►
Description
House Floor Session- 8th legislative Day- February 16, 2023
A
A
A
B
B
Mr
server
at
Arms
invite
the
members
into
the
chamber
and
close
doors
out
hereby
declare
the
house
representatives
of
the
113th
Journal
assembly
of
the
state
of
Tennessee
now
in
session.
Well,
the
members
please
stand
with
the
visitors
and
the
guy.
We
please
stand
and
remain
standing
through
the
Pledge
of
Allegiance
representative
love
will
introduce
the
chaplain
of
the
day
representative
love.
C
Thank
you,
Mr
Speaker
members.
We
have
with
us
today
Bishop
e
and
Henning
Byfield
Bishop
of
the
13th
Episcopal
District
of
the
African
Methodist
Episcopal
church,
and
that
District
comprises
the
states
of
Tennessee
and
Kentucky.
Bishop
byfeld
has
her
Bachelor
of
Science
degree
from
Wilberforce,
University,
Master's
event,
degree
from
Newburgh,
Theological,
Seminary,
another
master
of
being
degraded
from
Pain,
Theological
Seminary
and
a
doctorate
Ministry
from
Ashland
Theological
Seminary.
C
She
is
one
of
our
own
having
been
born
here
in
Tennessee
she's,
a
child
of
the
parsonage,
her
father
Pastor
to
church
in
several
places
in
Tennessee
and
also
her
brother
was
a
bishop
in
the
AME
church
and
she
made
history
in
being
the
only
time
in
history
that
a
sibling
was
elected
while
another
sibling
was
still
serving
on
on
the
bench.
She
has
served.
The
16th
District
of
the
AME
church
and,
of
course,
now
again
serves
the
13th
District,
which
is
again
Kentucky
and
Tennessee
I'm
indebted
to
her,
because
she
is
my
Bishop.
C
D
D
Grant
us
the
energy
in
this
room
to
rekindle
the
dreams
and
hopes
of
all
of
our
ancestors
whether
they
came
on
the
Mayflower
stolen
from
their
homelands
or
came
by
both
to
accept
Escape
tyranny
that
we
have
the
same
dreams
of
equality,
Family,
Health
freedom
and
the
rights
to
live
and
harmony.
Grant
us
courage
to
see
the
collective
needs.
Beyond,
partisan
beliefs
to
save
our
children.
D
From
early
death
from
murder
and
diseases
grant
us
the
willingness
to
allow
the
sunset
years
of
our
seniors
to
live
in
dignity,
not
to
having
to
choose
from
substance,
shelter
and
medicine
and
help
this
body
enact
policy
to
protect
the
environment
and
the
people,
so
forgive
us
of
our
Pious
personalism
and
destructive
agendas,
replace
them
with
communal
deliberations
and
peace.
Help
us
operate
in
Grace,
leave
with
gentility
discipline
in
love
and
set
the
standard
for
excellence.
E
B
B
G
G
But
Elliott
was
my
campaign
manager
in
my
first
election
back
in
2018,
but
he
was
unable
to
help
me
in
my
second
or
my
first
re-election
in
2020,
because
he
was
deployed
serving
his
country
over
in
the
Middle
East
and
to
express
to
you
the
the
commitment
that
he
and
his
household
have
his
wife
just
returned
from
a
deployment
over
to
the
Middle
East.
Just
this
fall
so
give
him
a
welcome
and
a
thank
you
we're
glad
to
have
him.
H
I
Thank
you,
I
would
ask
that
everyone
rise
with
me
to
honor
a
real
hero
in
Washington
County
that
died,
representative,
Hicks
and
I
had
the
privilege
of
knowing
this
man
Major
General
Gary
Harrell.
He
was
in
so
many
things,
commanded
so
many
things
that
you
all
even
know
about
like.
If
you
watch
the
movie
Black
Hawk
Down,
he
was
in
command
of
that.
I
He
was
in
Operation
Desert
Shield
Operation
Desert
Storm.
He
was
in
assigned
to
seventh
Special
Forces
Group.
He
did
35
years
supported
the
82nd
Airborne
Division,
the
seventh
special
forces
in
Delta
Force.
He
commanded
operations
in
Panama,
Somalia
Afghanistan
Iraq,
but
he
was
also
the
head
of
our
Republican
Party
when
he
retired
from
his
service.
He
was
a
father,
a
grandfather,
a
wonderful
husband
and
he
loved
our
country,
and
we
will
forever
be
indebted
to
this
man.
