[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6658999,"mediaKeyId","2474218-07a56bfa8834dabd064d23fe540bd79d","parentId",2474218,"title","House debate centers on bill barring community benefits agreements for state-incentivized projects","audioSeconds",467,"startMs",4743000,"endMs",5210000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2474218-07a56bfa8834dabd064d23fe540bd79d&start=4743&end=5210","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2474218-07a56bfa8834dabd064d23fe540bd79d/thumbnail_4743000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6658999/Tennessee/House-debate-centers-on-bill-barring-community-benefits-agreements-for-state-incentivized-projects","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6658999-daaf7ba7b609401d32cc5fa8264c0dbf/orig.mp4?Expires=1770985687&Signature=GDMk22CrVjXQuDxdQA7HjdZcP4Ff7TKvzQxCjM7lyWMQxaSbC3cNv2m9LCtgAhFwmnLgmpbT4RZ56v~5MYrdg9eSOZWI6h7xT8exSW0P8fuCIuH5bSfFqT8UDV7E0mVP~vDyamr8MneFHnreW77f8yVknFxkeHIVfFcXOt5ahGG~A0HRpBRFdvSlxbth-7q179GFa3rFHO1jgo~dWbVqc5qk6U5Em278wNFpKpRrQ5Wf6TXbj40cBANe1YpTiJcUYxvCZZ3Ocn0tRRjjNnoti8O7H3rk-0KkZnWqTuSLkkf4xLTMY9JaQV06Nlx6pG8ygovIwzf5DivZOiNBHWPkLw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","TN House of Representatives","date","2025-03-03T21:41:29.24Z","article","The Tennessee House debated House Bill 10,96 on the chamber floor, a measure the sponsor described as preventing companies that receive state economic incentives from being contractually bound by community benefits agreements as a condition of approval.

Chairman Vaughn, the bill’s sponsor, said community benefits agreements are “an instrument that contractually binds the employer to fund or provide specific attributes, service or amenities, mitigations, or anything of value to a community, or ... a nongovernmental organization,” and argued the bill would stop such agreements from being used as a compulsory condition for projects that receive state incentives. “If an employer or a project has been approved for economic incentives by the state of Tennessee, then they can no longer enter into a community benefits agreement,” he said, adding that companies remain free to make voluntary commitments.

Representative Behn spoke against the measure, saying it “deincentivizes and not only that, but it punishes companies who wanna be acting in good faith and good neighbors and good stewards in their communities.” Behn argued communities should be able to negotiate with companies that seek to locate or expand locally and that the bill would undercut community bargaining power, including on labor standards.

Proponents said the bill simply prevents compulsion and leaves voluntary private agreements intact. Representative Todd said many businesses already invest in local communities voluntarily and that the bill would not stop those contributions.

On procedure, the House adopted a committee amendment that rewrote the bill before floor debate. Members attempted three additional floor amendments from Representative Bane; the speaker and counsel deemed amendments 2, 3 and 4 out of the scope of the caption and out of order.

The floor record includes a roll-call tally announced by the clerk as 72 yeas and 18 nays. The clerk’s further floor announcement about whether a constitutional majority had been received in the transcript was phrased unclearly. The debate highlighted a split between members emphasizing protection of businesses from contractual compulsion and members who argued for preserving community leverage—and, in some views, worker protections—when projects are proposed.

Chairman Vaughn said the bill’s intent is to “remove[] the compelling nature of a contract, forcing these people to accept this as a condition of getting their project approved and getting shovels in the ground,” while critics said communities seeking wage, hiring, or safety commitments would lose leverage if state incentives could not be tied to negotiated agreements. The transcript shows the question was put and votes were recorded on the floor.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Floor Session- 12th Legislative Day- March 3, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Tennessee House debated House Bill 10,96, which would prohibit community benefits agreements from being required as conditions for projects receiving state economic incentives.","taxTitle","House Floor , House of Representatives, Committees, Legislative, Tennessee","taxId",29556,"location","Tennessee","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6659004,"House passes bill requiring districts to bar student cell phones during instructional time",1059,3721000,4780000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2474218-07a56bfa8834dabd064d23fe540bd79d&start=3721&end=4780","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2474218-07a56bfa8834dabd064d23fe540bd79d/thumbnail_3721000.jpg","/articles/6659004/Tennessee/House-passes-bill-requiring-districts-to-bar-student-cell-phones-during-instructional-time","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6659004-1322193b5e317107c7b87062ffc52a83/orig.mp4?Expires=1770985687&Signature=T9sEo5BYxZCZt6LkSU-9E93Z1mNeyx7A~Si5p87ew8Tsso05jsMB0vkELlWUDUS1xVbLMoxx~hV97gXI3i0~OiNiZiswq4mlHa0o9ft9-8wsR-9~vT0ksxfP5D~4VFHpGEzUu1G-kvRidiR2Ce6zZO3RdFrudfDzm7nD7gfuuc~SJnA-EMWmBCvEoS1NcgE4N8MfgtWfqci3WoeKOem48N7fUoDpF9rY8KPFddkWnz8-jZdEir1b1QpcyspeYi83cThbtBgAErjUq0rNVrfq-O8qGgxuC4NKHgrVzw~RvtZpZ5-ij~HIeEmOProTK6cN0ITKEKh3wi~ArzvkGr-s~g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Tennessee House of Representatives voted to pass House Bill 9,32 on the chamber floor, directing every local school district to adopt a policy that prohibits students from using cell phones and other wireless communication devices during instructional time.

