[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-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],{"_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",6639811,"mediaKeyId","3040911-5beddf91a5dc821f8e4a4ce0ebb4a99b","parentId",3040911,"title","Senate approves law to protect municipal judges'duty status amid residency dispute","audioSeconds",135,"startMs",4334000,"endMs",4469000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3040911-5beddf91a5dc821f8e4a4ce0ebb4a99b&start=4334&end=4469","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3040911-5beddf91a5dc821f8e4a4ce0ebb4a99b/thumbnail_4334000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6639811/Tennessee/Senate-approves-law-to-protect-municipal-judgesduty-status-amid-residency-dispute","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6639811-8e581d7a51f2314d8d914704c3929d3d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442805&Signature=i7~lfsHQ~8b3CK9Epw5vhbQX1-FDCvEVhAOZHQMcqHZ5vcLBRlHk5GvxzsESv-SDUb94OBd8fZ7glluWTZZ18kGOdA0JkqiqJWeiTf9n6XHnX65dVVSNDbjs-bykMhGUMkKBB5E-nxEf8TgNT1GggDxdb8EHxSsHc2MGpBvZ6wfSqCxAGY0~iO1rD2EjIHKJ5ZmY3Fi1P8AMg5JzAwOGXuxGTGpLDcKOLgeKuch6keISJ4TRkk7pozrzP1eNk-fn2KR3AO2JWcRnM9tpCdFUOVaRWij96R4gY3Y1-19EupJaqZhZ0V2irgoIUws0m5Jpj5k5twW6KYM-jDN13VSMRw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Tennessee Legislature","date","2025-04-17T00:00:00Z","article","The Tennessee Senate passed House Bill 490 (conforming to Senate Bill 255) on third reading, a bill that lawmakers described as a targeted response to the Tennessee Supreme Court's March 2025 decision in McNabb v. Harrison.

Senator Gordon Hauer, explaining the measure on the floor, said the bill prohibits disqualification or removal of a municipal judge who was duly elected or appointed prior to March 2025 on the basis of residency changes that were not in effect at the time of the judge's election or appointment. The legislation also deems such municipal judges \"de facto officers,\" making their decisions and judgments valid and binding during completion of the judge's term, and applies changes prospectively to the next regular scheduled municipal election for affected judgeships.

Senator Gordon Hauer described the bill as largely prospective and technical, saying it does not exempt municipal judges from any other required qualifications. \"This bill... prohibits the disqualification or removal of a municipal judge who was duly elected or appointed to the office prior to March 2025, and who is qualified for such office under the laws and interpretation in effect at the time of such election and or appointment due to the residency requirement during the term of office to which the judge was elected or appointed,\" he said.

The measure passed on third and final consideration with the clerk announcing a majority and no recorded nays in that vote cycle. The bill will become effective as provided by statute and will operate prospectively as described in the floor explanation.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Session - 26th Legislative Day\tApr 17, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Senate passed House Bill 490 (conforming to Senate Bill 255), which protects municipal judges elected or appointed before March 2025 from removal based on a residency decision and deems them de facto officers for the balance of their terms.","taxTitle","Senate Floor Session, Senate, Committees, Legislative, Tennessee","taxId",79856,"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},6639815,"Senate approves plan to form task force on teacher and student assessments",87,5371000,5458000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3040911-5beddf91a5dc821f8e4a4ce0ebb4a99b&start=5371&end=5458","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3040911-5beddf91a5dc821f8e4a4ce0ebb4a99b/thumbnail_5371000.jpg","/articles/6639815/Tennessee/Senate-approves-plan-to-form-task-force-on-teacher-and-student-assessments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6639815-94984b66ea55ce6d5eb7dd3f7a069a7d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442805&Signature=Q029XPbJ6JIaY1Kd0KddRjTB71ZKqO6gcydFsUnmtvT~chhe3khA5PJdorpQ-vMcYYig2q7YXbErD4aUfI-uv-GvsDVFrfpyV0QS~cvP3Y35etaoOt6mNSwABNRvmTC591UFvIbEj9UnhdNJUzp4~gMuvZhjp12cM~wldnZMqONof56ruABFKxL-X~Qqj9Rp6xstc1n0S5DhK43cFfWbSkpU2T-xGbreGNtCy9Lecc~xyi6X-CERL8BmXdvj2mtWukn8i3ZMQ72w6c7cx7fEQlpwMF57OEUL1QTDzgJCgO1oEu66EoPUzsWAziMKFadQZCwpIspRcNcK5IlLLKI0cg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Tennessee Senate approved Senate Bill 415 (conforming to House language) on third reading, creating an advisory committee to study teacher and principal evaluations, state and local mandated assessments, and related education policy issues.

Senator Lowe, sponsor of the bill, told colleagues the task force will convene with members appointed by the speakers of both houses and the Department of Education, and asked the committee to report back by Dec. 31, 2025. \"This is an effort to bring you the best information that we can about what we often hear from our schools on the ground,\" Lowe said.

Amendment 1, adopted on the floor and explained by Chairman White, specified membership and timeline details: board members must be appointed by July 1, 2025, and the committee must meet first by Aug. 1, 2025. The committee's charge includes studying teacher and principal evaluations, mandated assessments, potential substitution of Career and Technical Education courses for required graduation courses, licensure and training requirements, and the possibility of measuring instructional hours rather than days.

Senator Lowe said the panel will collect data to inform future legislative decisions; the Senate approved the bill on third reading with no recorded opposition in that vote cycle.

