More Details on the Upcoming Special Session
On January 15th Governor Bill Lee officially announced a special legislative session that will convene on January 27th. The proclamation for the special session has been published and outlines specific topics for consideration, meaning previously introduced bills for the regular session will not be eligible for debate. Only bills directly related to the proclamation’s issues can be discussed, and lawmakers will need to file new bills at the start of the session, though they can effectively duplicate existing ones.
Special committees will be formed in the House and Senate to expedite discussions. These committees are expected to be heavily influenced by GOP members aligned with the Governor’s agenda. House and Senate leaders will determine committee structures, membership, and rules, and the session is anticipated to last 1-2 weeks.
Key Topics for the Special Session
Vouchers: The Governor’s proposed “Education Freedom Scholarship Program” seeks to expand school choice for K-12 students by offering scholarships to attend nonpublic schools. Key provisions include:
Ensuring that local education agency (LEA) funding (TISA) remains stable despite student transfers out of public schools.
Offering financial incentives for high-performing school districts.
Increasing investments in teacher pay and public school infrastructure to address existing needs.
Our Concerns: While the Governor and GOP leadership claim that the TISA funding for public schools is “guaranteed” not to decrease, the program diverts new state resources to nonpublic schools. This will lead to further underfunding of public schools already struggling with overcrowding, resource shortages, and infrastructure issues. The program may deepen inequities between students who can utilize these scholarships and those reliant on public schools. Public schools serve as hubs for our communities, especially in rural and low-income areas. A shift of resources and students could weaken these vital community institutions.
Disaster Recovery: The proclamation includes disaster relief measures for East Tennessee communities impacted by Hurricane Helene, addressing severe flooding that caused loss of life, property damage, and economic challenges. Key actions include:
Providing financial relief to disaster-affected property owners.
Granting the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) the authority to aid local agencies in disaster recovery, including resource sharing and public property repairs.
Allocating funds for rebuilding infrastructure, such as schools (e.g., Hampton High School in Carter County).
Supporting local governments in disaster-stricken areas with financial assistance and creating dedicated recovery and response funds.
Our Concerns: Disaster relief should not be tied to other legislative measures or political agendas. The flooding occurred months ago, and aid should have been provided promptly rather than bundled with unrelated proposals like education vouchers or immigration enforcement. Disaster recovery is a basic government responsibility and should not depend on legislative sessions or negotiations.
Transportation Modernization: The proclamation proposes the establishment of the Tennessee Transportation Financing Authority to support public and private financing for transportation projects. This initiative aims to modernize transportation infrastructure by leveraging alternate delivery models and public-private partnerships, as authorized under the Transportation Modernization Act of 2023.
Our Concerns: We are still reviewing this section. Though we support this in theory we encourage strong oversight, to ensure the financing authority operates with transparency, preventing mismanagement and inequitable project distribution.
Immigration Enforcement: The Governor’s agenda includes legislation to increase immigration enforcement in Tennessee, outlined in Senate Bill 6002 and House Bill 6001. Proposals include:
Creating a Centralized Immigration Enforcement Entity: Establishes a new division under the Department of Safety, headed by a Chief Immigration Enforcement Officer (CIEO), to coordinate state and local immigration enforcement efforts, including participation in federal enforcement programs like 287(g).
Immigration Enforcement Fund: Creates a fund to incentivize local governments to enforce federal immigration laws, including detentions and deportations, by entering into 287(g) agreements.
Penalties for Sanctuary Policies: Criminalizes and enforces removal from office for local officials who adopt sanctuary policies or fail to comply with immigration-related orders.
Driver’s Licenses and IDs: Denies driver’s licenses to lawful permanent residents (green card holders) unless they provide proof of U.S. citizenship. Restricts temporary licenses (e.g., for green card holders or those with legal status) as valid IDs for rights exclusive to U.S. citizens, such as voting. Lawful permanent residents must provide proof of citizenship to renew or maintain a regular driver’s license.
Our Concerns: We oppose this legislation. The emphasis on 287(g) agreements encourages local law enforcement to collaborate with federal immigration authorities, increasing the risk of racial profiling and wrongful detention of immigrants, including those with legal status. This was the case with prior 287(g) programs in cities like Nashville.
This bill also disproportionately impacts lawful permanent residents (i.e. green card holders), treats them as second-class residents, and fosters a punitive, enforcement-heavy approach to immigration policy. It creates significant barriers to integration and mobility, while also contributing to a climate of fear and mistrust within immigrant communities.
What You Can Do
We will closely monitor these bills as they progress through the special session. In the meantime, we urge you to contact your elected officials to share your concerns about these proposals and their potential impact on our communities.
National Level
Donald Trump was inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States on January 20th. In just a few days, he has signed numerous executive orders, many of which are already facing legal challenges for their unconstitutionality. Among the orders, we are closely monitoring with our national partners are the following:
National Security Screening: New vetting rules target individuals from certain regions, effectively acting as a Muslim ban disguised as security measures.
Ending Birthright Citizenship: Proposed changes to the Fourteenth Amendment threaten to strip citizenship rights from Americans born in the U.S., creating legal uncertainty and undermining constitutional principles. On January 23rd, a federal judge temporarily halted this executive order from going into effect.
Stopping Refugee Admissions: Halting refugee programs harms individuals fleeing violence and persecution, particularly in regions where U.S. military actions have contributed to displacement.
Pardons for January 6 Rioters: Pardoning individuals convicted of violent crimes during the January 6 Capitol attack undermines accountability and disrespects the core values of our democracy.
Lifting Sanctions on West Bank Settlers: Removing sanctions on extreme West Bank settlers, including those accused of war crimes, weakens international peace efforts, jeopardizes human rights protections, and risks further instability in the region.
We will continue to work with our partners to monitor these actions and their impacts. You can find a full list of all of the executive orders he has signed here.