Would
you
bow
your
heads
in
a
moment
of
silence
with
us.
B
F
The
national
Wild
Turkey
Federation
Inc
was
incorporated
on
March
28
1973
in
Fredericksburg
Virginia
and
whereas,
over
the
course
of
50
years,
the
national
Wild
Turkey
Federation.
Its
chapters
and
millions
of
members
across
Nation
have
worked
with
state
federal
and
non-governmental
Partners
to
promote
the
conservation
of
the
wild
turkey
and
the
preservation
of
our
hunting.
Heritage
participating
in
one
of
the
greatest
conservation
success
stories
in
American
history,
The
Return
of
the
wild
turkey
from
the
brink
of
Extinction.
F
And
where
is
the
national
Wild
Turkey
Federation
Works
across
land
ownership,
boundaries
to
increase
clean
and
abundant
water,
healthy
forests
and
wildlife,
habitat
resilient
communities
and
robust
recreational
opportunities
across
the
country?
And
for
this
work,
the
organization
should
be
specially
recognized.
J
When
I
was
a
child,
there
were
no
turkey
around
Middle
Tennessee,
and
now
you
can't
go
anywhere
without
hearing
them,
but
the
the
this
is
a
great
organization
and
I
hope.
Everybody
comes
out
this
weekend
and
if
you
have
time
and
you
book
a
room
around
the
conservatory,
you
will
be
greeted
every
night
all
night
to
gobbling
back
and
forth
they'll
be
calling
from
one
balcony
to
the
next.
It's
it's
a
ton
of
fun.
J
I'm
gonna,
ask
Mark
Darnell
the
Tennessee
state
chapter
president
to
share
some
remarks
and
then
Mr
Speaker.
If
you'd
like
to
come
down
to
the
well
for
a
photo
and
any
member
of
the
Sportsman's
caucus
or
any
remember,
they
would
like
to
be
a
member
of
the
Sportsman's
caucus
is
welcome
to
join
us
so
mark.
Thank.
B
K
Good
morning,
as
I
said,
my
name
is
Mark
Darnell
I'm
from
honey,
which
puts
me
squarely
as
a
constituent
of
Kelly
keasland
Kelly
great,
to
see
you
I'd
like
to
say
on
behalf
of
the
13
000
adult
members
in
the
state
of
Tennessee,
which,
in
true
volunteer
tradition,
is
the
number
one
state
in
the
United
States
in
adult
membership.
We
would
like
to
thank
this
body
for
recognizing
an
organization
that
truly
embodies
the
hunting
Heritage
and
the
tradition
for
not
only
a
hunter
but
their
families.
So
thank
you.
J
L
M
Thank
you,
Mr
Speaker
Monday
night
during
session
I
got
a
text
message
to
inform
me
that
our
D.A
Mr
Danny
Goodman
lost
his
daughter
in
a
car
accident.
She
was
22
years
old
and
he's
a
fantastic
man.
He
and
his
wife,
Penny
and
I,
just
coveted,
for
my
sake
and
their
sake,
I
appreciate
you
just
pray
for
him
and
just
hold
them
up
in
prayer
over
the
next
few
days
tomorrow,
they'll
be
laying
her
to
rest,
but
it's
just
a
fantastic
individual
and
just
pray
that
God
gets
the
glory
from
it.
N
O
Thank
you
Mr
Speaker.
Two
days
ago,
on
Valentine's
morning,
County
Commissioner
Ray
Ledger,
woke
up
to
find
his
wife
Jamie
Stokes
Ledger
deceased
Jamie
was
a
classmate
of
mine.
We
graduated
together
in
1992,
we've
grown
up
together
from
elementary
school
we've
known
each
other
for
a
very
long
time.
Anybody
that
knew
Jamie
knew
that
she
had
the
biggest
heart
in
the
entire
County.
P
Thank
you,
Mr
Speaker
members.
Yesterday
we
learned
that
the
Tennessee
National
Guard
lost
two
soldiers
in
a
tragic
accident
down
in
Alabama
learned
over
the
years,
whether
it's
in
combat
or
in
training.
It's
it's
a
demanding
business
and
it's
a
dangerous
business
and
members
join
me
as
we
take
a
moment
of
silence
for
these
two
Brave
young
soldiers
who
lost
their
life
in
the
service
of
our
state
and
our
country.
