The Caucus Corner- April 10

A Letter from the Chair

Dear Friends,

I will be honest with you. We are in the final stretch of session, and I know it can feel overwhelming. The news moves fast, the bills pile up, and it is easy to feel like your voice does not matter. I understand that exhaustion.

But this is exactly the moment to stay engaged. While Tennessee Senate Democrats have spent this session fighting to eliminate the grocery tax, wipe out medical debt, improve maternal health outcomes, and make childcare more accessible, the controlling party has chosen to spend these final weeks on culture wars and consolidating their power. The contrast is clear, and the people of Tennessee deserve to know where their legislators stand.

If you see a bill you believe in, call your senator's office and say so. If something moving through the legislature concerns you, say that too. You do not need a script or a talking point. You just need to pick up the phone. Lawmakers hear from lobbyists and special interests every single day. Hearing from the people they actually represent makes a difference.

Stay in it with us.

With gratitude and purpose, 

Senator London Lamar

 Chairwoman, Tennessee Senate Democratic Caucus 

Tennessee State Senate, District 33 • Memphis

Weekly Recap

Senator Akbari restores voting rights to ex-offenders

• After years of work, Sen. Akbari along with Rep. Karen Camper successfully got Senate Bill 336 signed into law by Gov. Bill Lee after it passed the full Senate earlier in March. 

• The new law will relax two “poll taxes” that keep returning citizens from being able to restore their right to vote. One reform removes the requirement that all court fees be paid prior to registering to vote. 

• Another reforms Tennessee’s child support rule so that full arrearages are no longer required and are instead replaced with just 12 months of compliance on a payment plan. 

• The law will create justice for the formerly incarcerated while making it clear that after a person has finished their sentence and paid restitution to victims, they have a real shot at a second chance.

Republican lawmakers support Trump’s effort to dismantle the U.S. Education Department

• The Senate voted, and passed on Monday, Senate Joint Resolution 650, which formally endorses President Donald Trump’s effort to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education.

• As politicians play games, it’s Tennessee students who would pay the price. The Department oversees Title I funding for low-income schools, enforces civil rights protections for students with disabilities and administers student financial aid programs that millions of families depend on. SJR 650 doesn't just endorse eliminating federal oversight — it calls on the governor to begin planning Tennessee's takeover of those programs, with no guarantee of funding or protections.

• In a state that already ranks near the bottom in education spending, trusting the state’s one-party government to backfill federal dollars and safeguard students' civil rights is a dangerous gamble. Dismantling the Department of Education isn't states' rights — it's leaving Tennessee's most vulnerable students behind.

Campbell bill that would close gun transfer loophole killed in full Senate

• In Tennessee, it is illegal to sell firearms to a person who is prohibited by law from possessing firearms, such as felons, drug addicts, and domestic abusers. 

• But there’s a loophole: It’s not illegal to give a prohibited person a gun. 

• Sen. Heidi Campbell’s SB 34, which was up for a final vote in the Senate on April 9, would have closed the loophole by creating a Class A misdemeanor for a person who knowingly transferred a firearm to a person prohibited from possessing a gun under state or federal law.

• It’s a reform that’s tough on crime. But Republicans couldn’t get on board. The bill failed in the full Senate on an 11-21 vote. The actions of Republicans preserved a loophole that allows felons to get firearms in Tennessee.

Tesla Tunnel: Sweetheart regulations for Musk’s Tesla tunnel project

• Gov. Bill Lee promised The Boring Company’s Tesla tunnel would cost taxpayers nothing, but SB 2205 tells a different story. The legislation would create a new $1 million state agency — custom-built to issue permits and policies for a single corporation owned by billionaire Elon Musk. 

• Republicans are proposing the new agency so that if the company decides to expand its Music City Loop project or venture to other communities, it would still fall under the authority of the state-controlled board. While state leaders have been enthusiastically touting the tunnel, local lawmakers have been more skeptical.

• Still, there’s no guarantee the low-volume tunnel even gets built. Since 2017, The Boring Company has pitched projects in Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Jose, Calif., San Antonio, Texas, Miami, and Australia, to name a few. None of those proposals ultimately moved forward.

Member Spotlight

Senator London Lamar — On April 3, Sen. Lamar was featured on WREG News Channel 3 — Memphis’ “Informed Sources,” where she discussed the GOP’s politically charged audit of Memphis-Shelby County Schools audit and the Democratic Party’s push for marijuana reform in Tennessee.

Senator Ramuesh Akbari — Sen. Akbari’s week was highlighted by honoring legendary Memphis musician Steve Cropper in the Tennessee Senate. Cropper was an American guitarist, songwriter, and record producer who left a lasting mark on Memphis soul music.

Senator Heidi Campbell — Sen. Heidi Campbell welcomed the Muslim Student Association to her office, all of whom were constituents. 

Senator Jeff Yarbro — On April 1, Sen. Yarbro spoke at Vanderbilt University at an event titled “Who Speaks For Nashville Now? Local Journalism and Democratic Accountability.” The talk was part of the Dialogue Vanderbilt Conversations on America Series that moves beyond sound bites and performance to tackle some of the most pressing issues of our time and brings curiosity and conversation back to the public square.

Senator  Charlane Oliver — Sen. Oliver was pleased to welcome various advocacy and student groups to her office the past few weeks, including the Muslim Students Association, TN Justice for Our Neighbors, Our Kids, and Legacy Mission Village.

Senator Sarah Kyle — Sen. Kyle joined leadership from her alma mater, Austin Peay State University, in honoring the 2026 APSU Legislative Interns.