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Bill Howell, 77, is removed by Tennessee State Troopers after standing up in the Senate Education Committee with his his friend Pat Halper and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance in protest of SB0836, a controversial undocumented student bill. Mr. Howell, with his hand over his heart and an American flag in his suit jacket pocket, continued to recite the Pledge of Allegiance as he was escorted out of the hearing room.

 Photo: Ray Di Pietro

In another bustling week at the Capitol, protesters continued to speak out against Republican-backed bills targeting immigrants and LGBTQ people. Meanwhile, a variety of bills made their way through committees and others headed to the governor’s desk for a final signature before becoming state law.

Slideshow: Ag Day on the Hill 2025

On Tuesday, lawmakers celebrated the annual Ag Day on the Hill event at the state Capitol. See photographer Hamilton Matthew Masters' shots below.

On Tuesday, hundreds of 4-H and National FFA Organization students, farmers and lawmakers celebrated the annual Ag Day on the Hill, complete with appearances from farm animals and a corn-shelling contest. The contest was won by Gov. Bill Lee, Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher and Deputy Agriculture Commissioner Andy Holt, who shelled and collected a winning 10.4 pounds of corn. The Farm and Forest Families of Tennessee also awarded a $1,000 check to the Shooting Hunger Backpack program.

Lee calls for closing DOE amid Trump executive order

Some eight weeks after Gov. Bill Lee signed his Education Freedom Scholarship legislation (also known as school vouchers) into law, he has now formally called on the closing of the U.S. Department of Education in a March 19 op-ed published by the Daily Wire.

“President Trump’s plan means hope for America’s children,” Lee writes. “It opens doors to state-driven innovation, unleashing the creative potential of all 50 states. And it gives parents — not Washington — more control over the education of their children. It’s time to end this failed experiment and return education to the states.”

Lee’s op-ed preempted President Donald Trump’s Thursday executive order to shutter the department, one of his many campaign promises.

Hours before the executive order was signed, attorneys general in 20 Democratic-controlled states filed a federal lawsuit aimed at preventing the dismantling of the department.

Anti-transgender legislation

A bill that would limit which bathroom transgender students are allowed to use passed both the House and Senate this week and is set to become state law.

The bill is sponsored by Rep. Gino Bulso (R-Brentwood) and will require any educational institution that houses minors overnight to segregate restrooms, changing areas and showers “by immutable biological sex.” The bill passed along party lines in both the House and Senate, which caused protests at the Capitol that led to one arrest.

Another piece of legislation targeting the LGBTQ community received approval from the Senate Judiciary Committee. SB 936/HB 1271 would require local and state government entities to comply with a state policy declaring there are only two sexes — biological male and biological female. Failure to comply could include financial penalties for the entities.

The bill passed the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 18 and is set to be considered by the entire Senate body and House Judiciary Committee next week.

Bill to rename BNA after Trump fails

A bill that would have renamed the Nashville International Airport (BNA) as Trump International Airport failed in the House Transportation committee 5-12 this week. The renaming would have cost more than $10.3 million.

IVF measure fails

A bill that aimed to protect people from unlicensed fertility doctors and limit certain kinds of genetic testing and fertility clinics failed in the final House Population Health Committee, with several Republicans crossing party lines to vote against it. The bill would have required physicians to earn an assisted reproductive technology certificate from their medical boards and instituted other requirements for laboratories offering long-term storage of embryos.

Protesters disrupt committees

On Wednesday, activists began protesting HB 793 — which would allow schools to refuse to enroll undocumented students — by standing and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance repeatedly during the House Banking and Consumer Affairs Subcommittee meeting. Committee chair Rep. Tandy Darby (R-Greenfield) had House Hearing Room II cleared and announced the committee would be moving rooms.

In a statement provided to the Post, House Speaker Cameron Sexton said: “After multiple warnings and to prevent disruptions that threatened the democratic process, steps were taken to ensure the safety of members and staff. … The hearing remained publicly accessible through livestreams and on TVs outside the committee rooms.” He also commended the chairman, clerk’s office, sergeant-at-arms and state troopers “for their professionalism.”

Members of the media were allowed into House Hearing Room IV but were brought in through a separate door as members of the public were kept out of the space. The only Democrat on that committee, Rep. Caleb Hemmer (D-Nashville), told the Post he inquired with the committee attorney, clerk’s office and House Ethics Council at the time to ensure they were adhering with public meeting rules when he realized the doors were locked in the new room.

“Obviously, I would not prefer any meetings in our buildings be locked, but open and accessible to the public,” Hemmer says. “It was clear they were trying to come in other rooms to disrupt. We have to balance our meeting agendas and business that we have to do for the public. … I would prefer we could have productive hearings and fully open and accessible to the public.”

The bill was not set to be heard during that subcommittee, but protesters were present for the 1:30 p.m. meeting ahead of the 3 p.m. Senate Education Committee meeting. The bill had already passed that committee with a 5-4 vote on March 5. Republican Sens. Ferrell Haile (R-Gallatin), Mark Pody (R-Lebanon) and Kerry Roberts (R-Springfield) joined with Minority Leader Ramuesh Akbari (D-Memphis) to vote against the bill. Protesters were cleared from the room for causing disruption. The committee did continue to allow members of the public who were not disruptive to remain.

The legislation has been placed on the Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee calendar for March 25. It is also set to be heard in the House Education Committee on March 26.