The Caucus Corner — March 20

A Letter from the Chair

Dear Friends,

I just got back from the road. Over the past several weeks, our caucus traveled to Nashville, Memphis, Chattanooga, and Knoxville as part of the Tennessee Affordability Tour, and I have to be honest with you — the conversations we had stayed with me.

People are not just worried. They are exhausted. Exhausted from choosing between groceries and utilities. Exhausted from medical bills that never seem to go away. Exhausted from watching their rent go up while their paycheck stays the same. We heard it in every city, from every kind of Tennessean, and it was impossible to ignore.

One thing that became clear on this tour is that our government works best when it meets people where they are. At every stop, we brought together nonprofits, community organizations, and state agencies so that residents could access real resources in one place, from utility assistance to expungement services to healthcare support. That is what government is supposed to look like, and we are committed to making that the standard.

So we came back to Nashville with a clear sense of what this session is about. This week, your Democratic senators are pushing legislation that speaks directly to what we heard, because that is the whole point. The tour was never just an event. It was a reminder of who we work for.

With gratitude and purpose,

 Senator London Lamar, 

Tennessee Senate District 33

Chairwoman, Tennessee Senate Democratic Caucus

Weekly Recap

Senator Oliver wants to end the grocery tax, and she has a plan to pay for it.

• Tennesseans pay a 4% state sales tax every time they buy groceries, a burden that hits low-income families the hardest.

• Senator Oliver introduced the End the Grocery Tax Act, SB 2511, which would permanently eliminate that tax and replace the lost revenue by closing a loophole that allows large multinational corporations to hide profits in offshore tax havens.

Tennessee data show that a quarter of corporations reporting over $1 billion in income paid no state corporate income taxes.

Bills marrying government and Christian church pass the full Senate

• On March 19, the Senate voted on, and passed, two Republican-sponsored bills that mandate Christian religious doctrine be taught in every public school in the state, testing the U.S. Constitution’s prohibition on state-sponsored religion. 

• SB 0303 by Sen. Mark Pody, passed 27-6, requires K-12 public schools to prominently display the Christian Bible’s 10 Commandments. 

• SB 1828, named the Charlie Kirk American Heritage Act, sponsored by Sen. Paul Rose encourages school districts and state colleges to highlight the “positive impacts of religion on American history” with a litany of Christian examples. This legislation passed the full Senate 27-6.

• In addition to funding religious institutions with public tax dollars, Republicans are rapidly advancing laws that force the teaching of Christian doctrine. 

Senator Yarbro wants to make sure every Tennessee worker has a path to retirement.

• Millions of private-sector workers in Tennessee lack access to an employer-sponsored retirement savings plan, leaving them without a reliable way to save for the future.

• Senator Yarbro introduced the Tennessee Retirement Savings Plan Act, SB 2397, which would allow private businesses that do not offer retirement accounts to register with the state and offer a voluntary state-run savings plan to their workers.

Member Spotlight

Senator London Lamar — Evictions are not entertainment. That’s why Sen. Lamar introduced SB 1993, which prohibits anyone from broadcasting or livestreaming video of an eviction proceeding without the written permission of the person being served. The bill passed both the Tennessee Senate and the House of Representatives and now heads to the Governor's desk.

Senator Jeff Yarbro — Sen. Yarbro has received positive feedback on two bills he is sponsoring, which aim to improve our quality of life. SB 1247 would require state and local governments to work together to improve safety at parks. It passed out of a Senate committee last week. Additionally, SB 1702 allows metro governments, like Nashville’s, to cut the local sales tax rate on groceries. That bill passed out of the Revenue Subcommittee with a positive recommendation and will now head to the full finance committee.

Senator Sara Kyle — Sen. Kyle passed a bill that has important ties to her hometown of Memphis and Shelby County. SB 1638 would make the song “Tennessee” by Drew Holcomb an official state song. Holcomb, a native of Memphis, is known for his blend of alternative/indie, folk, country, and rock music. 

Senator Heidi Campbell — Sen. Campbell has made important progress in getting progressive legislation moved forward despite the deeply conservative nature of the state’s politics. The Waste to Jobs Act advanced out of the Senate Energy, Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee — the furthest a recycling bill of this nature has gotten in a red state thus far. Additionally, SB 1819, which requires high schools to provide three civic engagement field days, passed the Senate unanimously 31-0, on March 16.

Senator Raumesh Akbari — Sen. Akbari continues to fight for criminal justice reform for Tennesseans. On March 16, her bill, SB 0336, which makes it easier for some formerly incarcerated people to restore their voting rights, was transmitted to Governor Bill Lee to be signed into law.

Senator Charlane Oliver — Sen. Oliver introduced the Tennessee Child Care Red Tape Reduction Act, SB 2509, to make it easier for childcare providers to open their doors and serve Tennessee families. The bill streamlines the licensing process, eliminates duplicative inspections, and requires local governments to fast-track childcare permit applications. The next vote on the bill will take place in the full Tennessee Senate.