Special session, special restrictions. The Tennessee House adopted rules on Monday that limit what lawmakers can say and how they’ll file proposals this week.
One rule adds a punishment lawmakers who “impugn the reputation” a colleague. And for those who stray off topic, repeat violations of the rules could lead legislators to being silenced for the day — or longer.
The rules call back to tensions from the prior session, when Republicans expelled two Democrats for floor demonstrations. Rep. Jason Powell, D-Nashville, was among those who objected.
“And we limit somebody who sent me up here to represent thousands and thousands of Tennesseans — silence for three days. I speak again. The supermajority rules me out again? I’m silenced for more.”
The House is also barring the public from holding signs in the gallery. That drew a response from families of The Covenant School, who said they’ve quietly listened to lawmakers.
“What we witnessed is a disappointing rules package that limits our ability to identify who we are in the gallery,” they wrote. “Tennessee should protect speech rights. … Instead, with the new no sign rule, we felt we lost a bit of dignity in our identity as parents of survivors.”
Committee meetings begin Tuesday morning.
Already, a Republican in each chamber has tried unsuccessful to adjourn the session.
