Lowell Russell

This bill requires the Department of Safety’s centralized immigration enforcement division to report to the legislature on criminal activity by illegal aliens. It forces the state to confront the public safety consequences of the federal government’s border failures. CPAC supports transparency and firm enforcement regarding crimes committed by illegal aliens and supported this bill. The Senate passed this bill on 2025-04-09 by a vote of 26-5. The House passed this bill on 2025-04-15 by a vote of 75-20. The bill later became law.

This bill expands the definition of 'machine gun' to include components for firearm conversion, increases penalties for machine gun-related offenses, and imposes harsher sentencing for firearm-related crimes, including parole ineligibility for aggravated assault involving firearms from vehicles. This legislation further encroaches on Second Amendment rights by broadening firearm regulations and increasing penalties. CPAC opposed this bill. The Senate passed this bill on 2025-04-22 by a vote of 23-8. The House passed this bill on 2025-04-21 by a vote of 67-12. The bill later became law.

This bill revises nuisance laws across multiple sections of the Tennessee Code Annotated to address issues impacting property owners' rights and local governance. The changes aim to reduce government interference and protect individual property rights. CPAC supported this bill. The Senate passed this bill on 2025-04-17 by a vote of 30-0. The House passed this bill on 2025-04-16 by a vote of 91-5. The bill later became law.

This bill provides legal clarification for the term 'serious risk of substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function' in existing criminal abortion laws, ensuring precise application of pro-life protections. CPAC believes that abortion is always a human tragedy. CPAC supported this bill. The Senate passed this bill on 2025-04-07 by a vote of 25-3. The House passed this bill on 2025-04-16 by a vote of 71-18. The bill later became law.

This bill consolidates and amends various provisions across multiple sections of Tennessee law to reduce government overreach and increase efficiency. CPAC supports efforts to simplify regulations and protect individual freedoms. CPAC supported this bill. The Senate passed this bill on 2025-04-17 by a vote of 24-6. The House passed this bill on 2025-04-10 by a vote of 73-21. The bill later became law.

This bill removes restrictions on the board of parole's ability to deny parole based solely on the seriousness of the offense, granting greater discretion for any offense. It ensures that justice is prioritized over leniency for dangerous offenders. CPAC supported this bill The Senate passed this bill on 2025-03-27 by a vote of 22-4. The House passed this bill on 2025-04-16 by a vote of 75-16. The bill did not become law.

This bill enacts the 'Teen Social Media and Internet Safety Act,' requiring schools to educate students on the risks of social media and online platforms, while promoting internet safety awareness among minors. CPAC supported this bill as it prioritizes the protection of children from harmful online content and Big Tech overreach. The Senate passed this bill on 2025-04-03 by a vote of 26-0. The House passed this bill on 2025-03-27 by a vote of 88-4. The bill later became law.

This bill establishes the offense of human smuggling and strengthens Tennessee's ability to combat illegal immigration-related crimes. By addressing criminal activity tied to border security, this legislation supports law and order in the state. CPAC supported this bill. The Senate passed this bill on 2025-04-16 by a vote of 25-6. The House passed this bill on 2025-04-22 by a vote of 73-22. The bill later became law.

This bill extends the existence of the local education insurance committee to June 30, 2032. It continues a statewide structure that oversees insurance benefits for local education employees, with implications for costs and plan design borne by taxpayers and school systems. CPAC is wary of entrenched benefit committees that can lock in costly mandates and opposed this bill. The House passed this bill on 2026-02-09 by a vote of 95-0. The bill did not become law.

This bill updates the definition of “remediation site” to include a qualifying nonprofit dedicated to industrial and new nuclear development once a prior entity dissolves. It preserves a key redevelopment tool to expand nuclear-related industry and jobs in Tennessee. CPAC backs nuclear energy and pro-growth industrial redevelopment and supported this bill. The Senate passed this bill on 2025-03-10 by a vote of 30-0. The House passed this bill on 2025-04-16 by a vote of 79-9. The bill later became law.

This bill lets charter counties align county school board elections, term structures, and term limits with those of the county’s legislative body. It can simplify election calendars and help voters hold both school boards and local legislators accountable on the same schedule. CPAC supports local election reforms that enhance voter clarity and accountability and supported this bill. The Senate passed this bill on 2025-04-22 by a vote of 27-6. The House passed this bill on 2025-04-15 by a vote of 87-5. The bill later became law.

This bill allows nuclear energy production facilities to qualify for pollution control tax credits for certain machinery and equipment. It recognizes nuclear power as a clean, reliable energy source worthy of equal tax treatment as other pollution control investments. CPAC supports nuclear energy within an all-of-the-above energy strategy and supported this bill. The Senate passed this bill on 2025-04-03 by a vote of 30-0. The House passed this bill on 2025-03-13 by a vote of 87-2. The bill later became law.

This bill revises the legal process for restoring rights of citizenship to individuals with prior criminal convictions. It aims to make restoration more orderly and accessible for those who have completed their sentences and demonstrated rehabilitation. CPAC believes in second chances for those who have repaid their debt while upholding public safety and supported this bill. The Senate passed this bill on 2025-04-14 by a vote of 28-2. The House passed this bill on 2025-04-15 by a vote of 86-8. The bill later became law.

This bill requires hotel operators to remit hotel taxes for guests who have stayed 30 days and then cease collecting the tax from those guests for the remainder of their stay. It keeps hotel taxes focused on true transient occupancy rather than treating long-term lodgers as a permanent revenue stream. CPAC supports limiting overreach of local occupancy taxes on long-term stays and supported this bill. The Senate passed this bill on 2025-03-17 by a vote of 30-0. The House passed this bill on 2025-04-16 by a vote of 77-13. The bill later became law.

This bill allows a public charter school in certain counties to use available buildings or facilities located within the boundaries of the city school system if specified conditions are met. It prevents traditional systems from hoarding empty buildings to block charter options for families. CPAC strongly supports school choice and charter schools’ fair access to public facilities and supported this bill. The Senate passed this bill on 2025-04-21 by a vote of 28-4. The House passed this bill on 2025-04-16 by a vote of 74-22. The bill later became law.

This bill enacts the “Dismantling DEI Departments Act,” curbing official DEI offices across state and local government and public higher education. It pushes back against taxpayer-funded ideology that promotes division and identity politics over equal treatment. CPAC opposes DEI structures that institutionalize left-wing race and gender politics and supported this bill. The Senate passed this bill on 2025-04-22 by a vote of 27-6. The House passed this bill on 2025-04-22 by a vote of 71-25. The bill later became law.

This bill makes a series of adjustments to state teacher licensure requirements. It changes how teachers qualify and remain licensed, impacting the flexibility, rigor, and supply of classroom educators. CPAC favors licensure policies that reduce unnecessary barriers while maintaining standards and supported this bill. The Senate passed this bill on 2025-03-24 by a vote of 32-0. The House passed this bill on 2025-04-14 by a vote of 82-14. The bill later became law.