Bills in the Spotlight
Each session brings with it bills that receive a great deal of attention and publicity and are often highly debated. So what is the impact of these high-profile bills on the overall legislative process?
This session we’ve seen several bills that fit this description. Some you may have read about in the news including:
- The Improve Act or Governor Haslam’s proposed gas tax increase
- Tennessee’s “bathroom bill,” similar to legislation that received nationwide media attention in North Carolina in 2016
- A bill that prohibits the death penalty as a punishment for defendants diagnosed with severe mental illness at the time of the offense
While bills like these consume the greater conversation about what’s happening at Legislative Plaza, thousands of other bills continue to move through the legislative process. The lack of attention given to other bills can be both problematic and useful. Some bills wither and fail without the spotlight while others thrive by slowly passing committees and eventually becoming law.
Depending on the desired outcome of a bill, each of these strategies can help or harm a particular cause. As advocates it’s important to keep this in mind when tracking policy that is important to you.
Hope to see you at Children's Advocacy Days this week.
Happy Watching!
Kelsey Loschke
Community Engagement Coordinator
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