Q
Thank
you,
Mr
Speaker
I
have
some
guests
on
the
floor
today,
as
well
as
in
the
gallery.
Impact
leadership
led
by
Cindy
Schumann
is
up
in
the
gallery,
and
some
of
their
participants
for
impact
leadership
are
on
the
floor
today.
Speaker,
as
you
know,
they
served
the
Upper
Cumberland
in
the
leadership
group,
and
so
we
want
to
make
sure
we
welcome
them
to
the
floor
today.
Thank
you,
foreign.
B
R
R
T
T
U
W
Thank
you
chairman.
In
Memphis,
we
also
lost
an
icon
in
Queen
Georgia
King.
She
was
a
civil
rights
leader
and
activist
who
took
Matthew
25
to
heart.
She
worked
and
advocated
on
behalf
of
the
poor,
literally
fed
the
homeless
in
our
communities,
and
she
sacrificed
her
life
over
decades
to,
as
she
would
say,
keep
the
skillet
hot.
X
Y
B
B
B
B
F
B
B
Z
I
yield.
Thank
you.
Thank
you,
chairman,
Reagan,
the
last
time
that
this
board
was
up
for
review
before
government
operations
in
2018,
a
article
by
The,
Tennessean
entitled
Tennessee,
Confederate,
Monument
organization
faces
criticism
and
state
review
stated
that
a
recent
State
audit
found
that
the
nine
member
Sam
Davis
Memorial
Association
Board
of
Trustees,
has
not
been
following
some
basic
tenants
of
good
government
for
years.
It
didn't
have
hold
public
meetings,
it
didn't
keep
minutes,
it
didn't
have
bylaws.
Nor
did
the
board
have
a
conflict
of
interest
policy.
Z
H
H
Z
Thank
you
Mr
Speaker
on
its
website
the
Sam
Davis
Association,
only
mention
of
those
who
were
enslaved,
brutalized
and
beaten
on
the
land
refers
to
them
as
enslaved
workers.
Personally,
this
sounds
a
bit
revisionist
to
me
and
I
was
just
questioning.
What
ways
are
we
making
sure
that
the
accurate
and
full
story
of
history
is
being
told
at
this
site.
H
H
Z
You
Mr
Speaker.
Do
you
believe
that
this
board
is
telling
a
comprehensive
full
story
of
this
of
the
history,
including
the
perspective
of
those
who
enslaved
on
this
land?
Or
do
you
believe
that
it
is
not
telling
the
full
story
of
what
happened
at
this
site
that
is
historically
significant
to
tennesseans.
H
Z
H
B
Z
Z
H
AA
Thank
you,
Mr
Speaker,
just
to
follow
up
on
one
of
the
questions
that
was
asked
you.
The
question
was
asked
whether
or
not
you
were
confident
as
to
the
way
that
the
history
of
this
institution
and
this
location
was
being
presented
in
the
from
a
historical
perspective,
and
you
said
it
was
the
function
of
the
board.
I
believe
you
said,
is
that
correct
chairman.
H
AB
Thank
you.
Thank
you.
Chairman
Sam
Davis
home
happens
to
be
100
yards
out
of
my
district.
He
was
a
young
man
that
gave
his
life
for
a
cause.
You
may
disagree
with
and
I'm
reminded
what
Ronald
Reagan
said.
If
I
find
someone
that
agrees
with
me,
80
of
the
time,
that's
a
80
friend,
not
a
20
Trader.
Most
of
us
agree
well.
I'd
say
all
of
us
agree
on
80
of
the
issues.
I
would
say:
here's
a
quote
that
Sam
Davis
gave
I
didn't
even
know.
This
was
up
so
bear
with
me.
AB
AB
He
was
a
young
man
of
character.
You
may
have
disagreed
with
the
cause
may
have
disagree
with
what's
going
on,
but
my
good
friend
from
Davidson
County
mentioned,
there's
no
one
of
color
there.
How
many
y'all
have
visited
Sam,
Davis
home,
raise
your
hand
if
you
visited
one
member,
two,
three
members,
four
or
five
members
go
visit.
The
home
read
his
story.
AB
The
late
Dr
George
Smith,
who
was
African-American,
who
was
the
first
physician
to
be
allowed
doctor
privileges
at
Rough,
County,
Hospital,
Dr
Terry,
is
a
grand
great
man
of
character.
Awesome
man,
Google
Mike,
Sparks,
Dr,
George,
Smith,
well,
Dr
George
Smith
was
at
my
fundraiser
guess
where
it
was
at.