The bill directs a study and reporting process; it does not change assessments or evaluations immediately. The advisory committee's findings are due to both speakers of the House and Senate by the end of the year.","Lawmakers approved a measure to create a joint advisory committee to study teacher and principal evaluations, state and local assessments, and possible changes such as instructional hours instead of days.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6639820,"Senate passes bill tightening rules on hemp-derived cannabinoid products after extended debate",2396,2890000,5286000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3040911-5beddf91a5dc821f8e4a4ce0ebb4a99b&start=2890&end=5286","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3040911-5beddf91a5dc821f8e4a4ce0ebb4a99b/thumbnail_2890000.jpg","/articles/6639820/Tennessee/Senate-passes-bill-tightening-rules-on-hemp-derived-cannabinoid-products-after-extended-debate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6639820-618ef66279d1e48cfa20a4902b026c28/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442805&Signature=XTiYstDZoKObuTnvokxM5Rx8JwLbq1CViOjMqEl4fT5aKc5czleJQUeLl6r6BlFeV9E9LNz5EBdxOrvj7TfUahtka1g6PHtDBPjZxS9J8XPv5-UwD6RyxlGtGzdNxJsenxUMHlo5kgmnaQbqyT-m334-QJAP0vKpjKt1z3clVIQFZuMrjEFccpSe548AqWAZgVK0GJsAxeaOTYY1xuPgXPojUirvCEYhOAleBJ1RAjFZoW7JKHpThZ2QhPPMsF7OfinEE8t5UIQ9-MOguSYWGEh3wKqCbMfMRuGcv0wuRh63R2GDfwrjtjL9Uc~eMPJs931DVyraDbLOGezV7lo0~w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Tennessee Senate passed House Bill 13 76 on third and final consideration after an extended floor debate that focused on how to regulate high-THC hemp-derived products and the practical effects on farmers, retailers and public safety.

The measure, carried in the Senate by Senator Briggs, centralizes much of regulatory authority for cannabinoid products with the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission and adds new taxes and licensing rules for suppliers, wholesalers and retailers. \"If we vote this bill down, Tennessee has totally unregulated recreational marijuana,\" Senator Briggs said on the floor, arguing the bill creates a controlled regulatory framework for products currently sold without statewide standards.

Supporters said the bill addresses public-safety and public-health concerns tied to increasingly potent products available in Tennessee stores and convenience outlets. \"We have cannabis products that do not have homogeneity... and that is a scary thing,\" Senator Campbell said, describing cases she had seen of cannabis-induced psychosis and inconsistent dosing within packaged products.

Opponents and some supporters urged caution about the bill's scope and legal footing. Senator Roberts warned that the bill could create conflicting standards between state rules and federal definitions of hemp and marijuana and asked why the legislature did not tether Tennessee's definition to federal statutes. Senator Yarborough similarly argued that courts have already questioned the federal guidance the bill relies upon and urged more careful alignment with federal law and pending litigation.

The bill defines hemp using a total-THC measure similar to the 2018 federal Farm Bill guidance and a Department of Justice/DEA conversion factor referenced on the floor, clarifying that total delta-9 THC plus THCA (after conversion) at or below 0.3% qualifies as hemp. It also creates per-milligram taxes on cannabinoid products and a per-ounce tax on smokable flower, and sets licensing categories for suppliers, wholesalers (tax collectors) and retailers. Senator Briggs described the approach as a \"modified three-tier system\" modeled after Tennessee's alcohol law.

Senator Massey asked whether in-state retailers would be allowed to sell online to out-of-state customers; Briggs said in-state retailers could sell online to out-of-state consumers, but out-of-state retailers could not sell directly to Tennessee customers online. The bill also prohibits in-state online sales to Tennessee consumers from out-of-state retailers, while allowing out-of-state suppliers to sell to Tennessee wholesalers.

Several senators emphasized the bill's potential effects on Tennessee hemp farmers, who the sponsor said generally comply with state testing and remain below the 0.3% THC level; Briggs said the bill is intended not to disadvantage those farmers but to address high-potency products manufactured out of state and sold in Tennessee. \"Our Tennessee farmers are doing the right thing... but they're having trouble competing with the out-of-state people who now are selling directly to the retailers these products that really are not legal in Tennessee,\" Briggs said.

After several hours of debate and multiple speakers on both sides, the Senate voted to pass House Bill 13 76. The measure will now return to the House as the enrolled bill reflects Senate amendments and final passage.

The floor discussion included public remarks earlier in the day from Riley Gaines, a guest on the floor who was recognized during introductions and whose remarks about women's sports and Title IX were referenced during debate. Several senators also cited public-safety statistics from other states and health advisories discussing disorders linked to high-potency cannabis products.

The Senate's action does not immediately criminalize possession for individuals who may already possess products bought out of state; senators noted enforcement and possession questions remain tied to federal definitions and existing criminal code. The bill sponsors and several members said they expect follow-up work to clarify enforcement protocols, testing standards, and licensing rules in administrative rulemaking.

Senator Briggs urged colleagues to support the measure as a way to move from a chaotic market to a regulated system: \"If we vote this bill down, Tennessee has totally unregulated recreational marijuana,\" he said. The Senate declared final passage later in the session.","After extended floor debate, the Tennessee Senate approved House Bill 13 76, a measure to regulate hemp-derived cannabinoid products, clarify the state's THC threshold, and move oversight of many products toward the Alcoholic Beverage Commission.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Senate approves law to protect municipal judges'duty status amid residency dispute

Senate approves plan to form task force on teacher and student assessments

Senate passes bill tightening rules on hemp-derived cannabinoid products after extended debate