Tennessee’s GOP-controlled General Assembly concluded its legislative session with both victories and defeats for Republican Gov. Bill Lee. Despite failing to pass a universal school voucher program, the Assembly approved a bill allowing some teachers to carry firearms in public schools and a nearly $2 billion tax cut and refund for businesses. The session was marked by deep divides and resentments, stemming from previous inaction on gun control and safety measures, as well as the expulsions of two young Black Democratic lawmakers.
Governor Lee expressed pride in the accomplishments of the session, highlighting the $1.9 billion tax cut and refund for businesses as a major win for the state. The tax cut was seen as necessary to prevent a potential lawsuit over the state’s 90-year-old franchise tax, which some argue violates the U.S. Constitution’s Commerce Clause. The agreement to offer businesses retroactive refunds in exchange for limited transparency on refund amounts was controversial, with Democrats criticizing the lack of disclosure.
The final week of the legislative session also saw contentious debates over allowing public school teachers and staff to carry firearms, with protesters voicing their opposition to the bill. Despite the backlash, Governor Lee indicated he would sign the bill into law, making it the biggest expansion of gun access in the state since a deadly school shooting in Nashville. Additionally, the Assembly passed several bills targeting the LGBTQ+ community, further cementing Tennessee’s reputation for enacting anti-LGBTQ+ legislation.
Lawmakers also repealed police traffic stop reforms enacted in Memphis following a fatal beating by officers in 2023, and removed the trustees of Tennessee’s only publicly funded historically Black university amid allegations of mismanagement. Democrats and critics argued that the increased scrutiny on the university was a result of chronic underfunding over the last three decades. The rejection of a bill banning local governments from funding reparations for slavery marked a rare instance of GOP-backed legislation being spiked by House lawmakers.
On the issue of abortion, legislators approved criminalizing adults who assist minors in obtaining abortions without parental consent. Governor Lee is expected to sign the bill into law, adding to the state’s restrictive abortion laws. Overall, the 2022 legislative session in Tennessee showcased both victories and setbacks for Governor Lee and the GOP-controlled Assembly, with debates over school safety, tax cuts, and social issues shaping the legislative agenda.
