114th TN General Assembly convenes; McNally, Sexton re-elected Speakers
State lawmakers headed back to Nashville this week to convene the first session of the 114th Tennessee General Assembly. The Senate and House were gaveled into session Tuesday, Jan. 14, to swear in legislators and to formally elect leadership positions.
Lt. Gov. Randy McNally was re-elected for a fifth term as Speaker of the Senate. McNally has served in that role since 2017. Speaker Cameron Sexton was re-elected to a third full term as Speaker of the House. He has served in the role since August 2019.
"It is hard to describe the true honor it is to once again be elected Speaker of the Senate," said McNally. "Each General Assembly I have gaveled in as speaker has been better than the last. Tennessee has made remarkable progress over the last decade. We have low debt, a triple AAA credit rating and an economy that is the envy of the nation."
Speaker Sexton spoke of the importance of efficient government that empowers Tennesseans.
“Over the last five years, we’ve all learned a lot,” said Sexton. “My goal is to be more efficient, empower Tennesseans over the government and uphold our constitutional duty of public oversight.”
Twelve freshmen legislators were among those members sworn into office – three new senators and 9 new House members. Republicans hold the super majority with 27 of 33 seats in the Senate, and 75 seats in the 99-member House.
New rules were approved by the House to make changes to committees and subcommittees and to reduce the bill limit for Representatives. The new rules reduce the number of bills that a House member can file from 15 to 12. Next year, the limit will be further reduced to 10. In addition to the bills that rank and file members are allowed, full committee chairmen are allowed five additional caption bills, and subcommittee chairs get two additional bills. The Senate does not limit the number of bills its members can file.
Changes to committees and subcommittees were also adopted in the House. Of particular interest to local governments is the recombined State and Local Government committee, which had previously been split into two committees when Glen Casada was speaker.
Other changes include the deletion of the Property and Planning Subcommittee, previously chaired by retired Rep. Dale Carr. Also of interest is the naming of Rep. Gary Hicks as chair of the House Finance Committee, previously held by Rep. Patsy Hazlewood, who did not win re-election.
On the Senate side, Sen. Dawn White was named chair of the Senate Education Committee, previously chaired by Sen. Jon Lundberg, who did not win re-election.
To review committee assignments for both the Senate and the House, go to:
Both the Senate and House are in recess until Jan. 27, when members of the 114th General Assembly will be called by the Governor for a Special Session on school vouchers, disaster relief. and immigration.
