What the 2018 legislative session means to you
Joel Ebert and Jordan Buie
The 2018 legislative session wrapped up Wednesday night with a flurry of last-minute negotiations, inner squabbling and late-night backslapping to honor departing colleagues.
For legislative insiders, the January start of the session seems long ago. In the ensuing months, lawmakers went from hearing Gov. Bill Haslam's final address to the state to defeating some of his key proposals for the year.
Here's a breakdown of some of the most memorable moments, main accomplishments, failed ideas and major players for the three and a half month long session.
Major accomplishments New legislation aimed at combating the opioid crisis
What did they do: After months of consideration and behind-the-scenes negotiations, lawmakers passed Gov. Bill Haslam's two signature bills aimed at reducing the opioid crisis in Tennessee.
Why it matters: The first of the bills limits the supply and dosage of opioid prescriptions for new patients, and the second creates incentives for incarcerated offenders to complete intensive substance use treatment programs and adds measures to better track criminal distribution of opioids.
The bills were part of a $30 million effort to address the opioid crisis in the state that Haslam outlined earlier this year.
Although law enforcement and treatment play a role in the governor’s plan, a key focus was adding prescription limits for patients deemed “opioid naïve.”
The hope was to shut off the flow of new Tennesseans becoming addicted to the drugs.
Boosting school safety in the wake of Parkland
What did they do: In the wake of a school shooting in Parkland, Florida, Haslam recommended spending $30 million to help improve school safety, saying Tennessee children "deserve to learn in a safe and secure environment."
Lawmakers defeated a bill to arm certain teachers in Tennessee, while another proposal allowing armed, offduty law enforcement officers to provide security in schools passed with bipartisan support.
Why it matters: A task force formed by Haslam recommended boosting the number of resource officers statewide and creating a system for individuals to anonymously report threats.
Separately, the legislature's work allows sheriff's deputies, police officers and other law enforcement with Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission certification to fill security roles in schools.
Passing the Juvenile JusticeReform Act of 2018
What did they do: Haslam made reform of the juvenile justice system a top priority for his final year in office.
The first iteration of his plan would have led to a dramatic drop in the number of young people taken into custody for low-level offenses, many of which wouldn’t be illegal for adults. Changes pushed by judges would preserve their ability to lock youths up for minor offenses at their discretion.
Advocates who helped form the plan say the changes watered down the bill’s potential impact, but they remained pleased with elements of the bill that would boost counseling resources for young people in rural Tennessee.
In a statement at the close of the legislative statement, Haslam’s office called the legislation “a starting point for further reform.”
Why it matters: The bill is paired with $4.5 million in funding for counseling and other supports for young people in rural areas. Advocates say the added help could mean fewer young people in the juvenile justice system reoffend and wind up in jail as adults. The bill also pushes state officials to do a better job of tracking juvenile cases statewide, which could guide future reforms.
Allowing Sunday alcohol sales
What did they do: Lawmakers passed a bill that allows for the purchase wine in grocery stores on Sundays and liquor stores to be open the same day.
What it means for you: Liquor stores are now able to be open on Sundays from 10 a.m. until 11 p.m. Many already have opened.
Grocery stores can't sell wine on Sundays until Jan. 6. Sales will be limited from 10. a.m. to 11 p.m.
The law includes a provision that prohibits Sunday sales at liquor stores and grocery stores on Christmas, Thanksgiving or Easter. The new law also requires liquor stores to mark up spirits by 10 percent and wine by 20 percent.
Preventing complete bans on short-term rentals
What did they do: Lawmakers passed a bill to prevent municipalities from completely banning short-term rentals that have already been in business.
Why it matters: The bill would grandfather in existing non-owner-occupied short-term rentals originally permitted by city ordinances, thus allowing them to continue to operate.
The bill included an amendment that prevented the owners from passing on the grandfather status to a new owner.
Now, in municipalities where no regulations have been enacted, any property owners who can show six months of property taxes from short-term property rental profits within the last 12 months would be grandfathered in if future regulations were enacted.
Unique moments Punishing Memphis over statute removal
What did they do: House lawmakers approved a last-minute budget amendment to remove $250,000 allocated to the city of Memphis as punishment for the removal of Confederate monuments.
The amendment was introduced as a result of the city's decision to sell two parks to a nonprofit, which then removed two controversial statues.
Why it matters: After being denied a waiver by the state Historical Commission to remove the statues, Memphis sold two public parks in December to a nonprofit, which then removed statues of Confederate Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest and Confederate President Jefferson Davis.
All throughout the session, the Republican-dominated legislature worked to find a way to bolster the state's law that protects historical monuments while also trying to punish Memphis for its actions.
Several of the more punitive bills ended up failing but lawmakers successfully sent a signal to other local governments that may have considered exploiting a loophole in state law related to removing controversial statues.
