Senate Judiciary Committee confirms appellate nominee, advances constitutional amendment and a slate of bills

The Tennessee Senate Judiciary Committee on Feb. 10 confirmed William E. Phillips II for the Court of Appeals (Eastern Section) and advanced a broad package of bills to calendars and to the Finance Committee.

Senator Stevens introduced Phillips as a Rogersville-raised circuit judge whom Governor Lee named to the 3rd Judicial District in October 2021 and later elected to that post. "I am, I'm glad to, mister chairman," Stevens said in introducing the nominee, and Erin Marek, chief counsel to Governor Lee, told the committee some questions could not be answered because of judicial conduct rules. Phillips told the panel: "I'm happy to answer any questions that any of you may have," and the committee then voted by roll call to accept his nomination; the clerk recorded nine ayes.

Beyond the confirmation, the committee moved SJR551, a proposed constitutional amendment to shift many county elections into August and November to reduce costs and boost turnout, to the calendar after a recorded vote (7 ayes, 2 no). The sponsor said the measure would require approval across two legislative sessions before appearing on the gubernatorial ballot in a later cycle.

Other notable measures the committee advanced included an administration bill authorizing expanded authorities and retail operations for the Department of General Services (SB 1871), which the panel sent to Finance by roll call (9 ayes), and SB 2225, clarifying membership and training for Child Protective Investigative Teams; after an amendment the committee placed SB 2225 on the calendar (roll call 9 ayes).

Senator Watson described SB 2061, the Children's Digital Protection Fund (sponsored by the attorney general), which would channel money recovered from technology companies to mental-health services, suicide-prevention initiatives, research and school programs; the committee adopted an amendment and sent the bill to Finance by recorded vote (9 ayes).

Family-law and child-safety bills moved forward as well. SB 609, which adds a custody-factor consideration to promote "meaningful and frequent" parenting time as one factor (not a presumption) in best-interest determinations, passed as amended (8 ayes, 1 present-not-voting). SB 2355, requiring court-appointed guardian ad litem training in child-development topics and a three-year completion window for newly appointed GALs, passed after discussion on rural attorney capacity (7 ayes, 2 no) and was sent to the calendar.

Trust-code updates in SB 1910 drew questions about shortened notice timelines and trustee authority; the sponsor said a "deemed received" clarification governs the timing change and emphasized fiduciary duty and beneficiary notice. The committee advanced that bill by recorded vote (7 ayes, 2 no).

The committee concluded with budget hearings for the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference and the Tennessee District Public Defenders Conference, where executive directors described vacancies, salary-equity concerns, and requests for additional positions and storage solutions for digital evidence. Several departmental budget items were rolled to future committee work for reconciliation of figures.

What happens next: Bills the committee sent to Finance await scheduling by that committee; bills that went to the full calendar will be placed for floor consideration in a future legislative day. The confirmation of William E. Phillips II will proceed through the chamber process noted in committee.