Week 2 Session Update: State of the State, Capitol News & Grassroots Wins

Thank you for staying engaged as the legislative session ramps up. It has been a busy start already, and I wanted to share key updates, upcoming events, and what’s happening at the Capitol. It’s a long update but I hope you will find the information useful and interesting on what a week at the Capitol looks like and what I am working on. 

🏛️ State of the State Address is February 2

RSVP opens Friday, January 23 at NOON

You are invited to attend Tennessee’s State of the State Address on Monday, February 2nd at the Capitol in the upper balcony.

Important ticket information (please read carefully):

• Tickets are free and available first come, first served

• RSVP opens at noon on Friday, January 23

• Tickets are not transferable

• The person who registers is the only person who may use the ticket

• Each attendee must register individually

• Photo ID is required and must match the ticket name

  
  

👉 Reserve your ticket here.

🕊️ March for Life – Saturday, January 31

Save the date and join Tennessee Right to Life and I for the March for Life on Saturday, January 31st at 12:00 PM

📍 Coolidge Park Meet at the Walker Pavilion, 120 River St.

If you have a Michele t-shirt, I would love for you to wear it as we walk together. Bring the whole family — all are welcome.

🚧 Transportation Committee Update

The Transportation Committee did not hear bills this week, but we received an update from TDOT, which continues to do an incredible amount of work with a very small budget.

TDOT has been especially helpful to District 27. Recently, we were able to use safety spot funding to address a traffic calming issue in St. Elmo. They worked in colloboration as a sounding board for concerns on W Road with Walden, Signal Mountain and City of Chattanooga stakeholders, and assisted with Houston Museum fence replacement questions to name a few.

I am also hopeful that my suggestion to expand shoulders of the off-ramp from Highway 27N to Dayton Pike will move forward. The goal is to create two full lanes with divided markings, separating right and left turns. This would allow vehicles to fully enter the ramp into respective lanes sooner and help reduce traffic backing up on Highway 27 during heavy traffic hours.

🌱 HB 809 Pesticide Immunity Bill – A Grassroots Win

One of the biggest topics this week was HB 809, the pesticide immunity bill. Although I was not on the committee, I received a large number of calls and emails from concerned constituents. As you can guess, I would have voted against this bill.

This bill would have prevented foreign chemical companies from being sued for harms not disclosed on product labels. It would have violated the Tennessee Constitution, which guarantees the right to seek remedy for injury in court.

Under the bill and its amendment:

• Courts would be forced to accept EPA labeling decisions as final and conclusive.

• Judges and juries would be stripped of their traditional role to determine whether a label is adequate.

• There would be little incentive for labels to be updated as new risks emerge once these companies gain immunity.

  
  

Accountability — not immunity — is what drives safer products and better warnings. This

bill was taken off notice by the sponsor. It is not officially dead, but this pause is significant. This is a clear example of grassroots activism working. Calls, emails, and personal visits from citizen lobbyists made a real difference. I’m marking this as a win for MAHA. 

I happy to welcome my friend, Robert Barnes, a constitutional attorney, at the Capitol. Robert was prepared to testify on HB 809 and clearly outlined the serious constitutional concerns raised by this bill.

📝 Bill Filing & Schedule Update

I did not file any bills this week as several drafts required substantial changes. The bill filing deadline is Friday, January 30, and we are working hard to finalize legislation. Due to anticipated weather conditions, House floor sessions and committee meetings for Monday have been canceled. The Senate has recessed until February 2, so we will see how the schedules realign.

📜 New Bills I’m Co-Sponsoring

You can look up any bill at capitol.tn.gov. Here’s a brief overview of several bills I’m co-sponsoring:

• HB 1454 (Rep. Greg Martin): Increases penalties for rape and strengthens accountability for violent offenders.

• HB 1455 (Rep. Littleton): Clarifies limits on artificial intelligence in government decision-making.

• HB 1649 (Rep. Helton-Haynes): Regulates kratom products to improve consumer safety.

• HB 1664 (Rep. Maberry): Requires each department and agency to submit an annual compliance attestation on removal of DEI policies to the Comptroller.

• HB 1952 (Rep. Williams): Updates and modernizes Tennessee optometry law.

👋 Capitol Visitors

Friend, Hamilton County GOP Chairwoman and District 27 Constituent and family

It was wonderful to see so many constituents visit the Capitol this week. Your presence, conversations, and engagement truly matter and make a difference.

TN Association of Optometric Physicians and District 27 Constituents

TN Aquarium friends and constituents

🇺🇸 Veterans Legislation Update

Thanks to veteran feedback, I made the decision to withdraw HB 1693 out of an abundance of caution due to concerns about the use of a DD214 by someone who may have served but is not yet a legal citizen. I am actively working on a new veterans preference employment bill for local governments. Tennessee state government already has a veterans preference policy, and this legislation would explore expanding that preference to the local level.

📬 Legislation Update to your Inbox

If you would like to receive legislative updates to your inbox, email my office at rep.michele.reneau@capitol.tn.gov with your name, email and address to be put on the list.

❄️ Winter Weather Reminder

As we prepare for possible snow and ice, please take a few simple steps to stay safe:

• Stay home if you can and avoid unnecessary travel.

• Check on neighbors, especially seniors or anyone who may need help.

• Keep phones charged and have flashlights ready in case of power outages.

• Protect pipes by letting faucets drip and opening cabinet doors.

• Bring pets inside and ensure livestock have adequate shelter.

• Keep extra food, water, and medications on hand.

• If you must drive, go slow, leave plenty of space, and avoid hills.

  
  

Most importantly, take care of yourself and one another. Tennessee always shows its best side when neighbors look out for neighbors. It is a great honor and privilege to serve as your State Representative.

Stay safe and warm,

Michele Reneau

TN State Representative, District 27