Tennessee House Implements New Disciplinary Rules

The Tennessee House has enacted new rules aimed at curbing disruptive behavior from both lawmakers and spectators. The changes include a limit on bill sponsorship for rank-and-file members to 12, increasing the Speaker's authority to eject lawmakers and spectators deemed out of order. Speaker Cameron Sexton outlined that lawmakers can be silenced or removed after multiple infractions, allowing them to vote remotely from a separate location if expelled. For public spectators, the new regulations introduce a two-strike policy, where first-time offenders face a ban for two legislative days, while repeat offenders can be banned for up to two years. These measures come in response to heightened protests and disruptions following the 2023 Covenant School shooting and subsequent expulsions of Democratic lawmakers. Critics, particularly from the Democratic Party, argue that these rules disproportionately silence minority voices and could be applied unfairly against dissenters.