It's over. The 2006 session of the Tennessee General Assembly is finally done. The House and Senate adjourned “sine die” around 7:15 p.m. Saturday, May 27 th . The legislature has been under intense scrutiny since one year ago today when federal agents swarmed the Capitol, arresting four members in a public corruption sting known as the "Tennessee Waltz." Since then, Gov. Phil Bredesen has called a special session of the legislature to address ethics, former State Rep. Chris Newton (R-Cleveland) has pleaded guilty to corruption charges, the Senate was thrown into heated debate over the disputed election of Memphis Democrat Ophelia Ford, first term State Sen. Don McLeary (R-Jackson) switched parties, Bredesen's "Cover Tennessee" health initiative was unveiled and approved by the legislature, and State Sen. Jim Bryson (R-Franklin) announced that he was leaving office to challenge Bredesen in the governor's race -- just to name a few developments.
However, with the additional excess tax revenues (roughly $400 million this year) many were concerned that political “pork barrel amendments” would hamper the session adjourning in a timely manner. However, the Senate passed the budget first and then agreed with the changes the House made for a relatively easy budget process. Highlights include:
• Another sales tax holiday in April 2007 where sales tax wouldn't be charged on items such as school supplies and computers. The first sales tax holiday will occur in August. Both come with an $11 million price tag.
• A 3 percent across-the-board pay raise for state employees, a $350 one-time bonus, as well as an increase in the amount the state will contribute toward its workers' 401k plans.
• Students at Tennessee 's public colleges and universities will see lower tuition increases than in previous years after the General Assembly passed $39 million dollars in new higher education funding.
• A health care program called “Cover TN” in which the Administration proposed in lieu of the failing TennCare program. An extra $25 million was included in the budget for hospital and essential access monies.
The Governor was very pleased with the budget and looks forward to campaigning for re-election this fall. All of the House of Representatives will be up for re-election, as well as half of the 33 member Senate. In all likelihood, Bredesen will win handily against Bryson, and the Senate will remain in the Republican's control. The House should remain Democratic, but it will be a close call. Lt. Gov. John Wilder will be in for the race of his life as he tries to be re-elected to a record breaking term as Lt. Gov. It will not be easily, as Senate Majority Leader Ron Ramsey has his eye on the prize, as well as Senate Republican Caucus chair, Randy McNally. If the Democrats retain control of the House, Speaker Naifeh should be re-elected Speaker quite easily.
• Sen. Steve Cohen (D-Memphis) tried to get the HOPE scholarships, reserved for students attending four-year institutions, increased from $3,300 to $4,000 per student, per year. The House, however, changed the level to $3,800 for the next school year over concerns about the long-term financial viability of the scholarship program.
• The state House and Senate approved a bill that for the first time that would ban smoking throughout the entire state Capitol complex and the state prison system. Most state government buildings banned smoking years ago, but the state Capitol complex – including the Capitol and the interconnected offices at Legislative Plaza and the War Memorial Building – were under the legislature's purview, and they continued to allow smoking for some time. The bill passed by the House and Senate would put a stop to that.
• The Legislature passed legislation designed to curb predatory lending, culminating one senator's six-year quest on the issue. Since 2000, Sen. Roy Herron (D-Dresden) has been backing legislation to stop predatory lending and protect those people investing their life savings to buy a house. It was a compromised agreement between the consumer advocates and a coalition of mortgage lenders, finance lenders and the TN Bankers Association.
• An effort to reduce the sales tax on food one penny by increasing the cigarette excise tax by 14 cents failed in the Senate Finance committee late last week. Efforts by a strong coalition of groups fell just one 2 votes short of passage. Both sponsors vow to come back next year to try again.
• On the last day of the legislative session, state lawmakers voted to give themselves a pension hike when they retire from public office. The bill increased state employee benefits and the governor's salary, while giving groups like retired teachers a pension raise. But in a late move, lawmakers in the state House overwhelmingly voted to add an amendment to increase their own pensions by about 3 percent per month. And after some wrangling, the state Senate reluctantly agreed to the cost-of-living adjustment, meaning it will likely become law.
