Tennessee General Assembly convenes for session expected to focus on voucher issue

The 114th General Assembly gaveled in at the Tennessee state Capitol Tuesday for a legislative session expected to largely focus on education issues as Gov. Bill Lee seeks to push through a private school voucher proposal.

With few election shake-ups last fall, lawmakers returned to a legislature with little change in the status quo. Republicans still hold a strong supermajority, and prexisting leadership will preside over both chambers.

Senate Republicans on Tuesday reelected Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge, as Speaker of the Senate. Senate Democrats all abstained from the vote.

“Each General Assembly I’ve gaveled in seems to be better than the last,” McNally said.

In the House, Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, also easily won reelection to lead the chamber. Democrats nominated House Minority Leader Karen Camper, D-Memphis, and unanimously voted for her. 

“The people of District 52 will not vote for an authoritarian!” Rep. Justin Jones, D-Nashville, yelled from his seat before casting his vote for Camper. 

As Republican members called their votes for Sexton, a spectator yelled out “boo!” and “gross!” from the west gallery – prompting a chuckle from the sitting speaker, who stood to one side as the election was held. 

“I greatly appreciate all that voted for me today, and for those of you who didn’t, I do know some of you wanted to, and I understand that,” Sexton said. “Over the last five years, we’ve all learned a lot. My goal is to be more efficient, empower Tennesseans over the government and uphold our constitutional duty of public oversight.” 

Notably, some desks were rearranged on the House floor since last year. Jones and Rep. Justin Pearson, D-Memphis, who had previously been seated near each other and have frequently clashed with their Republican colleagues, were both moved. Pearson is now seated next to Rep. Vincent Dixie, D-Nashville, in a sea of Republican desks across the chamber from the Democratic caucus. Jones has been moved to the front, near the speaker’s dais.

The House Select Committee on Rules convened later Tuesday afternoon to discuss proposed changes to the rules. Ahead of the meeting, proposed rules changes included a limit on the number of bills each member can propose, and a “three-strikes” rule proposing to permanently ban members of the public found to be disruptive from the gallery.

The initial weeks of a legislative session are often slow-moving as committees get settled and bills began to make their way through the legislative process. The Senate is expected to name committee assignments on Thursday. Many eyes will be on the appointment of the Senate Education Committee chair after former Sen. Jon Lundberg’s ouster last year in the GOP primary. The committee will prove pivotal in the voucher issue.

Advocates on both side of the issue mingled in the Capitol halls on Tuesday.

There are rumblings that Lee intends to call a special session in late January on his voucher bill.

The effort failed last year amid legislative gridlock. A special session call would allow lawmakers to narrow their focus on the issue, which could be tied to disaster relief funding for areas of East Tennessee.