Image Credit: TN General Assembly
The Tennessee Conservative Staff –
The House Judiciary Committee will meet on Wednesday, considering legislation regarding pesticide liability, human trafficking, and the right to bear arms, among others. Below is a highlight of some of the important legislation the committee will be hearing.
House Bill 0809 (HB0809) – Sponsor: State Rep. Rusty Grills (R-Newbern-District 77)
This legislation would limit liability for pesticide companies in tort cases that involve injury to consumers. The bill states that a manufacturer or seller would not be liable in civil action “related to the labeling of the pesticide, including a products liability action alleging a failure to warn under title 29, chapter 28, if the pesticide bore a label approved by the EPA under FIFRA at the time of sale.” Opponents of the legislation argue that the bill is a public health concern.
House Joint Resolution 0053 (HJR0053) – Sponsor: State Rep. Jay Reedy (R-Erin-District 74)
This resolution would change the wording of current law to remove “regulate the wearing of arms with a view to prevent crime” and leave it to simply say “citizens of this state have the right to keep and bear arms.” The intention of this legislation is to ensure that the Second Amendment Rights of all Tennessee residents cannot be infringed upon.
House Bill 0856 (HB0856) – Sponsor: State Rep. Kip Capley (R-Summertown-District 71)
Current Tennessee law does not allow the use of deadly force to “terminate” trespass or “unlawful interference with personal property.” This bill would “lower the standard for the use of deadly force to protect property” and justify deadly force if a person, “reasonably believes deadly force is immediately necessary to prevent or terminate the other’s actual or attempted trespass; arson; damage to property; burglary; theft; robbery; or aggravated cruelty to animals, serious bodily injury, or death to animals or livestock.”
Additionally, the bill would revise other portions of Tennessee code to ensure citizens cannot be charged with deadly force for simply displaying or brandishing a weapon in defense of their property.
House Bill 0322 (HB0322) – Sponsor: State Rep. Chris Todd (R-Madison County-District 73)
This bill would introduce harsh penalties for those involved in “human smuggling.” This is defined in the legislation as transporting, encouraging, or inducing ten or more adults (or five or more minors) to either illegally enter the state or to remain in Tennessee through the act of “concealing, harboring, or shielding.” The legislation is aimed at putting a stop to the support that non-governmental organizations (NGOs) give to illegal aliens.
House Bill 0327 (HB0327) – Sponsor: State Rep. Gino Bulso (R-Brentwood-District 61)
This legislation would create holidays honoring “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.” It would designate the month of June as “Celebration of Life” month, “because it was on June 24, 2022, that the Supreme Court of the United States decided the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization,” referring to legal case that overturned the Roe v Wade case of 1973, which enshrined abortion as a federal right. July would become “Celebration of Liberty” month, “because it was on July 4, 1776, that America gained its independence.”
August would be known as “Celebration of the Pursuit of Happiness” month, “because it is during August when school children across Tennessee return to school to prepare for their futures.”
If you would like to provide comment on any or all of these bills, contact members of the House Judiciary Committee using the contact information below:
Rep.andrew.farmer@capitol.tn.gov, rep.elaine.davis@capitol.tn.gov, rep.rebecca.alexander@capitol.tn.gov, rep.fred.atchley@capitol.tn.gov, rep.gino.bulso@capitol.tn.gov, rep.clay.doggett@capitol.tn.gov, rep.rick.eldridge@capitol.tn.gov, rep.johnny.garrett@capitol.tn.gov, rep.torrey.harris@capitol.tn.gov, rep.gloria.johnson@capitol.tn.gov, rep.kelly.keisling@capitol.tn.gov, rep.william.lamberth@capitol.tn.gov, rep.mary.littleton@capitol.tn.gov, rep.jason.powell@capitol.tn.gov, rep.dennis.powers@capitol.tn.gov, rep.lowell.russell@capitol.tn.gov, rep.gabby.salinas@capitol.tn.gov, rep.rick.scarbrough@capitol.tn.gov, rep.tom.stinnett@capitol.tn.gov, rep.chris.todd@capitol.tn.gov, rep.joe.towns@capitol.tn.gov, rep.ron.travis@capitol.tn.gov
