A bill proposed by Rep. Bryan Richey in Tennessee seeks to prevent lawmakers who have been expelled from the legislature from being reelected for four years following their expulsion. The bill, which passed through the House State Government Committee, is an amendment to the Tennessee Constitution and aims to explicitly bar expelled legislators from holding office for a specified period. This amendment would also impact eligibility requirements for serving in the legislature.
Another bill filed by Rep. Johnny Garrett has constitutional questions attached, as it seeks to prevent local elected bodies from reappointing an expelled lawmaker to their seat on an interim basis. The passage of this bill and Richey’s amendment would require a joint resolution to amend the state constitution, which involves approval from two consecutive general assemblies and then ratification by voters in a gubernatorial general election.
If approved, Richey’s bill could potentially appear on the ballot in 2027. The bill aims to establish stricter consequences for expelled lawmakers and ensure that they are not able to reenter the legislature immediately following their expulsion. This move is part of a broader effort to uphold the integrity of the legislative body and to establish clearer guidelines for those seeking to hold office in Tennessee.
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