Tennessee
New Tennessee House rules seek to discourage more uproar after highly publicized expulsions – WBBJ TV
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Republican-run Tennessee House has capped how long lawmakers can debate bills and is restricting members from speaking when deemed “out of order.” The new rules passed Wednesday were opposed by many Democrats, including three targeted with expulsion last April for their gun control protest on the House floor just days after a deadly shooting at a Christian elementary school in Nashville. The new rules generally limit each lawmaker to five minutes of discussion per item being considered. They also allow the House speaker to set an overall time limit split evenly between Democrats and Republicans.
Members of the House of Representatives meet on the first day of the 2024 legislative session Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Republican-run Tennessee House on Wednesday installed new rules limiting how long lawmakers can debate bills and restricting members deemed “out of order” from speaking — an effort to discourage further turmoil after the highly publicized expulsions of two Democrats last year.
The wide-ranging set of rule changes was opposed by many Democrats, including the “Tennessee Three”: Rep. Gloria Johnson of Knoxville, Rep. Justin Jones from Nashville and Justin Pearson of Memphis, who waged a protest on the House floor last April calling for gun control just days after a Christian elementary school shooting in Nashville killed six people.
After the protest, Johnson was spared from expulsion by a single vote, while Jones and Pearson were kicked out, quickly reappointed by local officials and then reelected.
The rules approved Wednesday differed somewhat from those temporarily passed for a special legislative session in August called by Republican Gov. Bill Lee in response to The Covenant School shooting. Notably, Republican lawmakers did not reinstate a prohibition on the public holding small signs during committee hearings and floor sessions — a ban a Tennessee judge had blocked.
The rule changes come as the Republican House supermajority is receiving criticism for further limiting access to the public galleries and restricting which news outlets can access the floor.
Under the new rules, each lawmaker will generally have five minutes of discussion per each bill, resolution or motion, and the House speaker can set an overall time limit split evenly between Democrats and Republicans. Additionally, lawmakers will have five minutes to explain their bills in committees, though responding to questions won’t count.
Democrats argued the time caps would unnecessarily constrain debates, especially on complex proposals.
“What we do here impacts people’s lives,” said Rep. Vincent Dixie, a Nashville Democrat. “And we need to make sure that we get it right and take the time to get it right.”
Republicans, meanwhile, said a cap would ensure equal speaking time for both sides. Rep. Jason Zachary of Knoxville referenced a list compiled by the House clerk’s office showing that the several lawmakers who spoke the most in debates during the last regular session were Democrats.
In response, Democrats noted that Republicans have frequently asked to end debates and proceed to the vote, including on contentious bills. Those motions are still allowed under the new rules. Additionally, some Democrats said they were proud to have spoken so often about important issues.
House Majority Leader William Lamberth said he hopes the motions to stop debate won’t be used much now.
“I would ask for both caucuses to resist that impulse if we are under a rule that allows for equal time on both sides,” said Lamberth, a Portland Republican.
Lamberth also said the rule changes introduce “intermediary steps” short of expulsion or censure. The new rule would strictly limit lawmakers from speaking on the floor if they are ruled out of order — for instance, if the House speaker declares they have veered too far off topic on a bill.
If the House votes someone out of order once, the lawmaker won’t be allowed to continue their current comments. If it occurs twice in a day, the lawmaker’s time to debate will be reduced from five to two minutes for that day and the next legislative day. A third out-of-order vote during that time frame will block the lawmaker from speaking on the floor through the next legislative day.
“That’s what these rules are designed to do, is to effectively promote the democracy that’s debated in this House,” said Republican Rep. Johnny Garrett of Goodlettsville.
One of the Democrats expelled last year, Jones, said during Wednesday’s debate that House Speaker Cameron Sexton of Crossville was “drunk with power” in changing the rules. Jones was voted out of order and temporarily quieted before the vote on the new rules.
“These rules are targeting anyone who dissents,” Jones told reporters after the vote.
Jones has sued over his expulsion and a temporary special session House rule that Republicans applied to silence Jones for part of one day in August.
Republican leaders also approved other rules changing how lawmakers can ask parliamentary and procedural questions, which some Democrats, including Jones and Pearson, have increasingly posed on the floor about a variety of topics. They now would need to ask them through their party’s floor leader. The rules also let the speaker call on lawmakers in whatever order he chooses, rather than based on who asked to speak first.
For more news across the state, click here.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program enrollment in Tennessee has fallen by more than 100,000 people in less than a year, according to data from the Tennessee Department of Human Services.
Advocates claim new federal eligibility rules are pushing people out of the food assistance program.
State data reviewed by News 2 shows SNAP enrollment dropped by 109,396 individuals between July 2025 and April of this year.
