AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 3, Chapter 1 and Title 4, relative to the general assembly.
Summary
HB1532 amends Tennessee law to create a formal process for a deceased member or former member of the General Assembly to lie in state at the State Capitol building. Under the bill, the governor and the speakers of the Senate and House must allow the honor if requested by an immediate family member, for a period not to exceed the time the Capitol is open to the public during one day. If there is no immediate family member, the governor and speakers may authorize the honor on their own initiative.
The bill defines “immediate family member” narrowly as a spouse, parent, sibling, or child. It takes effect immediately upon becoming law because the public welfare is declared to require it.
Impact
The bill adds a new section to Tennessee Code Annotated Title 3, Chapter 1, Part 1, and affects the authority of the governor and legislative leaders over ceremonial honors at the State Capitol. It creates a statutory right for qualifying family members to request that a deceased legislator or former legislator lie in state, while also preserving discretionary authority for state leaders when no immediate family member exists. The measure primarily affects state ceremonial procedures, the General Assembly, the Governor’s office, and Capitol operations rather than substantive regulatory law.
Sentiment
The available voting history suggests generally favorable support for the bill, with the measure advancing through subcommittee and committee by clear margins and later receiving a majority floor vote. The committee actions indicate that lawmakers were broadly receptive to formalizing this honor for deceased legislators, and there is no transcript evidence of strong opposition in the materials provided.
Contention
The main point of potential contention is the scope of who may request the honor and who controls the decision when no immediate family member is available. The bill limits “immediate family member” to spouse, parent, sibling, or child, which could exclude other relatives or close personal representatives. Another possible issue is the balance between a family-driven request and the discretionary authority of the governor and legislative speakers, though the recorded votes show limited resistance overall.