Chaos, an altercation and a Democratic walkout mark closing hours of the Tennessee legislative session

On the final day of the legislative session, the 111th Tennessee General Assembly devolved into chaos Thursday after repeated disagreements between the House and Senate, a physical altercation with a member and a Democratic walkout. 

The day featured a flurry of action during a nearly 11-hour period and included more than a dozen conference committees tasked with settling differences on legislation.

Although adjournment came around 7:30 p.m. local time in Nashville, the apex came hours earlier during a flare up with House Democrats, who staged a walkout. 

Among the final bills under consideration during the nearly four-month-long session were ones that would implement a block grant system for the state's Medicaid money and an unsuccessful measure that would have provided financial benefits to members of both chambers. 

After the dust had settled, Republicans boasted about passage of a $38 billion budget and a landmark school vouchers measure — while Democrats decried the latter and called the recently adjourned session one of the worst in recent state history.

Republican Gov. Bill Lee, who took office in January, praised the legislature's work.

"It's been a great privilege to me to work with these leaders to advance what I believe is a positive move for this state," Lee said during an end-of-session news conference, later vowing to not veto any bills in the coming days. 

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Locked doors and an altercation

All throughout Thursday, lawmakers moved between floor sessions and committee meetings, with the hope of adjourning by nightfall.

A significant portion of the work that remained focused on settling differences between the two chambers on a host of bills, both controversial and routine.

But while the day began with the usual congeniality, it quickly escalated shortly after 5 p.m., when Democrats attempted to walk out of the House chamber. 

The walkout came after Democrats expressed frustration when House Speaker Glen Casada, R-Franklin, declined to appoint a member of the minority party to a conference committee on the block grant measure. 

While Republicans defended the move, Democrats — who were trying to amend the block grant measure to include a Medicaid expansion provision — protested. 

Democrats said when Casada found out of their planned amendment, he ordered the chamber's Sargent-at-Arms to lock the doors and prevent anyone's departure. 

Republicans later denied having knowledge of the Democrats' Medicaid expansion effort.

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At one point, House Minority caucus leader Mike Stewart, D-Nashville, said Rep. G.A. Hardaway, D-Memphis, got into a physical altercation with a member of security. 

Rep. Bo Mitchell, D-Nashville, said the altercation involved the personal security for Casada, a point which Republicans disputed. Mitchell said security assaulted Hardaway.

Hardaway declined to comment.

After the incident, Democrats held an impromptu news conference in a nearby room, moments after Casada called for Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers to bring any missing lawmakers back to the House.

The walkout temporarily prevented the House from conducting its business because the chamber lacked a quorum, in part because of several missing Republicans. The GOP holds a super majority in the House and normally would not need Democrats for a quorum. 

The chamber eventually reached quorum and continued its business into the early evening. 

After the session's end, Casada called the Democrats' walk out a "serious offense" in which they were "shirking" their responsibilities. 

Rep. Matthew Hill, R-Jonesborough, said he would launch an ethics investigation into the incident, specifically into whether Hardaway acted inappropriately.  

Yelling and cheering in the House chamber

The outburst with Hardaway came just hours before another incident temporarily halted the legislature. 

When the House took up the compromised version of the block grant bill shortly before 7 p.m., a woman began yelling at Casada from the House gallery, calling for his resignation. The chamber erupted into a mix of applause, cheers and bell-ringing as Casada hammered his gavel. State troopers forcibly removed the woman from the chamber.

The House and Senate approved the proposal, which would require Lee to seek a waiver for the federal government to receive its Medicaid funding in the form of block grant.

EARLIER IN THE DAY:Tennessee lawmakers at impasse over TennCare block grant proposal

What bills moved along

Beyond the two raucous incidents, the legislature went about its usual end-of-session business. 

Both chambers approved a bill that critics say would undermine the state's gun permitting system and allow people with little or no knowledge on properly using a weapon to obtain a permit. 

Another measure that received approval was one removing the statute of limitations for child sex abuse victims. At one point, Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge, made the unusual move of encouraging his House counterparts on social media to take up the issue. 

STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS:Tennessee Lt. Gov. Randy McNally backs efforts to remove statute of limitations for child sex abuse

One of the unfinished items lawmakers were unable to reach an agreement on was a bill that would have made significant changes to lawmakers' ability to raise and spend campaign money and increase their personal allowances. 

Despite both chambers hoping for certain components of the measure, it ultimately languished in a committee minutes before the General Assembly adjourned for the year.

Republicans, Democrats offer differing bills on session

Upon its conclusion, Senate Minority Leader Jeff Yarbro, D-Nashville, said the governor's first year in office was a "gigantic step in the wrong direction" when it comes to health care and education.

Stewart, the House Democratic caucus chairman, said the governor's signature school vouchers bill would leave the state with a "gaping fiscal wound."

"We'll look back on it as the worst vote that this legislature has made in decades," Stewart said of the vouchers bill that was narrowly approved in both chambers. 

Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson, R-Franklin, praised Lee's proposed budget — which included the largest deposit in the state's reserve fund in history — as fiscally conservative.

"I think the citizens of Tennessee can be proud that we were good stewards of your tax dollars," he said. 

House Majority Leader William Lamberth, R-Portland, similarly praised the governor who he said moved the state in the right direction.

Likewise, Lee thanked the Republican leaders for helping shepherd his legislative agenda through the chambers. 

"(My goal) is to work with them to get things done," Lee said.

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Reach Joel Ebert at jebert@tennessean.com or 615-772-1681 and on Twitter @joelebert29.