Tennessee Legislation Service (c) 2006 M. Lee Smith Publishers
Wednesday, May 31, 2006 |
AGRICULTURE |
SB 1038
HB 0876*
(Full Text) |
Organic products promotion board. Creates the organic products promotion board composed of five members who are producers of organic products. (S: Ketron; H: Davidson)
Senate Co-Sponsors: Jackson; Kurita; Burks
House Co-Sponsors: Bone; McMillan; Johnson C. House amendment 5 allows a winery selling the wine it produces with a minimum of fifty percent of it from Tennessee grapes, to make sale of its premises without restrictions on the number of gallons sold. Senate amendment 5 raises the amount of wine a winery may sell at retail on its premises to no more than five hundred thousand gallons of the wine it produces annually.
Senate Status: Senate 05/23/2006 concurred with House amendment 5.
House Status: House 05/17/2006 passed with amendment.
Other Status: Sent to governor 05/23/2006. |
ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES |
SB 0051
HB 0012*
(Full Text) |
Keg identification tags. Requires retailers to place identification tags on beer kegs and get a signed receipt to be provided by the department of revenue. Specifies violations by a retailer will result in suspension or revocation of permit, or civil penalties. Specifies that purchasers knowingly violating this bill face a Class C misdemeanor. (S: McNally; H: Newton )
Senate Status: Taken off notice in Senate State & Local Government.
House Status: Referred to House Local Government Subcommittee. |
SB 0225
HB 0020*
(Full Text) |
Disqualification for beer permits. Requires beer permit applicants or owners of applicants to prove that they have not been convicted of manufacture, delivery, sale or possession with intent to manufacture, deliver or sell any controlled substance within past 10 years. Allows the county legislative body to conduct criminal background checks which will be paid for by the applicant. (S: Miller J.; H: Newton ) Senate amendment 2 specifies that this bill's prohibition on the issuance of a permit to a person convicted of the manufacture, delivery, or sale of, or possession with intent to manufacture, deliver, or sell, a controlled substance applies to Schedule I through V controlled substances. House amendment 1 removes Section 3 that authorizes criminal background checks for a person who owns at least a 5 percent interest in a business that applies for a beer permit.
Senate Status: Senate 05/19/2005 passed with amendment 2.
House Status: Set for House message calendar 05/19/2005. House 05/19/2005 concurred in Senate amendment 2.
Other Status: Enacted as Public Chapter 0294 (effective 06/06/2005). |
SB 0227
HB 0022*
(Full Text) |
Increased application fees for beer permits. Raises to $300 from $250 the application fee for a beer permit. Raises from $100 to $120 dollars the privilege tax for beer. Specifies that the additional funds received from such increases will be used for underage substance abuse prevention. Requires applicant for such permit to prove that neither the owners nor employees have been convicted of any crime involving a controlled substance. Allows the state to perform background checks on applicants or owners. (S: Miller J.; H: Newton )
Senate Status: Taken off notice in Senate Alcoholic Beverage Subcommittee.
House Status: Referred to House Local Government Subcommittee. |
SB 0389*
HB 1421
(Full Text) |
Regulation of advertising by ABC. Prohibits alcoholic beverage commission from regulating advertisement of alcoholic beverages by persons or entities authorized to sell such alcoholic beverages. (S: Haynes; H: Jones U. )
Senate Status: Taken off notice in Senate State & Local Government.
House Status: Taken off notice in House State & Local Government. |
SB 0390*
HB 0970
(Full Text) |
Alcohol awareness training for servers. Prohibits alcoholic beverage commission from providing alcohol awareness training for servers. (S: Haynes; H: Briley)
Senate Status: Senate Alcoholic Beverage Subcommittee 04/06/2005 returned to Senate State & Local without recommendation.
House Status: House State & Local Government 03/22/2005 recommended. Sent to Calendar & Rules. |
SB 0391*
HB 1127
(Full Text) |
Alcoholic beverage commission appointment changes. Increases membership in ABC to five from three. Requires one member to have experience as owner or operator of liquor-by-the-drink establishment and one member to represent some other segment of the industry. (S: Haynes; H: McDaniel)
Senate Status: Senate Alcoholic Beverage Subcommittee 04/06/2005 returned to Senate State & Local without recommendation.
