TOP PHOTO: State Representative Dennis Powers and the Tennessee State Legislature have been extra busy of late.

NASHVILLE, TN (SPECIAL TO WLAF) – The Tennessee State Legislature, for only the third time in history, called a Special Session by a call of the House and Senate.  “The primary reason for the call was to address the COVID-19 vaccination mandates being imposed by the federal government,” said State Representative Dennis Powers.

Other issues that were related were also addressed in the Session.  A House Joint Resolution was also passed and will be sent to the Attorney General to ask him to join in a lawsuit to protect those federal workers also which the Tennessee Legislature does not have the authority to address.  

Here is a full list of the provisions and the bills that are being transmitted to the Governor for his signature:

COVID-19 Special Session

Safeguarding the constitutional rights and liberties of Tennesseans

  • Vaccine mandates outlawed
    • Government entities shall not mandate a person receive a COVID-19 vaccine or mandate a private business or school to require proof of vaccination to access the business facilities or services.
    • A private business, government entity, school, or local education agency cannot compel proof of COVID-19 vaccination or take adverse action against a person who declines to do so for any reason.
  • Support natural immunity
    • Proof of COVID-19 antibodies may be used to gain admission to a place of entertainment.
  • Rejecting Federal overreach
    • No public money or resources shall go to the implementation, regulation, or enforcement of any federal law, executive order, rule, or regulation that mandates a COVID-19 countermeasure.
      • If a business or entity receives federal funding, they may submit a waiver request on a limited basis to the comptroller of the treasury.
  • Monoclonal Antibodies
    • The government will not interfere with a healthcare provider’s independent professional judgement on whether to recommend, prescribe, or administer monoclonal antibodies.
  • ●       Protecting children
    • ○   A healthcare provider shall not vaccinate a child without written consent from a parent or legal guardian.
  • Rein in mask mandates
    • Government shall not mandate masks to access government facilities or services.
    • Government employers shall not require an employee to wear a mask except for in severe conditions. These mandates under severe conditions shall expire after 14 days.
    • Government shall allow exemptions on masks for medical conditions and religious beliefs.
  • No school mandates
    • ○   Public schools and governing bodies of schools shall not require a person to wear a mask. Severe conditions may allow for masks on a limited basis for a maximum of 14 days.
    • ○   Any school which uses government funds to mandate or require a mask in violation of this law shall be subject to potential loss of funds by the Department of Education and may face action by the attorney general.
  • ●       Unemployment benefits approved
    • ○   Anyone who would normally qualify for unemployment benefits and left their job due to refusing to get a COVID-19 vaccine now qualifies for unemployment.
  • ●       You have the right to not die alone
    • ○   Hospitals must allow patients to have someone with them during care as long as the visitor tests negative and has no COVID-19 symptoms.
  • ●       Reducing quarantines
    • ○   The commissioner of health now has the sole ability to determine quarantine guidelines for COVID
    • ○   No health entity, mayor, local government entity, or school has the authority to quarantine a person or private business for COVID.
  • Control your own home
    • A person is not prohibited from requiring proof of vaccination or masks in order for a person to provide products or services within the home. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 11/01/2021-6AM)

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