It
was
at
Sam
Davis
home.
AB
Is
it
Sam,
Davis
home
and
he
whispered
over
to
me
he
says:
Sparks
I'm
gonna,
get
you
a
good
check.
I'm
gonna
help
you.
Sadly
he
died
two
months
later
of
cancer.
Many
of
you
members
have
been
up
here
a
while.
Remember
me
recognizing
them
on
the
floor.
Go
to
YouTube
Type
in
Dr,
George
Smith
you'll
see
the
tribute
you'll
see.
Larry
Miller
you'll
see
Joe
Town
standing
there,
Dr
George
Smith
was
a
good
man.
He
served
on
their
board
just
wanted
to
put
that
out
for
the
record.
Thank
you,
chairman.
B
B
B
B
Y
B
Y
Mr
Speaker
and
I've
got
a
couple
of
my
friends
around
me
that
are
saying
what
are
we
doing
here
so
Monday
is
President's
Day.
This
resolution
would
allow
us
to
not
be
in
session
on
Monday
evening.
If
you
vote
in
favor
of
this
resolution,
then
we
will
not
be
here
on
Monday.
If
you
all
vote
against
it,
then
I
look
forward
to
seeing
you
on
Monday
with
that
Mr
Speaker
I
move
to
concurrent
sjr
number
218.
Larry.
B
AC
AD
AA
Thank
you,
Mr
Speaker
I
just
want
to
raise
everybody's
attention
to
the
fact
that
the
weather
is
supposed
to
get
pretty
bad
here
in
the
early
afternoon.
So
if
you
are
from
out
of
town
I
would
encourage
you
to
either
hunker
down
here
in
Nashville
for
an
extra
night
or
leave
town
pretty
soon
before
the
storm
hits
I'd
hate
for
anything
to
happen
to
anybody
on
the
way
out
of
town.
Despite
what
I
say,
sometimes
I
think
Mr
Speaker.
G
I
T
I
think
we
had
close
to
700
ties
that
were
donated,
maybe
about
10
to
12
suits
a
few
pairs
of
shoes
and
and
our
interns
are
were
very,
very
thankful
to
you
all
so
I
want
you
to
know
that
and
anybody
else
that's
listening.
You
know
governor's
office
and
everyone
else
who
contributed
to
times
for
terms
for
this
year
and
I,
know
y'all,
looking
forward
to
me
promoting
this
again
next
year.
We
might
start
at
the
end
of
the
year
before
we
get
into
next
year
to
promote
next
year's
ties
for
turns.
S
V
Thank
you,
Mr
Speaker
members
I
wanted
to
make
an
announcement
for
y'all
the
Tennessee
Highway
Patrol
our
Troopers
have
a
day
on
the
hill
Tuesday.
We
all
love
them.
I
hope
we
do
appreciate
what
they
do.
They
also
have
breakfast
Tuesday
morning,
7
30
8th
floor.
It's
going
to
be
good
hope
to
see
y'all
there.
AC
Thank
you,
Mr
Speaker
I
forgot
one
members
next
Wednesday
at
1
30
in
the
House
Education
Administration
committee,
we're
having
a
two-hour
hearing
on
Early
Childhood
illiteracy,
as
it
relates
to
the
third
grade
retention
issue.
I
know
that
you're
all
getting
many
emails
and
calls
on
that
two
hours.
We've
got
experts
coming
in
as
well
as
third
grade
teachers,
superintendents
and
experts
in
our
childhood
literally
to
talk.
AC
T
AE
Thank
you,
Mr
Speaker,
since
the
majority
voted
I
on
leader
Lambert's
motion
earlier,
and
we
will
not
be
here
on
Monday.
That
means
we
will
also
not
have
budget
hearings
on
Monday
finance
committee.
We
will
start
those
again
on
Tuesday.
We
will
start
this
next
leg
of
our
marathon,
so
be
there
be
square
on
Tuesday
afternoon
for
Budget
hearings.
Thank
you.
F
Speaker
due
to
the
President's
Day
holiday,
the
amendment
filing
deadline
for
committees
and
subcommittees
that
meet
on
Tuesday
will
be
the
end
of
business
on
Friday.
That's
tomorrow
also
Mr
Speaker.
Those
wishing
to
testify
in
any
committee
on
Tuesday
will
need
to
notify
the
Chairman's
office
by
the
close
of
business
on
Friday.