Thread by @IsErinThere

Over in the Senate, the regular floor session is taking place. Currently on SB0027, which would require all governing bodies to publish an agenda and supplemental documents for the public at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting. It passes unanimously. @WKRN #TNLeg23

Now on HB0883, otherwise known as the abortion exception bill. Sen. London Lamar presenting an amendment that clarifies language on the bill and rewrites the bill as it was on Valentine's Day, she says.
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"This bill as written fails to provide clarity our doctors are begging for," she says.
Reiterating her near-death experience with a pregnancy she had while a freshman legislator and how the rewrite is a better bill.
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"It is not bringing abortion back. It is giving women back their life," she says.
"Give the doctors the tools to do their job. It's only right. The majority of Tennesseans want this."
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Sen. Richard Briggs moves to table Lamar's amendment.
Lamar's amendment fails 24-5.
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Now Sen. Jeff Yarbro (D-Nashville) presenting an amendment he says was brought to address concerns brought to him by doctors - that this bill turns on "good faith" of doctors, which Yarbro says is current law already.
The proposed bill states "reasonable" judgement
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Sen. Briggs again moves to table this amendment.

Yarbro's amendment FAILS 24-4
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Sen. Charlane Oliver presented an amendment to exempt pregnancies that were a result of aggravated rape, rape, rape of a child, esp. aggravated rape, esp. aggravated rape of a child and incest.
Briggs moves to table the amendment.
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Oliver states she was sexually assaulted in high school.
"What are we doing to the quality of life to the women who have to carry their rapist's baby?" she says.
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@WKRN Oliver's amendment FAILS 18-7, with Sens. Frank Niceley, Art Swann and Page Walley joining the Democrats in opposing the motion to table.
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Now Sen. Raumesh Akbari presenting an amendment that exempts MINORS from having to carry to term pregnancies from rape, rape of child and incest (same as Oliver's amendments).
Briggs AGAIN moves to table this amendment.
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"I want you to imagine a child who is grappling with the severe pain, trauma, disrespect, the crime of being sexually assaulted and that baby having a child in their womb and having to carry it to term," Akbari says.
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Akbari's amendment FAILS 17-6 with Walley and Swann joining Democrats in opposition.
Not sure what happened there or why more Republicans weren't in the chamber/voting at that moment, but there we are.
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Sens. @yarbro, @CharlaneOliver, @SenAkbari, and @SenatorLamar all tried to bring amendments to either rewrite the bill or add narrow exceptions for minors who are sexually assaulted or adults who are sexually assaulted, and none of them passed on the Senate floor.
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The language of @CharlaneOliver's amendment, for those who are interested:
(capitol.tn.gov/Bills/113/Amen…)
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The language of Akbari's amendment for minors: (capitol.tn.gov/Bills/113/Amen…)
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@SenatorLamar says she hopes the sponsor or those in support of Brigg's original bill without amendments "don't think this does anything for women."
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@SenatorLamar @WKRN Sen. Ken Yager saying Briggs's bill protects two lives - that of the child and the mother.
Says he supports bill because he is pro-life.
Also says he also wrote his own abortion exception bill but got behind Briggs' bill because "it's a good bill."
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Briggs: Under present TN law any doctor who performs an abortion automatically is guilty, but this bill will protect that doctor and allow him to prove he used reasonable medical judgment.
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HB0883 PASSES 26-1, with only Yarbro opposed but other Democrats PNV.
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Now onto SB0817, brought by Sen. Joey Hensley, that "further strengthens" prohibitions on "divisive concepts" in universities.
Says one college dean is "proposing diversity above merit" but doesn't cite which one.
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@SenatorLamar bringing up concerns and disappointment in sponsor for continuing to attack colleges and universities.
Content of what's happened throughout history has a right to be taught, esp. in colleges, she said, "among grown folk."
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@SenAkbari asking how this bill would interact with policies like Sex Week. Hensley says colleges could not charge any group any more than they charge any other group.
Akbari asks about increased security needs, Hensley relying on "peaceful group" language in bill.@WKRN
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Akbari asking if a Black Educators conference or NAACP conference would qualify under the provision that prohibits colleges from expending funds for a group that "requires" someone to "endorse" a divisive concept. Hensley says no.
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Akbari: diversity is way more than Black and white. I don't like the trajectory that it seems we're on.
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Becky Duncan Massey says she received an email from a constituent claiming college courses are requiring students to write papers in support of certain positions like why American Dream isn't possible. Says she believes in student freedom and academic freedom
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Rusty Crowe saying purpose of the bill is to "create balance" on college campuses.

SB0817 PASSES 26-6

Now discussing last item on agenda SB0871 which would allow counties to opt into a property tax freeze program for seniors 65 or older, but Gardenhire is raising a truly convoluted algebra metaphor trying to ask who is going to be burdened by potential opting in.
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From my reading of the bill, there's no definitive answer since this bill is a "permissive" bill, and it depends on whether counties choose to opt into it, which Akbari says.
Gardenhire now asking what group is coming next? Says he asks this every time tax relief comes up.

Gardenhire says there could be a never-ending parade of "worthy groups" who ask for tax relief.
"Will she hold the line" he asks of Akbari.
She says she can't say what group will come next but that legislature has previously prioritized seniors.
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Akbari reiterates that legislation offering tax relief for seniors 65+ up to $45,000 already exists, and this bill just raises the threshold to $60,000.
Q from Yager asking about previous constitutional amendment on property tax freeze, so how does this bill square?@WKRN
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Akbari says current law bases of median income; this bill gives local gov't option of raising threshold up to $60,000 if they choose.
SB0871 PASSES 24-5 with 1 PNV.

That concludes regular calendar.

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SCHEDULE CHANGE: Tomorrow, the Senate will convene at 8 a.m. rather than 9.
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