Another year, another TNReady debacle
What did they do: Near the end of the session, education officials revealed the state's school testing system may have experienced a "deliberate attack." The legislature responded by passing legislation that will ensure this year's TNReady test results won't be held against students, teachers and public school districts.
On the final day of the session, lawmakers approved another bill written out of fear that their earlier measure would not have provided enough protection to teachers.
Why it matters: The measure agreed upon by both chambers says test results this school year will count only if it benefits students, educators and districts. Districts can’t base employment or compensation decisions based on the data, the legislation says.
The continued debate on expanding Medicaid
What did they do: In early April, Haslam made one last attempt to help the state's working poor through a form of Medicaid expansion.
The governor made the pitch to a group of legislative leaders, saying federal officials would be open to a block grant type proposal aimed at providing coverage for the state's uninsured.
But some, including House Majority Leader Glen Casada and Senate Republican Caucus Chairman Bill Ketron, balked at the idea.
Why it matters: Since the governor's failed 2015 proposal that would have provided health insurance to hundreds of thousands of low-income Tennesseans, Democrats have continued to call for action.
The governor has said one of his biggest disappointments is not being able to pass Insure Tennessee, the 2015 health care proposal.
Republicans have tried to stave off criticism that they lack empathy for those uninsured.
Haslam's latest pitch ended shortly after it began, with lawmakers agreeing it might be best to wait until the next governor enters office before tackling the issue.
Bills that failed Medical marijuana advanced but did not pass
What did they do: A bill that would have allowed some Tennesseans to use medical cannabis advanced further in the House than it has in years past, only to later be halted in the Senate.
The House bill would have given those suffering from roughly a dozen maladies a legal defense if they are arrested and prosecuted for having cannabis.The Senate version would have required eligible patients to obtain registration cards to legally have cannabis while also creating a new state board.
Why it matters: With the state continuing to face the opioid crisis and support gaining among the public and many Republicans, efforts to legalize some form of medical cannabis will likely continue in the future.
In-state tuition for childhood immigrants fails to advance
What did they do: Republican and Democratic lawmakers failed to advance a bill offering in-state tuition.
Why it matters: Children who came to this country illegally as children but grew up in Tennessee, must still pay higher prices to attend local colleges.
The bill was aimed at helping students, known as Dreamers, who have received temporary legal status through the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.
A key moment Allegations raised against Rep. David Byrd
What did they do: Lawmakers took no action on Rep. David Byrd, who was accused by three adult women of sexually assaulting them when they were teenagers.
The women told WSMV that Byrd, RWaynesboro, sexually assaulted them more than 30 years ago, when he was their basketball coach. Byrd did not deny the allegations but attacked the motivations of the women.
Why it matters: Byrd became the third Republican lawmaker in the past three years to face allegations of sexual misconduct.
House Speaker Beth Harwell, RNashville, called for Byrd's resignation, a move which Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge, supported. But House Majority Leader Glen Casada, R-Franklin, said the matter should be left up to the voters, as did Gov. Bill Haslam.
Notables The departing
Dozens of lawmakers, including several who have been among the longest current members to serve, opted to not seek re-election this year for a variety of reasons, including outright retirement or to seek another office.
The departing class includes Harwell, Reps. Steve McDaniel, Charles Sargent, Harry Brooks, Craig Fitzhugh, Sherry Jones and JoAnne Favors and Sens. Bill Ketron, Mark Green, Thelma Harper and Lee Harris.
As a result, the legislature will have plenty of new faces when it returns in 2019.
Gov. Bill Haslam
The governor entered his final year in office, kicking it off by delivering his eighth and final State of the State address, in which reflected on his years in office while calling for lawmakers to take further action to help lead the nation on job growth and education gains.
But Haslam's final legislative agenda had mixed results. Although he got several of his key items approved, including a plan to reduce the size of the University of Tennessee board, Haslam was bruised when the legislature rejected several of his nominees to that panel.
The General Assembly also rejected a proposal from the governor that tried to get recipients of college scholarships to finish their education in four years.
Despite this year's rebukes, Haslam's legacy will remain strong, in large part due to his work on education.
Governor's race
At this point, the race to replace Haslam is well underway and will only heat up more as the August primary election nears.
Republicans Diane Black, Randy Boyd, Bill Lee and Harwell are vying for their party's nomination while Fitzhugh and Karl Dean fight to represent Democrats on the ballot in November.
The next governor will be faced with a multitude of issues, none more important than finding ways to stave off the ongoing opioid crisis. Whoever replaces Haslam will also be faced with the task of working with so many new members of the legislature in order to ensure their agenda gets passed.
Reach Joel Ebert at jebert@tennessean.com or 615-772-1681 and on Twitter @joelebert29. Reporter Jordan Buie can be reached at 615-726-5970 or by email at jbuie@tennessean.com. Follow him on Twitter @jordanbuie.