On April 22, state lawmakers wrapped the first regular session of the 114th Tennessee General Assembly, bringing an end to roughly three months of legislative business marked by protests, culture-war battles, stalled bills and, yes, some legislation being passed.

In a rapid-fire special session that preceded the year’s regular session, the House and Senate passed Gov. Bill Lee’s Education Freedom Act, despite the state’s Republican supermajority being split on the voucher plan, with 28 members of the Grand Old Party voting against.

Once the regular session got going, state lawmakers passed legislation dissolving the Tennessee Human Rights Commission, changing how wetlands can be classified, invalidating out-of-state driver’s licenses for undocumented immigrants, and prohibiting diversity, equity and inclusion offices in government and public universities. Republican leaders also passed legislation requiring educational institutions housing minors overnight to segregate bathrooms “by immutable biological sex.” 

Lawmakers ended the session doing the only thing technically required of them by the Tennessee Constitution: They passed a state budget.

Read all the stories from the cover package below, including two from the Williamson Scene's Hamilton Matthew Masters and Nicolle Praino. 

Unconstitutional Bills Serve as Supermajority Tactic

Bills targeting undocumented students and same-sex marriage seen as ‘opportunities’ to reverse precedent

Revenues Declining as State Passes Budget

Republicans praise conservative budget while Democrats point to flaws in the numbers

Lawmakers Codify Stringent Immigration Policies

The Republican supermajority ramped up immigration crackdowns this year. Here’s what did and didn’t become law.

Lawmakers Maintain Lax Gun Laws

Scant progress on gun safety follows tragic legacies of Nashville school shootings

Leaders Show Health Care Priorities

The legislature made small but impactful changes related to vaccines, caregivers and WHO

Vouchers Were Republicans’ Biggest Education Win

Vouchers, cellphone bans and school curriculum changes become law

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