Tennessee Lawmakers Are Returning For A Legislative Session Colored By Upcoming Elections, House Speaker Beth Harwell’s Bid For Governor And Republican Gov. Bill Haslam’s Final Lap Before He Hits His Term Limits. In The Session That Begins Today, The Republican-Led General Assembly Doesn’t Face A Weighty Choice That Will Drive The Debate For Months, Like Last Year’s Haslam-Backed Roads-Funding Law. Legislative Leaders And Haslam Say A Main Focus Will Be Opioid Abuse, A Less Divisive Topic Before State Elections For Governor, All 99 House Seats And 17 Of 33 Senate Seats. Harwell Is One Of Five Leading Republicans, Alongside Two Democrats, Running For Governor.