4 things to watch this week in the legislature

NASHVILLE – Legislative leaders still expect committees to wrap their calendars within the next couple of weeks, and the governor’s preliminary budget is expected soon as well.

But several hotly debated bills are still under discussion this year as they reach their final committee votes.

Here are four bills to watch this week in the legislature.

A ban on sanctuary cities policies

One bill that has overwhelming support among the Republican super majority is a measure that prohibits local municipalities and officials from adopting policies that offer sanctuary to immigrants who entered the country illegally.

The bill, which contains multiple Republican cosponsors in the Senate and the House, authorizes Tennessee residents and legislators to submit complaints on violations of the policy to the state attorney general. Violators would become ineligible for state money.

The bill is scheduled to be heard by the Senate State and Local Government Committee at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday in Senate Hearing Room I.

Law enforcement and citizens’ right to photograph

Over the past couple of years, instances where residents have felt compelled to photograph or video record law enforcement in action have garnered media attention.

In some cases, there have been efforts to stop these actions by residents or to confiscate phones or cameras. A bill introduced by two Democratic lawmakers prohibits law enforcement from seizing or destroying a person’s pictures or recording of an event if the person has taken the image or video legally and is in a location they are allowed to be.

The measure is scheduled to come before the Senate Judiciary Committee at 1 p.m. Tuesday in Senate Hearing Room 1.

Anti-hazing bill

Instances where college students have been harmed or died from fraternity and sorority hazing have drawn scrutiny from parents, educators and lawmakers across the country.

Now, two lawmakers have introduced a measure that would make hazing a Class C misdemeanor. The measure, sponsored by Rep. Brenda Gilmore, DNashville, and Sen. Sara Kyle, D-Memphis, lists a wide variety of activities that could cause “unreasonable risk of harm or that adversely affects the mental or physical health or safety of the individual.”

The bill is scheduled to go before the Criminal Justice Subcommittee at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday in House Hearing Room IV.

A new process for nominating a U.S. Senator

Just as the race for U.S. Sen. Bob Corker’s seat is heating up, one lawmaker is proposing a new process for nominating candidates.

Sen. Frank Niceley, R-Strawberry Plains, has introduced a measure that would have legislators of the majority and minority caucuses, in open meetings, nominate party candidates in the general election.

The measure is scheduled to come before the Senate State and Local Government Committee at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday in senate Hearing Room I.

Reach Reporter Jordan Buie at 615-726-5970 or by email at jbuie@tennessean.com. Follow him on Twitter @jordanbuie.