The bill’s sponsor, Representative Alexander, told colleagues on the floor that “this bill just eliminates the use of cell phone or any wireless communication device during instructional time, during our schools so our kids can learn better.” He said the measure allows school districts to craft their own implementation plans and includes exemptions for students with disabilities and for teachers who choose to use devices for instruction.

Supporters said local control and concerns about student focus and mental health motivated the proposal. Representative Hemmer, a cosponsor and parent, thanked the sponsor “as someone who has spoken with teachers and counselors in my community, who have seen the benefit” of similar policies. Representative Hardaway cited scientific concerns about constant device use and its effects on children’s attention and social development.

Members pressed the sponsor for details about exceptions and emergency communications. Representative Doggett asked whether nonverbal students who rely on electronic devices for communication would be protected; Alexander replied, “That is correct,” and noted that the bill provides disability and medical exemptions. Representatives Clemens and others asked whether local education agencies (LEAs) would retain implementation discretion; the sponsor said LEAs decide whether the ban covers only instructional time or the entire school day, how devices are handled on entry and the disciplinary approach. On emergencies, Alexander said school boards must include procedures to communicate directly with families and warned that unfettered student phone calls during emergencies could impede emergency responses.

The bill requires school districts to adopt a policy that: prohibits wireless devices during instructional time; includes defined exceptions for disabilities and medical needs; sets procedures for communicating with parents in emergencies; and incorporates disciplinary measures consistent with local codes. Committee amendment No. 1 was adopted before final passage.

The House approved the bill on a recorded vote. The clerk announced the tally as 80 yeas, 10 nays and 1 present. The measure now moves to the next steps in the legislative process.

The debate on the floor highlighted the bill’s mix of state-level direction with local implementation detail and underscored differing views on how strictly districts should enforce the restriction and how parents would be able to contact children during campus emergencies.","The Tennessee House approved a bill directing every local school district to adopt policies prohibiting students from using cell phones and other wireless devices during instructional time, while preserving local discretion and exemptions for disabilities and instructional uses.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6658989,"Votes at a glance: select measures from the Tennessee House floor",0,3450000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2474218-07a56bfa8834dabd064d23fe540bd79d&start=3450&end=3450","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2474218-07a56bfa8834dabd064d23fe540bd79d/thumbnail_3450000.jpg","/articles/6658989/Tennessee/Votes-at-a-glance-select-measures-from-the-Tennessee-House-floor","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6658989-477c10734932968ce63ac09b8949e79a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770985687&Signature=ZH1NXIMd72T0EmNsozsYdRvtBUtiCvucUg57IgcBcLFnZ0E5bW0pzmt3q~KnIqgIjKLY~K5nMZbGZhqulCjtTsCB7ecMf1lHJXGjFBz9-YqeRmmGLIqi4jUQcy3rkpoGVeakGfpOLkh-a-PjSmcP4TUjUxE21jQWAl0oXvTg7sEkonE6iJIg4MmrB33SesGZQej4CK8mkfkUCgPnZEUemJzhLjvs4WM1nP~CiMbHpbPs2LgvmF7eXP2F45tRWUuZNJlCzbV9tGM6eHU0VCI04QKRensrtVfHisVQCy~EdnLszrKBJUPNJwQoOrqii98W~dZ0w0ocqlSr6DUwsy68Zw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Tennessee House considered and, in most cases, passed a number of resolutions and bills with limited floor debate during the same session. Key items recorded on the floor transcript include:

House Bill 8,17 (trusts) — Representative Garrett presented an update to Tennessee trust law on behalf of the Tennessee Bankers Association. The bill updated rules for appointment of public trustees, clarified acceptance of electronic records and notice procedures for trusts, and addressed reimbursable expenses. Committee amendment No. 1 rewrote the bill; the House passed the measure on a recorded vote the clerk announced as 91 yeas. The sponsor reported that assets under management in Tennessee trusts increased from about $25 billion to $300 billion since he began carrying the legislation.

House Bill 1,28 (workers’ compensation) — Chairman Boyd brought a workers’ compensation bill that, among other changes, removed a sunset on a “next step” program, extended a sunset for an attorney-fee provision allowing awards where denials were unreasonable or egregious, and lengthened the allowable service term for workers’ compensation judges. Representative Hardaway registered his objection to the bill on the floor because of an age-limit provision but otherwise said he supported it. The House approved the bill on a recorded vote (clerk announced a majority; transcript records the vote sequence and passage).

