The Tennessee House has passed a bill, HB2716, that limits local governments’ abilities to name interim successors in the event of an expulsion from the body. This measure was advanced in response to the reappointments and reelections of Reps. Justin Jones and Justin Pearson after they were expelled following a protest on the House floor in support of stricter gun laws. The bill prohibits a local legislative body from electing a member expelled for disorderly behavior to fill a vacancy in the general assembly that was created because of the member’s expulsion.
During the floor debate, amendments were offered by Pearson and Nashville Democratic Rep. Jason Powell to make changes to the bill, but they were defeated on party lines. Legal analysts have raised concerns about the constitutionality of the bill, and Powell highlighted that Nashville has been targeted by unconstitutional bills in the past.
The vote on the bill passed on party lines, with three Republicans abstaining from the vote. The Senate version of the bill is still pending in the Senate State and Local Government Committee, and if both versions are not passed, the measure will not become law. The bill addresses the issue of appointing interim legislators in the event of expulsion from the Tennessee General Assembly.
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