Snow, ICE, & Pesticides
Good afternoon, everyone. Pesticide immunity bill put to bed in TN, for now... Governor Lee issues State of Emergency ahead of snow storm... TN refugees and asylum seekers to lose TennCare... and much more!
Things That Never Happen But Should Join us Thursday, February 19th for an evening with Sean Davis, CEO and co-founder of The Federalist. This is the third installment of the Pamphleteer's new monthly event series. Paying Bard-level subscribers receive free access to this and future events. (Buy Tickets)
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A Tennessee bill that would broaden legal liability protection for pesticide and herbicide companies has been delayed for the second time.
From Megan Podsiedlik
Last year, a controversial pest control bill started making its way through the General Assembly. The legislation, which passed through the senate, would prevent civil “failure to warn” liability lawsuits from being filed against pesticide manufacturers and sellers in Tennessee as long as they have an EPA-approved label.
Toward the end of last session, the House Judiciary Committee voted to place the bill on 2026’s calendar. The legislation was on the committee’s agenda for this Wednesday, with rumors that a new amendment rewriting the bill would be introduced by Rep. Johnny Garrett (R-Goodlettsville). But when Wednesday rolled around, the bill was taken off notice, pausing its progress once again.
The Lead Up Groups in favor of the GOP-sponsored legislation include the Tennessee Farm Bureau and the Modern Ag Alliance, which Bayer founded to protect, defend, and ensure continued farmer access to crop protection tools—specifically glyphosate—amidst mounting legal challenges. The groups claim the proposed bill will protect the state’s agricultural interests. Those against it include a growing and diverse cohort, including the broader MAHA movement, Stand For Health Freedom, TN Stands, and others.
Earlier this week, lobbyists on both sides of the issue scurried up and down the halls of Cordell Hull, bopping in and out of legislative offices making their pitch. Meanwhile, outside influence against the bill started coming from unexpected places online.
Popular podcaster and Tennessee resident Shawn Ryan denounced the legislation on Tuesday. “Hey Tennessee, Do you hear this? The Government is trying to poison us all again,” Ryan posted on X. “[Governor Lee] do you plan to sign this?”
Country music mogul John Rich jumped in the conversation on Wednesday. “What I've learned about TN politicians over the past few years would shock you to the core,” he posted in a retweet of a video put out by Ryan. “Of course they are protecting foreign pesticide companies...because...MONEY TALKS.”
Though the bill has all but died, it could come back—if not this session, perhaps next year after Tennessee lawmakers feel more secure following this year’s elections.
Immunity Bills Across the Country Pesticide immunity bills to block "failure-to-warn" lawsuits have popped up in a number of states. Though adopted in Georgia and North Dakota, similar laws have failed in Idaho, Iowa, Mississippi, Missouri, and Wyoming.
Last year, Republican lawmakers and industry allies also inserted a pesticide immunity provision (Section 453) into a Congressional EPA and Interior appropriations bill that would have shielded pesticide manufacturers from lawsuits and restricted the EPA and states from updating warnings. The provision was ultimately stripped out of the legislation after bipartisan pushback.
Bigger Picture Democrats see an opportunity to gain a foothold in the MAHA movement. Given GOP support for this type of legislation is at odds with the desires of MAHA, lawmakers on the left side of the aisle have been taking advantage of the division among Republicans.
Welcome to America in 2026. You're sitting at the End of History. Nothing will ever happen again.
The steady march toward the impossible vision of a borderless world governed by rooms full of perfectly rational leaders incapable of committing evil in thought word or deed continues apace.
Will anything–can anything happen–that shakes us from our stupor? Is "Nothing Ever Happens" the law of the land? What should happen that hasn't happened?
Join us Thursday, February 19th as we sit down with Sean Davis, CEO and co-founder of The Federalist, to discuss whether anything will ever happen again and more. (Buy Ticket)
This event is for the benefit of The Pamphleteer and free for paying, Bard-level subscribers.
HEADLINES
- ❄️ Governor Lee issues State of Emergency ahead of major winter storm. The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) teams are currently pretreating roadways and have replenished salt supplies in all 95 counties. The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA), Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP), and the Tennessee National Guard are on standby, ready to provide support. (Governor’s Office)
- 🏛 Beginning October 1, refugees and asylum seekers will lose TennCare coverage due to new federal policy. Tennessee officials are also considering ending state-funded prenatal care for pregnant immigrants without legal status. Advocates warn that cutting long-standing prenatal services could harm infant health and conflicts with lawmakers’ support for fetal personhood. (Lookout)
- 🚛 TN is requiring about 8,800 commercial driver’s license holders to prove U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent residence by April 6. The request comes after a records audit found that proper documentation was missing. State officials say the move aligns with Trump administration immigration directives and largely affects drivers licensed before 2001, when proof was required but not always retained. (Lookout)
- 🧊 Representative Justin Pearson (D-Memphis) calls ICE a “domestic terrorist organization” alongside Tennessee House progressives who also condemned ICE as a violent, unaccountable agency. The group of eight Democratic lawmakers announced bills to limit ICE operations at sensitive locations, ban masked law enforcement, and criticized Republican state leaders for cooperating with federal immigration enforcement. (Tennessean)
DEVELOPMENT
- Nashville’s Carter Vintage Guitars Owner Acquires Los Angeles’ Norman’s Rare Guitars (Now Next)
- Charleston bagel shop eyes multiple Nashville neighborhoods for expansion (NBJ)
- Texas-based Home Run Dugout eyes Nashville for expansion (NBJ)
- Dickerson Pike property listed for $3.99M (Post)
THINGS TO DO
View our calendar for the week here.
📅 Visit our On The Radar list to find upcoming events around Nashville.
🎧 On Spotify: Pamphleteer's Picks, a playlist of our favorite bands in town this week.
👨🏻🌾 Check out our Nashville farmer's market guide.
TONIGHT
🪕 Peter Rowan with Sam Grisman Project @ Ryman Auditorium, 8p, $101+, Info
🪕 Special Consensus @ Station Inn, 9p, Info
🎸 Faithless Town | Michael Allen | Dream Fever @ The Cobra, 7p, $13.66, Info
🪕 The Cowpokes @ Acme Feed & Seed, 12p, Free, Info
🎸 Kelley’s Heroes @ Robert’s Western World, 6:30p, Free, Info
SATURDAY
🎸 Mavis Staples with MJ Lenderman @ Ryman Auditorium, 8p, $69+, Info
🎸 Finger Foods @ The Blue Room, 7p, $19.50, Info
🪕 East Nash Grass w/ Jason Carter @ The Basement East, 8p, $29.83, Info
🎻 Disney's Frozen in Concert @ Schermerhorn Symphony Center, 11a & 7:30p, $55+, Info
🪕 Route 3 @ Station Inn, 9p, Info
🎸 Kelley’s Heroes @ Robert’s Western World, 6:30p, Free, Info
SUNDAY
🎻 Disney's Frozen in Concert @ Schermerhorn Symphony Center, 2p, $55+, Info
🪕 Bluegrass Jam @ Station Inn, 7p, Free, Info
+ a night for musicians and singers from all over the world to gather and enjoy making music together
🪕 Sundays Between with Easy Green @ Tennessee Brew Works, 1p, Info
+ a bluegrass celebration of the music of the Grateful Dead
📰 Check out the full newsletter archive here.
Today's newsletter is brought to you by Davis Hunt, Megan Podsiedlik, and Camelia Brennan.