House Joint Resolution 1,77 — Representative Powers moved to name the Blue Springs Boat Ramp in honor of U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Terry Williams Prater. The resolution recounts Sergeant Prater’s service and sacrifice and notes family connections to the site. The House adopted the resolution; the clerk announced the vote in favor.

House Joint Resolution 1,75 (free speech on campuses) — Leader Cochran presented a resolution urging Tennessee universities to commit to institutional neutrality, free speech and civil discourse. The House adopted HR 1,75 after a recorded vote; the clerk announced the tally as a recorded affirmative result.

Senate bill 1,14 (debt reporting) — The House considered the companion measure related to local-government debt reporting requirements and recorded the vote sequence on the floor.

Where vote tallies were announced by the clerk, the transcript records those tallies; in a few instances the clerk’s subsequent phrasing about whether a constitutional majority had been received in the transcript is unclear. The transcript records when amendments were adopted on the floor and when proposed amendments were ruled out of order. For bills with little floor debate, committee amendments were typically adopted and then the bills were passed on third consideration by recorded vote.","A roundup of other measures considered or passed during the House floor session, including trust-law updates, workers' compensation changes, recognitions, and a free-speech campus resolution.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6658994,"House considers bill to keep broadband regulation at federal level; members voice concerns about gaps",455,5235000,5690000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2474218-07a56bfa8834dabd064d23fe540bd79d&start=5235&end=5690","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2474218-07a56bfa8834dabd064d23fe540bd79d/thumbnail_5235000.jpg","/articles/6658994/Tennessee/House-considers-bill-to-keep-broadband-regulation-at-federal-level-members-voice-concerns-about-gaps","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6658994-fcef409799b7bc65d95517bb6d6a8663/orig.mp4?Expires=1770985687&Signature=PZRBnE7Ymz5WTxGSAGD7HcZhh5LHAQMQtAcRDeTMzQbVMNdtg8F57vYZ6fHlZlIcqkrhmBPLq~uRK41b6sq0aZZOcW6u6gKRoHc~-F~-mn6nlubJNNxVboL7xQ-Rjfugc2vL3DdryPDfoZxNQtK0JVk~8oYRg7E0m2aDMinDC9AhQ24u7x7us1zI-s~0UNRjPH56EDXpuNPNhekilnju0B~xruzlMd8F0yzZeCSEYI-SqgBDNpUHjiv383i3H28MQaL2EvIW4w4RKZMH0cWwm-jBkpyZLHVWZJ-1kEFjk5QyJF4JD9iIKATkOS7uTujizA5A9w-TYRZdGvHjo7micA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Tennessee House debated House Bill 11,36, a bill clarifying that broadband Internet access services should remain regulated by the Federal Communications Commission rather than the Tennessee Public Utility Commission, regardless of how federal classification of broadband (Title I vs. Title II) changes.

Chairman Boyd, sponsor of the measure, said the law “simply clarifies that no matter where this lands at the federal level, we expect the FCC to regulate it, not the state of Tennessee,” and that the bill removes an obsolete reporting requirement. He said the change avoids ambiguity about which regulator has authority if federal classifications shift.

Representative Clemens and other members questioned whether relying entirely on federal regulators was prudent given potential changes in federal leadership or vacuums in enforcement. Clemens said he was “a little… afraid that if there is a gap in regulation or a gap in facilitation of the business industry” the state could be left without recourse.

Representative Bain, who has worked on rural broadband organizing, warned the bill “would strip local and state governments of their ability to regulate broadband policies” and said she feared it favored large telecom providers over local public-interest approaches. Other speakers, including Representative Bang, asked whether the bill would block consumer protections such as fair pricing and reliability; Chairman Boyd said such protections would be handled at the federal level.

The House adopted a committee amendment that rewrote the bill and then voted on third consideration. The clerk announced the roll-call tally as 71 yeas and 18 nays. Several members asked that legislative history make clear the entities defined in state code are not being converted into telecommunications service providers under Tennessee law.

Floor debate centered on balancing the desire to avoid duplicative regulation with concerns about relying on federal enforcement and preserving options for future state action. The sponsor said the body could revisit state regulation in a future session if necessary.","House Bill 11,36 would clarify that broadband remains under federal regulation (FCC) and not the Tennessee Public Utility Commission. Supporters said it avoids state duplication; critics warned that federal flux could leave a regulatory vacuum and harm consumer protections.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

House debate centers on bill barring community benefits agreements for state-incentivized projects

House passes bill requiring districts to bar student cell phones during instructional time

Votes at a glance: select measures from the Tennessee House floor

House considers bill to keep broadband regulation at federal level; members voice concerns about gaps