Stockard on the Stump:Tennessee House speaker, Senate Judiciary chair beef over ‘three strikes’ bill

By: Sam Stockard

Outlets: Tennessee Lookout

Published: April 10, 2026

Words: 1,668

Last Updated: 5 hours, 47 minutes ago

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Staring at the prospects of funding a new prison, Senate Judiciary Chairman Todd Gardenhire lobbed a bombshell this week at House Speaker Cameron Sexton over a “three-strikes” sentencing bill expected to increase Tennessee’s inmate population.

Gardenhire, a Chattanooga Republican, led an effort to defeat Senate Bill 2137, but before it failed to advance, he said Sexton should have “attached the money.”

“He sent it over to us to take the bullet. He should have …

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