The responsibility for allegations of discrimination, including state agencies, will be the responsibility of Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skulmetti after the disbandment of the Tennessee Human Rights Commission. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)

The Tennessee Attorney General’s Office was quickly able to take responsibility for investigating allegations of discrimination by state agencies after the state Senate passed measures to dissolve the Human Rights Committee and move operations to the AG office.

Senate Bill 861sponsored by Sen. John Stevens, a Republican of Huntingdon, passed on the partisan line Monday 27-6. The House edition, sponsored by Rep. Johnny Garrett, by Goodlettsville Republican, passed Thursday. The bill goes next to the governor’s desk for his signature.

The 60-year-old committee is a nonpartisan, independent agency responsible for enforcing civil rights laws in employment, housing and public accommodation, and is a discrimination claim against the state of Tennessee.

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The measure has attracted criticism from Democrats who have said they advocated discrimination against Attorney General Jonathan Skulmetti.

After Stevens called Skulmetti’s office the “most nonpartisan” of three branches of the government in Tennessee, Sen. Raumesh Akbari, a Memphis Democrat, disagreed.

“I’m not going to make it personal, but if you’ve never been discriminated against. “I would recommend Google the last few suits submitted by the Attorney General, and I’ll ensure that their actions don’t look nonpartisan.”

Skrmetti led or participated in a lawsuit banning discrimination against women seeking abortion, banning lawsuits seeking to suspend minor transgender care, and sent letters to businesses, warning them against diversity, equity and comprehensive initiatives, among other actions.

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Stevens said his review of the committee showed that thousands of claims were “suffering” and that they were not being investigated.

Democrats opposed the characterization.

“The HRC testified to the fact that they have some vacant seats on the committee because the House Speaker has refused to fill the vacant space since 2022,” said Sen. Sherlan Oliver, a Nashville Democrat.

“We’re undermining the HRC’s ability to do their job,” she said. “That may be why they can’t handle the complaints.”

Sen. Kelly Roberts, a Springfield Republican, described the committee as “very ineffective” before asking for a vote.

Under the measure, the committee will be dissolved by July 1, with the 30 staff positions moving to the Attorney General’s Office.