Bill Limiting Tennessee Governor’s Emergency Powers Passes In TN House

Image Credit: Adelia Kirchner / The Tennessee Conservative

The Tennessee Conservative [By Adelia Kirchner] –

A bill to protect the constitutional rights of Tennesseans by prohibiting the governor from suspending any part of the Tennessee Constitution in the issuance of an emergency order, proclamation, or rule passed on the House floor by a 77-16 vote on Monday afternoon. 

House Bill 0324 (HB0324) is sponsored by Representative Rusty Grills (R-Newbern-District 77).

“Right now in this country we’re seeing an overreach of executive powers using emergency declarations to subvert our Constitution,” Rep. Jason Powell (D-Nashville-District 53) said on the House floor. “Just wanted to be on record as saying that.”

Rep. William Lamberth (R-Portland-District 44) quickly responded, “Boy if you think it’s bad now, the last four years were rough.”

Republican Representatives Alexander, Atchley, Barrett, Baum, Boyd, Bricken, Bulso, Burkhart, Butler, Capley, Carringer, Cepicky, Cochran, Darby, Davis, Doggett, Eldridge, Faison, Farmer, Fritts, Gant, Garrett, Gillespie, Grills, Hale, Haston, Hawk, Helton-Haynes, Hicks G, Hicks T, Hill, Howell, Hulsey, Hurt, Jones R, Keisling, Kumar, Lafferty, Lamberth, Leatherwood, Littleton, Lynn, Maberry, Marsh, Martin B, Martin G, McCalmon, Moody, Moon, Powers, Reedy, Reeves, Reneau, Rudd, Rudder, Russell, Scarbrough, Sherrell, Slater, Sparks, Stevens, Stinnett, Terry, Todd, Travis, Vaughan, Vital, Warner, White, Williams, Wright, Zachary, and Speaker Sexton voted in favor of HB0324.

Democrat Representatives Chism, Glynn, Miller, and Shaw also voted in favor of the bill.

Democrat Representatives Behn, Brooks, Clemmons, Dixie, Hakeem, Hardaway, Hemmer, Johnson, Jones J, Love, McKenzie, Mitchell, Parkinson, Powell, Salinas, and Towns voted against it.

The corresponding Senate Bill 27 (SB0027), sponsored by Senator Mark Pody (R-Lebanon- District 17), already passed by a 27-2 vote on the Senate floor earlier this month. 

This legislation will now be enrolled, signed by the speakers of both chambers and sent to Gov. Bill Lee’s (R-TN) desk for his signature.

“Special thanks to State Representative Rusty Grills for assisting with the presentation of HB324,” the former sponsor of HB0324, Rep. Jody Barrett (R-Dickson-District 69) said on social media. “This bill finally addresses the overreach of Gov. Bill Lee during his administration’s response to COVID-19 wherein constitutionally protected individual rights of Tennesseans were suspended, contravened, or infringed by executive order.”

“With the adoption of this law, never again will a Governor have the authority during a declared state of emergency to deny you your right to work or worship or freely associate,” Rep. Barrett continued. “[Sen.] Mark Pody was a champion of this cause in the Senate and deserves the thanks of a grateful citizenry for his effort.”

About the Author: Adelia Kirchner is a Tennessee resident and reporter for the Tennessee Conservative. Currently the host of Subtle Rampage Podcast, she has also worked for the South Dakota State Legislature and interned for Senator Bill Hagerty’s Office in Nashville, Tennessee. Adelia is The Tennessee Conservative’s on-site reporter for the Tennessee General Assembly. You can reach Adelia at adelia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.