JOHNSON CITY, TN (WJHL) — Local lawmakers debated which topics will be of concern in the next session of the Tennessee legislature, which begins next week.
Republican lawmakers say their top priority is to ban gender-affirming care for minors.
“In Tennessee, we’re going to ban it,” said Senator Rusty Crow (Republican, Johnson City). “Our feelings [that] Young boys, girls and teens have not yet reached the stage of understanding what they want, what they should do, how they should be, and who they are. Is not … So we’re going to make sure that you have to make that decision when you’re an adult, i.e. when you turn 18. “
Another topic is the state’s new transportation infrastructure, but lawmakers say this will likely start in Nashville and won’t reach our area for some time.
“But I think you can still see some things here,” said Rep. Rebecca Alexander, R-Jonesborough. “But we need to enact some legislation to fund these programs and that is what we are working on.”
Rep. John Holsklaw (R-Elizabethton) will be interested in issues related to education and veterans in his next session. He said the third-grade retention law has generated a lot of local interest.
“When we promulgate a bill or a law and say it’s going to happen, often in the background they don’t fully understand how it will affect us and how it will affect us.” Holsklaw said. He said. “Yes, yes, we will see what we can do to address and help with that.”
He feels much of the agenda is based on what the governor wants to push.
“I think the agenda will change a little bit this year,” said Holsklaw. “Governor, he doesn’t have to run again. Whatever he wants or is going to push.”
Holsklaw believes the governor’s agenda will include charter schools and prison reform.
Lawmakers will meet in Nashville on Tuesday for the new session of the General Assembly.
