosby, would prevent all public postsecondary institutions in the state from providing internet access to any social media platform that is operated or hosted by a company based in the People’s Republic of China. It aims to mitigate possible security threats to the state’s public higher education institutions’ networks.
The legislation does not target any specific social media company. It would also not prevent access if it is necessary to perform certain activities related to law enforcement, investigatory functions, audit, compliance, public safety, or other legal functions of the institution.
Bill punishes those who provide vehicles to intoxicated drivers
Legislation that helps keep intoxicated drivers from getting behind the wheel advanced out of the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee last week.
House Bill 1198 , also known as the Silas Gable Flatt Law, would make it a Class A misdemeanor to knowingly provide a motor vehicle to a person who is intoxicated or someone whose license has been suspended or revoked due to a conviction for driving under the influence.
Anyone convicted of violating the law would be required to serve a minimum of 48 hours in jail. Punishment for a second offense would be a minimum of 72 hours in jail while third or subsequent offenses would be a minimum of seven days.
The legislation is named in honor of Silas Gable Flatt, an unborn child who was killed last year when the vehicle his family was traveling in was struck head-on by an intoxicated driver in Overton County. The suspect, who had multiple previous driving under the influence charges, had been allowed to use the vehicle by a parent.