The Tennessee Justice Center argues the decline is not driven by reduced need, but by stricter eligibility standards passed in President Trump’s so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill,” including expanded work requirements, fewer exemptions, and more frequent eligibility checks.
“Expenses that families have to take care of are at an all-time high, and normally when we are in that situation, there are more families participating in SNAP, but that’s not what’s happening. Families are being pushed out because of these rules,” Signe Anderson, senior director of nutrition advocacy at the Tennessee Justice Center, said. “People are having to make hard choices in order to feed themselves.”
The TJC told News 2 some individuals are skipping meals to feed their children and are being forced to choose between buying groceries and paying their bills because they’re struggling to complete the required paperwork or don’t meet the 20-hour-per-week work or volunteer requirement. Advocates said an influx of families, grandparents, veterans and those who are unhoused are seeking help.
“If you don’t have a place to live, to shower, to get a phone call, it’s hard to work,” Anderson said. “To take food away from those individuals makes it really difficult for them to even get to a point where they can work.”
However, federal officials dispute the idea that eligible recipients are being removed from the program. U.S. Department of Agriculture officials testified in Washington, D.C., this week that the changes are intended to strengthen program integrity and ensure accountability.
“No one was kicked off. We have more people working today than ever before,” U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said.
The Tennessee Justice Center contends the tighter requirements are creating barriers for some households, particularly those with unstable work or housing situations. The group argues that requiring work participation to receive benefits can create an endless cycle of struggle.
“Individuals need their basic needs met in order to be able to work,” Anderson said. “In a perfect world, you wouldn’t be holding food against people that either really are working or are struggling to find work.”
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News 2 reached out to Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) regarding the compiled data, and she responded with the following statement:
The One Big Beautiful Bill protects SNAP for those who truly need it by strengthening the integrity of the program, reducing waste, and enforcing commonsense work requirements for able-bodied adults. We are focused on ensuring federal assistance reaches those who qualify while promoting opportunity, self-sufficiency, and responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars.
Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.)
The TJC wants to hear from individuals struggling to receive SNAP benefits in Tennessee. To get in touch, click here.
LANCING, Tenn. — A Norfolk Southern train including cars carrying ethanol derailed and caught fire in a remote area of Morgan County, Tenn., leading to precautionary evacuations.
The derailment occurred about 3:23 p.m. on Thursday, June 1. WATE-TV reports Morgan County Executive Brian Langley said four or five cars were on fire. There were no injuries, he said.
The National Transportation Safety
Tennessee baseball transfer utility man Jay Abernathy committed to Oklahoma on Thursday evening, he announced on Instagram. Despite being a two-seed in the Atlanta Regional, Oklahoma made it to the College World Series this season and begins play Saturday afternoon against Alabama.
Abernathy played in 53 games and started 39 games during his sophomore season, hitting .236 with nine doubles, three homers, one triple and 16 RBIs. He started 27 games as a freshman, hitting .282 with three doubles, one homer and 11 RBIs.
The left-handed utility man was a real threat on the base paths, stealing 17 bases in his two years in Knoxville.
Abernathy is a versatile defender who started 29 games in centerfield and 10 games at second base this past season. He was particularly strong defensively in centerfield, using his speed to track down balls in the gap.
However, Abernathy’s inconsistent bat keeps it from being a lock that he would have been an everyday starter for the Vols next season.
More From RTI: Brody Trosclair Explains Why Tennessee Baseball Felt Like Home, Impressions Of Austin Knight
The Vols are in need of outfielders entering next season. Centerfielder Garrett Wright is likely MLB Draft bound while Reese Chapman is out of eligibility and Nate Eisfelder also entered the transfer portal.
Abernathy is one of 15 Tennessee players have entered the transfer portal this offseason including first baseman Evan Hankins, right-handed pitcher Nic Abraham, outfielder Nate Eisfelder, shortstop Manny Marin, catcher Cash Williams, infielder Finley Bates, shortstop Ariel Antigua, infielder Ethan Moore, utility man Hunter High, utility man Chris Newstrom, outfielder Hutson Chance and right-handed pitcher Brayden Krenzel, two-way Taylor Tracey and right-handed pitcher Ari Bethea.
A number of Tennessee players have announced intentions to return for next season including RHP Landon Mack, LHP Cam Appenzeller, first baseman Levi Clark, catcher Trent Grindlinger, catcher Stone Lawless and LHP Will Haas.
The Vols have landed two transfer commits to date including Northwestern State left-handed pitcher Brody Trosclair and Mercer two-way Braydon Kersey. Air Force infielder Wyatt Hanoian has also visited Tennessee this offseason.
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