Tennessee's Legislative Chaos: House and Senate Clash Over Bills

The Tennessee House of Representatives continued to debate bills that were unlikely to pass after the Senate closed its final committees, having only passed three new laws and a $30 million funding package. Tensions between the House and Senate chambers were evident, with House Majority Leader William Lamberth stating that despite knowing the Senate would only pass three bills, all 37 bills in the House should continue forward. Protesters demanding gun control filled the House committees, and two bills received the most attention, one of which would have expanded who could bring guns onto school property and the other allowing 16- and 17-year-olds to be tried as adults for gun-related offenses. The Senate passed a budget bill, legislation for a sales tax break on gun storage, and other bills, while the two chambers remained in a standoff over how to conclude the special session.