Tennessee House concurs with Senate resolution to recess amid forecasted inclement weather

The Tennessee House of Representatives on the floor agreed to concur in Senate Joint Resolution 616, a measure to pause legislative business because of forecasted inclement weather and to adjust reconvening dates for both chambers.

The clerk read the resolution caption as "Senate Joint Resolution 616, a resolution to provide for a recess in the proceedings of the 104th General Assembly because of forecasted inclement weather," including that the house would reconvene on Wednesday, 01/28/2026 at 10 a.m., or on Monday, 02/02/2026 at 5 p.m., "provided that in the case of inclement weather and upon written notice of the speaker...the house reconvene on Monday, 02/02/2026 at 5 p.m.," language the floor heard from the clerk.

Representative Lambert moved to concur after consulting with the minority leader. "And with that explanation, reading after consulting with a minority leader, I move to concur SJR number 616," Lambert said on the floor.

Members raised practical questions about committee schedules. Chairman Clemens asked how the recess would affect committees scheduled next week; the speaker’s office replied that committees for Monday would be canceled, Tuesday remained a possibility and final decisions would be made after updated weather forecasts. The speaker said members would be notified by multiple means — email and text among them — "as long as the cell phone towers and Internet are not down," noting that contingency depends on conditions.

The motion to concur carried after voice vote. The clerk and leader then announced that, pursuant to SJR 616, the House stands in recess until 10 a.m. on Wednesday, 01/28/2026.

The resolution cites Article 2, Section 16 of the Constitution of Tennessee in setting the procedural basis for the recess. No additional legislative action on the resolution was taken before the chamber recessed.