House Status: Referred to House State Government Subcommittee. |
SB 0793
HB 0858*
(Full Text) |
Server permits. Allows an employee to obtain an employee or server permit to serve as an employee in the place of business of more than one licensee if a waiver is granted by the executive director of the alcoholic beverage commission. (S: Burchett; H: Armstrong) House Local Government Subcommittee amendment 1 changes the word licensee to retailer.
Senate Status: Senate Alcoholic Beverage Subcommittee 04/06/2005 recommended to Senate State & Local.
House Status: Taken off notice in House State & Local Government 04/25/2006. |
SB 0964
HB 0957*
(Full Text) |
Shipments of wine to a residence. Allows direct shipment of wine from a winery to the residence or place of business of an adult consumer who is 21 years of age or older under certain circumstances. (S: Cohen; H: Hargett)
Senate Status: Senate Alcoholic Beverage Subcommittee 04/06/2005 returned to Senate State & Local without recommendation.
House Status: Referred to House Local Government Subcommittee. |
SB 1043*
HB 1820
(Full Text) |
Ale and malt beverages defined as beer. Permits brewers and wholesalers to transport, store, sell, distribute, possess, receive, or manufacture beer, ale, and malt beverages with an alcoholic content of not more than five percent by weight or of six percent by volume. Includes in the definition of beer any beverages having an alcoholic content of six percent by volume. (S: Kyle; H: Rinks)
Senate Status: Taken off notice in Senate Alcoholic Beverage Subcommittee.
House Status: Referred to House Local Government Subcommittee. |
SB 1046*
HB 1417
(Full Text) |
Distilled alcohol beverages included in definition. Clarifies definition of alcoholic beverage to include beverages containing distilled alcohol and flavors or flavoring extracts. (S: Ketron; H: Jones U. )
Senate Status: Taken off notice in Senate Alcoholic Beverage Subcommittee.
House Status: Referred to House Local Government Subcommittee. |
SB 1047*
HB 1420
(Full Text) |
Flavored beverages with alcohol. Clarifies that beverages containing distilled alcohol and flavors or flavoring extracts are not included under the definition of alcoholic beverages. (S: Ketron; H: Jones U. )
Senate Status: Taken off notice in Senate Alcoholic Beverage Subcommittee.
House Status: Referred to House Local Government Subcommittee. |
SB 1242*
HB 1681
(Full Text) |
Server permits - issuance after conviction. Allows the issuance of server permits to applicants who have been convicted of a crime related to the sale of alcoholic beverages provided that such applicant has been in good moral standing for at least four years since the time of conviction. (S: Cohen; H: Jones U. )
Senate Status: Senate Alcoholic Beverage Subcommittee 04/06/2005 returned to Senate State & Local without recommendation.
House Status: Referred to House Local Government Subcommittee. |
SB 1675*
HB 1936
(Full Text) |
Sampling and tastings on retailer premises. Authorizes retailer of alcoholic beverages to conduct consumer educational sampling and tastings on premises of a retailer. (S: Cohen; H: Jones U. )
Senate Status: Taken off notice in Senate Alcoholic Beverage Subcommittee.
House Status: Referred to House Local Government Subcommittee. |
SB 2029
HB 1905*
(Full Text) |
Retail license fee exemption for winery selling on premises. Authorizes licensed winery to be issued retail license to sell wine on premises of winery without paying additional retail licensure fee and to distribute wine to wholesaler. Also deletes certain restrictions on sale of wine at winery. (S: Cohen; H: Jones U. )
Senate Status: Senate Alcoholic Beverage Subcommittee 04/06/2005 recommended to Senate State & Local.
House Status: Referred to House Local Government Subcommittee. |
SB 2159
HB 2083*
(Full Text) |
Underage purchasing, possession or transportation offenses. Specifies that offenses of underage purchasing, possession, transportation or consumption of alcoholic beverages or beer by person 18 years of age or older and less than 21 years of age are Class C misdemeanors. (S: Herron; H: Maddox)
Senate Status: Taken off notice in Senate Judiciary.
