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The Departments & Agencies Subcommittee voted to advance House Bill 923 on a 6-2 vote after extended debate over what the bill would remove and how it would affect services and programs. The measure, as amended in subcommittee, prohibits a department, office, or similar entity at state or local levels that exists to promote or require diversity, equity or inclusion from maintaining that function; it also declares related mandates and policies void.

Supporters, led by Representative Jason Mayberry, framed the bill as a move toward “merit-based systems” and said the legislation would eliminate stand-alone departments whose primary job is to promote DEI. “This bill would say in county cities, that if you have a department that's promoted in DEI and that is your sole job, that department will no longer exist if this is passed by this legislative body,” Mayberry said. He said the intent was not to force personnel terminations and that many positions could be absorbed into other offices such as human resources.

Opponents argued the bill would dismantle existing programs and services and could remove supports that have historically helped expand access. Representative John Miller said a broad reading of the proposal could lead to job losses and the elimination of programs local governments and institutions currently administer. “This bill would say in county cities...that department will no longer exist,” Miller said, repeating his concern that employees could lose jobs even if that was not the sponsor's intention.

Representative K. Chisholm and others pressed the sponsor about the bill's interaction with federal civil-rights laws and accommodations, asking whether protections under the Americans with Disabilities Act and Title IX would remain in force. Mayberry responded that the bill would not overturn federal law and that federal statutes such as the ADA remain applicable.

Chairman Powers, who presided, and other members also debated how the bill would affect local government and education programs. Several members urged additional study before the measure reached the floor; Mayberry said HB 622 (a companion bill referenced during debate) would address hiring practices and that the two bills were intended to be companion pieces.

The subcommittee adopted an amendment (6,418) that rewrote the bill’s text before the final vote. The motion to move the bill out of subcommittee carried on a roll call of 6 ayes and 2 noes.

The measure now moves to the full committee; the sponsor said he expects further debate there and described HB 923 as one of two bills (the other being HB 622) intended to change how DEI functions are organized and implemented across state and local government.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Departments & Agencies Subcommittee Mar 25, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Representative Jason Mayberry, sponsor: “This legislation simply says that a, 1 of these groups which have already stated governments, colleges, cannot have a department that's promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion practices, with the aim as we're going towards merit based systems.”","taxTitle","Departments & Agencies, House of Representatives, Committees, Legislative, Tennessee","taxId",79853,"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},6109009,"Subcommittee actions: summary of bills advanced, amended and rolled (March 2025)",267,186000,453000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2764994-887a4d8e03b2aad8c817adef45280b56&start=186&end=453","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2764994-887a4d8e03b2aad8c817adef45280b56/thumbnail_186000.jpg","/articles/6109009/Tennessee/Subcommittee-actions-summary-of-bills-advanced-amended-and-rolled-March-2025","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6109009-6a3f8be6a6411640d462945ee1b00697/orig.mp4?Expires=1770956048&Signature=K4c9rJIN3XuSLxxsxoRAXKB8GUt71JKLxh2Zi5wWoXnanXRB-SVkdIada-Vb9sOyQwpxW7tKefezOeBx-DB64W9TIkt04FwDxH2KfWzW3dQsnvJT0Xgc8fERRe2sDr-~bb2QBx7~6S8x6KQ1~5xfgbB~GkSzRwrXRQkLqqYJIFO-NJn~QGySc9yR0lD9DXNacD0SqinDr22v~S89cggCplqdvTR3lKWDGYopsOUJeJ1elFC67Przk5aCUQ9dmZcoi7mbdWb9m0XhpMOH7KSsINtF3c6QnOfjdGIAxhX1wO~G46Xr-L8B~bsmxzXePn1EFADvEp~K89gxvg6t7xQ99w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Departments & Agencies Subcommittee considered multiple bills on its March 2025 calendar and took the following actions: several bills were amended and moved to full committee, one bill was rolled to next year, and one received public testimony before being taken off notice.

House Bill 351 (Representative Hirt) — The subcommittee adopted amendment 6,378 and voted to move HB 351 to the full committee. Sponsor summary: the bill, as amended, requires that when a prisoner released for paid employment wears an electronic monitoring device as required under current law, the sheriff housing the prisoner may deduct monitoring-device costs from the prisoner's wages. Vote: 7 ayes, 0 nos.

House Bill 309 (Representative Gillespie) — The subcommittee added amendment 4,894 to HB 309 and then the sponsor said he planned to “roll this bill…for and save it for next year.” The hearing included public testimony from Eric Gang, an attorney who described the bill's goal as creating safeguards and minimum standards for contracts and partnerships that assist veterans; Gang urged developing minimum standards of qualification and licensure for providers. Outcome: amendment adopted; bill rolled/off notice for further work and possible reintroduction next year.

House Bill 1358 (Chair Littleton) — The bill (as amended with amendment 5,343 previously adopted in another committee) would require the Department of Children’s Services to begin construction in the Western Grand Division of Tennessee on a facility for children detained while awaiting adjudication on delinquency or unruliness charges; yesterday’s untimely amendment reduced bed count and lowered the fiscal note. The subcommittee voted to move the bill to full committee (Ayes reported; clerk recorded 0 nos).

House Bill 94 (Representatives Wally & Shaw) — Sponsor said the legislation would transfer autopsy and travel costs for state prisoners from Hardeman County to the state. The subcommittee voted to advance the bill to full committee: 8 ayes, 0 nos.

House Joint Resolution 180 (Representative Reeves) — The resolution urges the federal government to streamline lawful immigration processes, reduce excessive fees and delays while maintaining security standards. The subcommittee added amendment 5,595 and approved the resolution, moving it to full committee: 8 ayes, 0 nos.

House Bill 177 (Representative Reeves) — The bill establishes the state crime of illegal entry in Tennessee for persons unlawfully present who enter or remain in the state without authorization. Sponsor described it as “a measured, responsible step” to protect communities. The subcommittee adopted amendment 6,262 and voted to move the bill out to full committee: 7 ayes, 1 no.

House Joint Resolution 146 (Representative Mayberry, carried for Representative Ryan Williams) — The resolution would allow local school boards to authorize one “game of chance” fundraiser within a school’s geographic boundaries (examples given: raffles or cake walks). The subcommittee adopted amendment 5,294 and advanced the resolution: 8 ayes, 0 nos.

House Bill 779 (technical correction carried by Representative Mayberry) — The bill updates an incorrect code reference in the Charitable Solicitations Act to reflect changes after creation of the Charter School Commission in 2019; the subcommittee advanced the technical correction to full committee (Ayes recorded; clerk recorded 0 nos).

Procedural notes: where vote counts were announced on the record, they are included above. Several bills had untimely amendments allowed by unanimous consent; sponsors indicated some items will be revisited in summer workgroups or companion bills.","The Departments & Agencies Subcommittee handled a slate of bills on March 2025, advancing most to full committee, adopting amendments on several, and postponing at least one for further work. This roundup lists each item, the action taken, and key details from sponsor explanations and public testimony.","actionData","errors"]

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Subcommittee approves bill to remove dedicated DEI departments from state and local governments

Subcommittee actions: summary of bills advanced, amended and rolled (March 2025)