It’s over: Lawmakers adjourn after strangely frantic end of session

The state Capitol was closed to visitors on March 16, 2020. (Erik Schelzig, Tennessee Journal)

A bizarre legislative session came to a close in the early hours of Friday. A last-minute deal to pass a sweeping  abortion ban caused the House and Senate to drop disagreements over the budget and wrap up their businesses.

The surprise nature of the decision to take up the bill after midnight (and behind closed doors) in the Senate, where leaders had earlier declared  it would not be taken up this year, is only likely to fuel legal questions about the measure.

Well, I guess Rep. Bill Dunn just made it official. Sine die.

Good night! pic.twitter.com/YbcH0bDeol

— Sergio Martínez-Beltrán (@SergioMarBel) June 19, 2020

Tennessee lawmakers completed their business just after 3 a.m. Friday, the type of marathon, through-the-night session the legislature has not experienced in many years. https://t.co/BhoSJ4p8qr

— Natalie Allison (@natalie_allison) June 19, 2020

Tennessee lawmakers advance 6-week abortion ban (⁦@kkruesi⁩ stayed up late for this one) https://t.co/X6hU3rZd7t

— Jonathan Mattise (@JonathanMattise) June 19, 2020