Bailey, Sherrell sponsor several bills during current session

It is the duty of those who represent Tennesseans in the legislature to do what is best for their constituents, and it is just as important for the people to stay updated on how they are being represented.

Senator Paul Bailey, who represents the Tennessee district including White County, has sponsored several bills in recent months.

On March 20, a bill was introduced to assist firefighters in Tennessee. Bill SB0288 adds prostate cancer, breast cancer, and pancreatic cancer as forms of cancer for which presumption is created. This means that, unless there is sufficient evidence to the contrary, firefighters will have treatment covered if they develop one of these three cancers, or the other cancers listed in the past, during their job.

One bill that was withdrawn, but Senator Bailey did still sponsor, sought to lower the age requirement to obtain a concealed handgun carry permit from 21 to 18. Another firearm bill introduced, on April 1, specifies a person is not committing an offense if they immediately leave a property or store their firearm according to state law once they are requested by someone that controls that property. Essentially, if a citizen is carrying on a property and they are asked to not bring the gun onto the property, it is not an offense if they immediately follow that request and store it away or leave.

Bill SB0629 recently was signed by the governor. The sponsored bill creates a legal process through which a citizen can request immediate removal of an unlawful occupant from that citizen’s commercial real property.

Representative Paul Sherrell represents White and Warren counties, being over District 43 for Tennessee. While he has not sponsored directly as many bills, he has co-sponsored many more.

On April 9, bill HB0008 was co-sponsored. This bill requires a pay bonus supplement to eligible campus police officers and public safety officers of $800 to help support those that protect the region and its citizens. Another bill co-sponsored on the same day was HB0055, which makes it a misdemeanor offense to intentionally give a false name or no name to a law enforcement officer that has lawfully detained the person. There was also bill HB0322, which creates the offense of human smuggling. Within Tennessee, the bill would make it unlawful to harbor someone that the individual knows or should reasonably have known that the harbored one had illegally entered the United States. It also authorizes the attorney general to act against those that are organizing the traffic harboring. This bill is currently going through subcommittees to evaluate and discuss its potential as a bill.

Another bill regarding criminal offenses and law enforcement was bill HB0191, which creates a Class B misdemeanor for knowingly pointing a laser pointer at an automobile, boat, aircraft, or other motor vehicles. This bill already has an effective date in place for July 1, 2025.

The sponsored and co-sponsored bills of any representative or senator are viewable on the Tennessee General Assembly website at wapp.capitol.tn.gov. After going to legislators and finding a representative, all of their bills are available for public viewing.