The 114th Tennessee General Assembly gaveled in at noon on Tuesday, Jan. 14, marking the start of the two-year period in which lawmakers meet to consider legislative initiatives and budgetary expenditures. The first few days of session are largely focused on implementing protocols outlined in the state Constitution to officially commence legislative business. The start of the new term will see the swearing in of newly-elected lawmakers, the establishment of rules of parliamentary procedure and the reconstitution of committees. With three new state Senators and nine new state Representatives taking office this year, many of the committees TMA lobbyists work will see notable changes.

The House Health Committee will carry over its subcommittees from the 113th Tennessee General Assembly, which include the House Health Subcommittee and the Population Health Subcommittee. Rep. Michele Carringer (R-Knoxville) will resume her role as chair of the latter, while Rep. Brock Martin (R-Huntingdon) will assume the chairmanship of the former. TMA member Rep. Bryan Terry, MD (R-Murfreesboro) will remain chair of the full Health Committee.

On the insurance side, the House will have two subcommittees this year: the House Insurance Subcommittee and the House TennCare Subcommittee. Rep. Esther Helton-Haynes (R-East Ridge) will chair the former while Rep. Michael Hale (R-Smithville) will chair the latter. TMA member Rep. Sabi Kumar, MD (R-Springfield) will continue to chair the full Insurance Committee.

With the retirement of longtime former Sen. Art Swann and two upset races last fall, TMA’s two primary committees in the upper chamber saw significant changes in terms of member composition. However, both the Senate Health & Welfare Committee and the Senate Commerce & Labor Committee will retain their chairs in Sen. Rusty Crowe (R-Johnson City) and Sen. Paul Bailey (R-Sparta), respectively.

For the full list of committee assignments this session, click here.

SPECIAL SESSION

On Wednesday during the Joint Convention of the Tennessee General Assembly, Gov. Lee announced a special legislative session— the seventh he has called since taking office in 2019— to advance a variety of topics.

The session, set to commence on Jan. 27, will focus only on topics encompassing school vouchers, disaster relief funding and immigration. 

Lee’s signature Education Savings Account proposal, which failed last year due to a legislative gridlock between the Senate and House, will be this special session’s focal issue. While Republican leadership appears on board with the governor’s initiative, it remains unclear if Lee can garner enough support from the rest of his party, as many rural Republicans with strong public school systems have traditionally opposed similar measures in previous years.

While both sides of the aisle appear poised to support additional disaster relief funding to Hurricane Helene victims, immigration policy discussions are almost certain to cause heated infighting between the two parties early on in the legislative year. 

The special session is expected to take up to two weeks to complete, coinciding with the bill filing deadline the first week of February. TMA will look to begin moving its legislative proposals through the committee process at that time.

ADVOCACY OPPORTUNITIES

As TMA works to advance its 2025 policy priorities, we will be asking members to engage with their elected officials to secure votes as bills move through the process. Members interested in making their voice heard should sign up to receive calls-to-action through our Grassroots Action Network, in addition to participating in our annual Day on the Hill set for Tuesday, March 4. You can also support our policy efforts by making a donation to TMA PAC, TMA’s nonpartisan, political action committee, to ensure candidates who support physician issues are elected to the Tennessee General Assembly.