House Status: Taken off notice in House State & Local Government 04/25/2006. |
SB 2170
HB 2074*
(Full Text) |
Residency requirements for winery license. Deletes requirement that a person or individuals who own a corporation have to be Tennessee residents for at least two years before being issued a winery license. (S: Ketron; H: DuBois)
Senate Status: Senate Alcoholic Beverage Subcommittee 04/06/2005 recommended to Senate State & Local.
House Status: Referred to House Local Government Subcommittee. |
SB 2735*
HB 3345
(Full Text) |
Cap on wine production removed. Removes all caps on wine production for wineries in the state. (S: Ketron; H: Davidson)
Senate Status: Referred to Senate State & Local Government.
House Status: Withdrawn in House 02/22/2006. |
SB 2865
HB 2884*
(Full Text) |
Shipment of wine to personal residences. Allows direct shipment of wine from a winery to the residence or place of business of an adult consumer who is 21 years of age or older under certain circumstances. (S: Cohen; H: Turner M.)
Senate Status: Referred to Senate State & Local Government.
House Status: Referred to House Local Government Subcommittee. |
SB 3100*
HB 3570
(Full Text) |
License for blending nonalcoholic products with alcohol. Allows blending of nonalcoholic products with alcoholic beverages with an issued manufacturer's license. Includes any state, not just Tennessee, when putting restrictions on license holders. (S: Cohen; H: Jones U.)
Senate Status: Senate passed 04/17/2006.
House Status: House passed 03/27/2006.
Other Status: Enacted as Public Chapter 0616 (effective 05/04/2006). |
SB 3408*
HB 3509
(Full Text) |
Alcohol distribution employee restrictions. Prohibits alcohol distiller, rectifier, or manufacture representatives from providing any direct services like shelving, pricing, arranging stock, or assisting customers to any licensed retailer. (S: Cooper J.; H: Tindell)
Senate Status: Referred to Senate State & Local Government.
House Status: Referred to House State & Local Government. |
SB 3501
HB 3060*
(Full Text) |
Fake ID used to purchase alcohol. Increases penalties for persons under age 21 using false identification to purchase alcoholic beverages to a Class B misdemeanor from a Class C misdemeanor. (S: Ketron; H: Maggart)
Senate Co-Sponsors: Tracy; Person; Black; Kilby; Finney
House Co-Sponsors: Swafford; Baird; Lynn; Brooks, Harry; McCormick; Bunch; Stanley; Eldridge; DeBerry J. Senate amendment 1 deletes provision of bill that requires the court in which a violator between the ages of 18 and 21 is convicted of the offense to send an order of denial of driving privileges to the department of safety within five working days of the conviction. Senate amendment 3 requires vendors to post signs on the vendor's premises advising customers of the vendor's policy against selling beer to underage persons and of the fact that the underage purchaser may lose his or her driver license. House amendment 1 specifies that the judge would have the discretion to sentence an individual to 20 hours of community service.
Senate Status: Senate 05/27/2006 non-concurred in House amendment 1.
House Status: House reconsidered action, withdrew amendment 1 and passed. |
SB 3630*
HB 3508
(Full Text) |
Restriction on alcoholic distribution. Specifies that an individual may not handle, deliver, transport, display, warehouse, or hold any alcoholic beverages not for personal use unless such person holds or is employed by someone who holds a wholesale or retail license to do so. (S: Cooper J.; H: Tindell) House amendment 3 includes language to clarify what is meant by "deliver", "transport" and "store". Clarifies that the bill would not affect wineries' ability to handle, deliver, transport, display, warehouse, or hold alcoholic beverages pursuant to the conditions of such person's license. Removes prohibition against unlicensed persons handling, delivering, transporting, displaying, warehousing, or holding alcoholic beverages, but prohibits the storage of alcoholic beverages without a license, unless the alcoholic beverage is for that person's personal or social use.
Senate Status: Senate passed 05/25/2006.
House Status: House 05/17/2006 passed with amendment.
