NASHVILLE — The Tennessee House of Representatives on the floor on Monday advanced a broad slate of measures covering hiring practices for state and local governments, coal-combustion residuals permitting, new funding options for district attorneys, limits on foreign international organizations' authority in state policy and multiple proposed constitutional amendments to be placed on the 2026 ballot.

The most contentious action was passage of House Bill 6-22, a measure restricting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs and related hiring policies for governmental entities. Representative Mayberry moved passage after extended debate; Representative Johnson, speaking in opposition on the floor, called the bill “racist,” “sexist” and “ableist” and warned it would harm veterans, women and people with disabilities. Representative Johnson also urged colleagues to consider the law’s potential harms to workplace access and training. The House adopted an amendment filed by Representative Johnson (amendment 4) during debate and then passed the bill on final reading.

Lawmakers also debated and passed Senate Bill 12-74, legislation that sets up a state permitting framework for coal combustion residual (CCR) disposal units and adjusts fee structures for the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC). Chairman Todd said the bill creates a state-level CCR landfill permit program to pursue primacy rather than leave oversight solely to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Representative Pearson and other members raised environmental justice and community concerns tied to coal ash disposal and the Tennessee Valley Authority’s sites; Todd said the measure is intended to keep regulatory authority in-state while meeting federal minimums.

The House approved Senate Bill 5-47 to create a public-safety fund for district attorneys analogous to an existing fund for public defenders, and advanced a vocational-opportunity measure (Senate Bill 13-88) aimed at expanding vending and contracting opportunities for vocational-rehabilitation customers. Members noted those bills mirror existing parity in other fee structures and said the changes are intended to preserve tools for offices to hire expert witnesses and maintain equipment.

On public-health policy, the House passed Senate Bill 2-63, which states that policies of the World Health Organization, the United Nations or the World Economic Forum have no jurisdiction in Tennessee unless enacted by Congress or the General Assembly. Sponsor remarks framed the bill as a clarification of state authority; opponents described public-health and scientific partnerships differently during debate.

The chamber also moved three proposed constitutional amendments through second reading to put on the November 2026 ballot: a proposed amendment to prohibit any future state property tax (SJR 1), a victims’-rights amendment (SJR 9) expanding protections for crime victims, and a bail-related amendment (SJR 25) altering when bail may be denied. Each was scheduled for third and final reading at a later floor session and will be submitted to voters if the two-thirds threshold is met.

Other floor activity: the House received ceremonial resolutions honoring the centennial of the 1925 Scopes trial (House Resolution 289) and recognizing Raleigh/Riley Gaines (House Resolution 33); it also postponed action on a school-athletics bill (House Bill 25 / Senate Bill 16) to February 2026 after testimony and discussion with the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA).

Votes at a glance
- House Bill 6-22 (hiring practices / DEI restrictions): Motion to pass renewed and adopted; final outcome: passed (House vote as recorded in transcript: Yes 73, No 24). Note: amendment 4 (Representative Johnson) was adopted prior to final passage. Debate included extended floor speeches both defending and opposing the bill.

- Senate Bill 12-74 (environmental regulatory updates; CCR permit program): Motion to pass renewed and adopted; final outcome: passed (voice vote recorded; transcript shows roll-call entry read as I 73, 20 3 nays — transcript tally rendering unclear; result declared passed). Sponsor said the measure implements a state CCR permit framework to seek EPA-approval for state primacy.

- Senate Bill 5-47 (public-safety fund for district attorneys): Motion to pass renewed and adopted; final outcome: passed (transcript roll call recorded as I 73, 20 3 nays, 1 present — transcript formatting unclear; result declared passed). Sponsor said the bill mirrors a fee already used to support public defenders and provides parity for prosecutors.

- Senate Bill 13-88 (vending opportunities / vocational rehabilitation): Motion to pass renewed and adopted; final outcome: passed (transcript recorded vote strings unclear; result declared passed). Sponsor described expanded vending and procurement opportunities for eligible vocational-rehabilitation customers, including priority provisions consistent with state/federal law for blind vendors.

- Senate Bill 2-63 (limits on non-U.S. international organizations): Motion to pass renewed and adopted; final outcome: passed (transcript roll-call shows vote in favor; result declared passed). Sponsor said the bill forbids jurisdiction of WHO/UN/WEF policy unless enacted by Congress or the General Assembly.

- SJR 1 (proposed amendment: prohibit state property tax): Set for third and final reading on a later floor date; action: resolution set for third reading (no final vote on amendment text during this session). If approved by two-thirds of each chamber, the proposed amendment will be placed on the November 3, 2026 ballot for voters.

- SJR 9 (proposed amendment: crime victims’ rights): Set for third and final reading on Monday, April (date set in transcript). If passed by the General Assembly by two-thirds, it will be submitted to voters at the November 2026 election.

- SJR 25 (proposed amendment: bail): Set for third and final reading on an April date shown in the record; if approved by two-thirds of both houses, it will be submitted to the November 2026 ballot.

- House Bill 25 / Senate Bill 16 (interscholastic athletics / transfers): Sponsor requested and received a roll to the first available calendar in February 2026 after discussions with TSSAA; action: postponed to February 2026.

Ceremonial recognitions and public remarks
- House Resolution 289 (Scopes trial centennial): Representative Ron Travis read and the House adopted a resolution commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Scopes trial in Dayton, Tennessee. Visitors from Ray County and officials including Jacob Ellis (Ray County Historical Society), Ashley Howe (Executive Director, Tennessee State Museum), Jim Vincent (Ray County Executive) and Dr. Douglas Mann (Bryan College president) were recognized and spoke briefly on the House floor.

- House Resolution 33 (recognition for Riley Gaines): Representative Garrett presented a resolution honoring Riley Gaines of Sumner County for achievements in collegiate swimming and for public advocacy regarding women’s sports; Gaines addressed the chamber.

Why this matters
Several measures affect long-term state policy and local operations: a constitutional amendment to bar any future state property tax would change fundamental taxing authority if approved by voters; the CCR permit framework alters environmental permitting and state-federal regulatory relationships; the DEI/hiring bill changes personnel and contracting policies for state and local governments. The bills involve trade-offs between local control, regulatory oversight, public-health and civil-rights concerns that members aired during floor debate.

What to watch next
- Dates for final constitutional-amendment floor votes and the required two-thirds thresholds; if each chamber approves the proposed amendments, voters will decide them on the November 3, 2026 ballot.
- Implementation guidance and rulemaking from TDEC if the CCR permit program seeks EPA primacy.
- Administrative rules and local policy changes that will follow HB 6-22’s restrictions on DEI-related hiring and personnel practices.

Sources: remarks, motions and roll calls recorded on the House floor session transcript; floor-recognized guests and resolution text read on the House floor.