The Tennessee Senate convened the first extraordinary session of the One Hundred Fourteenth General Assembly on Jan. 27, 2025, and moved quickly to adopt temporary procedures and a work plan for the week, leaders said.

Pursuant to Article 3, Section 9 of the Constitution of the State of Tennessee, the body was called to order and the Sergeant-at-Arms was asked to admit members and close the chamber doors, the clerk announced. Senator Rose introduced the invocation and led the pledge of allegiance.

Why it matters: the procedural steps set the framework for the special session, including which committees will serve for this session, a filing deadline for new bills and the potential for additional floor action later in the week.

On motions and scheduling: Leader Johnson moved that the Senate dispense with the reading of the call; Leader Akbari seconded and the motion was adopted without objection. Senator Watson moved to adopt the proposed rules of order for the special session; Leader Akbari seconded and the rules were adopted without objection. Leader Johnson then placed before the body a proposed schedule for the week, which members adopted by voice vote. The Senate clerk reported 32 members present at the time the roll was taken.

On bills: Pursuant to Senate rule and the chamber’s procedures, Leader Johnson moved that Senate bills 6001 through 6005, and all bills filed prior to the day’s adjournment, be passed on first consideration. The Senate passed those bills on first consideration without objection.

Schedule and deadlines: The adopted schedule set the special-session work for the week of Jan. 27, 2025, with a potential additional floor session on Friday if necessary. The Senate noted that the regular-session reconvening date remains Feb. 10, 2025, and the bill-filing deadline remains Feb. 6, 2025. The body also noted that there would be no regular sessions or committee meetings the week of Feb. 3, 2025, though the filing deadline is unchanged.

Committee assignments and attendance: The Speaker filed notice that the standing committees of the One Hundred Fourteenth General Assembly will serve as the standing committees for the special session, with Senator Campbell presiding on judiciary and Senator Oliver presiding on state and local committee for the special session only; Senator Wilde was listed as absent for the special session. The clerk confirmed the presence of 32 members for the roll call.

Closing: With routine business concluded, Senator Johnson moved to adjourn; the motion carried and the Senate stood adjourned until 8:30 a.m. the following day.