Other Status: Sent to governor 05/25/2006. |
SB 3747
HB 3627
(Full Text) |
Identification required for purchase of alcohol. Creates a Class B misdemeanor for persons selling alcoholic beverages or beer without requiring the purchaser to show identification and proof of age. (S: Burchett; H: Strader)
Senate Status: Senate State & Local Government deferred to 04/25/2006.
House Status: Taken off notice in House Local Government Subcommittee 04/26/2006. |
SB 3832*
HB 3958
(Full Text) |
Sale of novelty alcoholic beverage decanters. Permits retail sale of novelty decanters by manufacturer in a manufacturer's licensed retail facility. (S: Tracy; H: Jones U.)
Senate Co-Sponsors: Ketron; Bryson; Henry
House Co-Sponsors: Fraley; Pruitt; Moore; Harwell; Jones S.; Odom; Turner M.; Sontany; Langster Senate State & Local Government amendment 1 rewrites bill to allow sale of commemorative bottles of Jack Daniel's at Jack Daniel's museum in Davidson County. This amendment also prohibits drop shipping at facility. Senate State & Local Government amendment 2 prohibits tastings at facility.
Senate Status: Failed in Senate State & Local Government 04/18/2006.
House Status: House Local Government Subcommittee deferred to 05/03/2006. |
CAMPAIGNS & LOBBYING |
SB 3979
HB 3147*
(Full Text) |
Disclosure of lobbying expenditures. Requires employers of lobbyists to electronically file annually with the ethics commission an employer disclosure report disclosing the total lobbying expenditures in this state in the prior year. Specifies that the employer disclosure report be certified by an authorized officer of the employer under penalty of perjury. Also specifies that disclosure reports be promptly posted on the commission's website. (S: Ramsey; H: Overbey)
Senate Status: Referred to Senate State & Local Government.
House Status: Taken off notice in House Government Operations 04/05/2006. |
COMMERCIAL LAW |
SB 1577
HB 0309*
(Full Text) |
Business Premises Safety Act. Specifies that businesses do not have the duty to protect customers from criminal acts by a third party unless there is reasonable probability of such acts occurring. Declares that a business is not to be regarded as an insurer of the safety of its customers; establishes comparative fault when determining liability in civil actions for damages resulting from the acts of third parties. (S: Norris; H: Coleman)
Senate Status: Referred to Senate Judiciary.
House Status: Taken off notice in House Civil Practice Subcommittee. |
EDUCATION |
SB 0090*
HB 0322
(Full Text) |
Annual report on education and graduation rates. Requires annual report of school performance by commissioner of education to include graduation rates. Requires reported graduation rates to be organized by schools and local school systems and subdivided by gender and race. Broadly captioned. (S: Ketron; H: Hood)
House Co-Sponsors: Sontany Senate Judiciary amendment 1, House State & Local Government amendment 1 rewrites the bill. Adds additional penalties to existing Class A misdemeanor offense for a person to persuade any child under 21 to buy alcohol or for a person to buy alcohol for any child under 21. Specifies that the court may prevent an offender from driving for six months for a first offense, one year for a second offense, and two years for a third offense. Exempts an offender who is the parent or legal guardian of or the of-age legal spouse of the intended recipient from such additional penalties. Senate Judiciary amendment 2 adds suspension of professional licenses to additional penalties the court may impose.
Senate Status: Re-referred to Senate Calendar Committee 05/09/2005.
House Status: Taken off notice in House Judiciary. |
INSURANCE HEALTH |
SB 0884*
HB 1363
(Full Text) |
TN Comprehensive Health Insurance Pool Act. Establishes a nonprofit entity to be known as the Tennessee comprehensive health insurance pool. Requires all insurers issuing health insurance in this state and providing health plan benefits in this state on and after July 1, 2005, to be members of the pool. Also requires commissioner of finance and administration to select an 11 member board of directors to oversee the pool. Specifies membership and duties of board. Also specifies requirements for individuals receiving coverage by the pool. Creates Tennessee Employer Health Care Responsibility Tax, 1% gross receipts tax on every non-manufacturing employer of more than 25 persons, with credit against tax in proportion to percentage of employees who are covered by employer-provided health insurance. (22 pp.). (S: McNally; H: Overbey)
Senate Status: Taken off notice in Senate Commerce, Labor & Agriculture.
