Senate adopts consent calendar and a broad slate of bills, including dental-practice updates and tax provisions

The Tennessee Senate adopted consent calendars and cleared a large number of bills on Feb. 14. The chamber handled recognition items and introductions before moving through its regular and message calendars, adopting many measures either unanimously or by clear constitutional majorities.

Notable floor actions and results:

- SB 19-26 (dental practice): Committee amendments clarified dental hygienists' authority to perform specified procedures (including placement of silver diamine fluoride under direct supervision for new patients and under general supervision for existing patients). The bill passed third reading (Ayes 32, Nays 1).

- HB 18-67 (hospital assessment): The annual hospital-assessment bill (6% assessment rate) that funds TennCare via federal matches was described by the sponsor and passed on third reading (Ayes 33, No nays).

- SB 20-85 (victim assistance fee increase): Sponsor moved to increase the victim-assistance fee from $45 to $125, directing most of the fee to local victim-assistance programs; the bill passed on third reading (vote recorded as passing with constitutional majority).

- Multiple local-government and administrative items: The Senate passed measures dealing with municipal hotel/motel tax timing, agricultural exposition authorities, vacant-property inventory programs for commercial properties, OHV permit rules in the North Cumberland WMA, and additional items as listed on the calendar.

Many bills were adopted with committee amendments and without extended floor debate. Where amendments were offered, sponsors or committee chairs explained the changes on the floor prior to votes. Several bills were moved to other days ("Monday next" or "Thursday next") per sponsor requests.

The Senate adjourned to reconvene at 8:30 a.m. on the next scheduled floor day.