Though many voters are focused on the presidential election, other races on the ballot – including the state house race – will have a crucial impact on our day-to-day lives, from education to healthcare to public safety and much more.
Legislative advocacy is a critical part of ACLU-TN’s interdisciplinary approach to protecting and promoting civil liberties and civil rights. ACLU-TN lobbyists are at the Tennessee General Assembly and in Congress lobbying on a range of issues, pursuing initiatives to advance civil liberties and challenging attempts to erode our freedoms.
Each year, ACLU-TN lobbyists review over 2,000 bills introduced in the Tennessee General Assembly for civil liberties implications, identifying those bills that we are going to lobby and developing strategies accordingly.
We educate legislators about ACLU positions, draft legislation on priority issues, lobby on bills affecting civil liberties, testify or arrange for testimony on bills, and build coalitions to pursue pro-active legislative initiatives or battle anti-civil liberties legislation. In addition, Tennessee legislators and their staff often ask us for analysis on pending bills.
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Feb 12, 2024
SB 1722/HB 1605
Feb 12, 2024
SB 1722/HB 1605
Oppose the flag ban and defend free speech.
Free Speech & Censorship
Position: Oppose
SB 1722/HB 1605 would ban the display of most flags in public schools, particularly targeting flags that promote an “agenda,” such as Black Lives Matter flags or Pride flags.
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Feb 6, 2024
SB 1971/HB 1895
Feb 6, 2024
SB 1971/HB 1895
Stop the Ban on Travel for Young People Seeking Abortions
Reproductive Justice
Position: Oppose
SB 1971/HB 1895 bans travel for minors to seek an abortion with anyone other than their parent or legal guardian, even if they have permission from the person’s parents or guardian.
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Jan 30, 2024
HB 1719
Jan 30, 2024
HB 1719
Wealth-Based Detention Bill
Criminal Legal Reform
Position: Oppose
Status: Active
HB 1719 seeks to eliminate the consideration of a defendant's financial status when determining bail amounts. Freedom for the wealthy and punishment for poor people of all races — violates the Constitution...
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Jan 22, 2024
HB 0994/SB 0908
Jan 22, 2024
HB 0994/SB 0908
Citizen's Arrest Bill
Criminal Legal Reform
Position: Oppose
HB 0994/SB 0908 would expand the citizen's arrest law and allow individuals to threaten deadly force merely if the individual feels “threatened,” resulting in a greater threat to life and property and...
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Aug 24, 2023
SB 7027/HB 7073
Aug 24, 2023
SB 7027/HB 7073
Blended Sentencing & Juvenile Transfers Bill
Criminal Legal Reform
Position: Oppose
SB 7027/HB 7073 is very complex and could have serious, life-altering consequences, both intended and unintended, for young people. This bill will lead to more young adults in prison for offenses they...
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Aug 17, 2023
2023 Special Session Resource Center
Last April, thousands of Tennesseans protested to demand commonsense gun safety laws after a school shooting left six people dead, including three children. Meanwhile, in the name...