As a layperson, it’s hard to keep up, unless you have a specific bill you’re keeping an eye on. You can always watch the proceedings on the state legislature’s website — which I encourage you to do, to see how it works.
But in the meantime, here are a few of the bills that WPLN’s reporters have been tracking this year, all of which moved forward this week.
WHAT TO KNOW
LGBTQ+ advocates watch the House vote on same-sex marriage from outside the chamber. Credit: Marianna Bacallao / WPLN NewsPrivate banks, hospitals and insurance companies in Tennessee could soon refuse to recognize same-sex marriages.
The Tennessee House passed HB1473yesterday, which would exempt private citizens from federal anti-discrimination law.
On the House floor, Democrats argued this bill defies Obergefell v. Hodges, the Supreme Court case that legalized gay marriage nationwide.
Rep. Gino Bulso, R-Franklin, wrote the bill, which refers to LGBTQ+ marriages as “purported” marriages. He argued the measure is constitutional, as it only applies to how private citizens recognize same-sex marriages. WPLN’s Marianna Bacallao reports Bulso received overwhelming supportfrom his fellow Republicans in Tennessee’s supermajority.
LGBTQ+ advocates, however, worry the law will go beyond personal belief and materially harm gay couples. In rural areas, community banks and smaller hospitals could refuse to recognize same-sex marriages.
“Imagine if the treasury secretary were driving through the state of Tennessee and had an accident in a small rural county, and someone refused to recognize his husband as his husband, and they had to make medical decisions or wanted to visit in the health care facility,” said Chris Sanders of the Tennessee Equality Project.
The measure still needs to clear multiple hurdles in the Senate before it can become law.Other notable updates this week from the state legislature:
- Tennessee lawmakers advanced a bill that would require doctors, teachers and local law enforcement to report a person’s immigration status.Rep. Elaine Davis, R-Knoxville, says that her bill will help lawmakers understand how many people without citizenship may be using state resources. But art teacher Betsy Hopkirk, who taught Davis’s son in Knox County Schools, testified against the bill, saying it would “introduce fear and distrust into our schools” and arguing that reporting immigration data would also cost educators time and resources that they don’t have. Healthcare professionals also argued that the bill could have a chilling effect on immigrants seeking medical attention.
- A new bill has been filed in the General Assembly seeking to force the governor to accept a portion of federal funds. The bill would require the state government to opt into the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Summer EBT program, which provides $120 to each school-aged kid in the summer to help pay for food each year. WUOT’s Pierce Gentry reports Tennessee participated in that program in 2024, but Governor Bill Lee pulled the state out for 2025 and 2026, citing a $5 million state cost to administer the roughly $77 million in federal funds. Instead, Lee put state dollars behind a more limited initiative serving 15 of Tennessee’s 95 counties, notably excluding some of its most impoverished communities.
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MORE TO KNOW
- The Boring Company has finalized a deal this week to use land at the Nashville airport for its 10-mile tunnel system. WPLN’s Caroline Eggers explains the Boring Company plans to build parallel, one-way tunnels between downtown and the airport. Its airport access will cost about $300,000 dollars each year, per the deal finalized this week. If the tunnel becomes operational, then the company will also be required to pay the airport a $5 fee per ride, same as Uber and Lyft. The airport says that could generate $6 million dollars of additional annual income, under the assumption that the company will make an average of 140 trips per hour. For reference, the airport has an average of 550 trips per hour from Uber and Lyft.
- The once-thriving RiverGate Mall will be transformed into a 450-million dollar residential and commercial complex. The 54-year-old mall was purchased last week by developer Merus, who plans to demolish the facility in the spring and rework the area into retail shops, restaurants, sports venues, medical offices, hotels and housing. Merus also plans to donate a portion of the grounds to Metro Nashville to support future public transportation improvements. Completion is expected in 2029. [The Tennessean]
- Brace yourselves for a high electric bill after the recent winter ice storm and extreme cold. Many residents likely used more power to heat their homes in January, even if they never touched the thermostat. Bitterly cold temperatures make heating systems work harder, causing a spike in bills. Nashville Electric Service says customers shouldn’t be billed for any time they experienced an outage. The power company urges customers to review their bills and make sure the charges are accurate. NES is also offering payment extensions until the end of the year. [NewsChannel 5]
FROM WNXP
The free, family-friendly event welcomes the community to a discovery and celebration of Chinese culture. “You don’t have to be Chinese to celebrate this. It’s all about good intention and it’s about connection,” founder of Chinese Arts Alliance of Nashville Jen-Jen Lin said.
“This year we focus on horse. Horse has a lot of energy, and charging forward and graceful at the same time. Last year was snake year. We are peeling the scale off the snake and charging forward to success.”More events this weekend
FROM THIS IS NASHVILLE
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