A bill that makes sweeping changes dealing with COVID-19 requirements kept legislators at the capitol until after midnight on Friday. The largest one had last-minute changes that left some with a short amount of time to decide yes or no.
During a joint discussion on the bill, where several changes were fresh off the printer, legislators either had input that was cut short, or spotted problems that Chamber leaders said could wait.
Nashville Democrat Sen. Jeff Yarbro tried to read over the entirety of the bill before taking a vote. Franklin Republican Sen. Jack Johnson rushed him along.
“I just wanted to make sure you had the copy,” Johnson said. “I’m sure you wanted to look through it there, but I don’t think it’s going to change your vote any, so … let’s take the vote of the Senate on the conference committee report.”
While brushing off pushback from Democrats isn’t unusual in the Tennessee statehouse, the Republican supermajority wasn’t slowing down for anyone: There were times when Republicans themselves questioned portions of the measure but were ushered along to finish before sunrise.
From Wednesday to Saturday, the legislature passed several bills, most of which were unanimously opposed by Democrats.