House Status: Taken off notice in House Government Operations. |
SB 0912
HB 0739*
(Full Text) |
Employer cooperative pools. Allows certain nonprofit employers to form cooperative pools to offer group health insurance to employees of pool members. (S: Miller J.; H: Stanley)
Senate Co-Sponsors: Fowler
Senate Status: Senate passed 05/05/2005.
House Status: Referred to House Commerce. |
HB 2516*
(Full Text) |
Payroll deductions for health insurance premiums. Requires employers who offer health insurance to provide a payroll deduction for the employee portion of such premiums on the request of any participating employee. (H: DeBerry J.)
House Status: Referred to House State Government Subcommittee. |
JUDICIARY |
SB 1817
HB 0677*
(Full Text) |
Municipal court jurisdiction expanded to college campuses. Expands present jurisdiction given to municipal courts located in municipalities having a population in excess of 150,000 to enforce municipal ordinances pertaining to underage purchase, attempt to purchase, possession, transportation, or consumption of alcoholic beverages or beer to include any municipality where the main campus of a public university is located. Includes ordinances of reckless and unlicensed driving as well. (S: Herron; H: Maddox)
Senate Status: Referred to Senate Judiciary.
House Status: Taken off notice in House Judicial Administration Subcommittee. |
LABOR LAW |
SB 0073
HB 0039*
(Full Text) |
Overtime pay. Directs employers in the state of Tennessee to pay overtime wages to certain executive, administrative, outside sales, computer, and professional employees in accordance with the federal standards in place August 22, 2004. (S: Ford J.; H: DeBerry L.)
House Co-Sponsors: DeBerry J.; Jones U.; Miller L.; Kernell; Borchert; Armstrong; Favors; Moore
Senate Status: Taken off notice in Senate Commerce, Labor & Agriculture.
House Status: Taken off notice in House Employee Affairs Subcommittee. |
SB 1312
HB 0984*
(Full Text) |
Tennessee Family Medical Leave Act. Prohibits an employer from refusing to grant request from an employee with at least 12 months of service to take up to a total of 12 workweeks in any 12 month period for family care and medical leave. Also prohibits an employer with less than 50 employees within 75 miles of worksite from refusing to grant a request for family care and medical leave. Specifies other requirements for family care and medical leave (12 pp.). (S: Tracy; H: Stanley)
Senate Status: Taken off notice in Senate Commerce, Labor & Agriculture.
House Status: Taken off notice in House Employee Affairs Subcommittee. |
SB 2758*
HB 3318
(Full Text) |
Tennessee Minimum Wage Act. Enacts the "Tennessee Minimum Wage Act" that increases the state minimum wage to $6.15 an hour from $5.15 an hour. (S: Cohen; H: Turner M.)
Senate Status: Taken off notice in Senate Commerce, Labor & Agriculture.
House Status: Taken off notice in House Employee Affairs Subcommittee 04/05/2006. |
SB 3005
HB 2499*
(Full Text) |
Employer smoking policy. Requires employers to disclose the smoking policy for the workplace in written form prior to the hiring of an employee. (S: Herron; H: McDonald) House Consumer & Employee Affairs amendment 1 changes "provide" to "make available."
Senate Status: Taken off notice in Senate Commerce, Labor & Agriculture.
House Status: Failed in House Consumer & Employee Affairs 03/21/2006, after adopting amendment. |
SB 3122
HB 2621*
(Full Text) |
Pay Equity in the Workplace Act of 2006. Enacts "Pay Equity in the Workplace Act of 2006." Prohibits an employer from discriminating between employees on the basis of sex by paying any employee salary or wage rates less than the rates such employer pays to any employee of the opposite sex for comparable work on jobs the performance of which require comparable skill, effort and responsibility, and which are performed under similar working conditions. (S: Harper; H: McMillan) House Consumer & Employee Affairs amendment 1 makes a typographical correction to TCA citation. House Consumer & Employee Affairs amendment 2 inserts language that would apply to age, race, color, and gender. House Consumer & Employee Affairs amendment 3 clarifies the definition of "employee."
Senate Status: Failed in Senate Commerce, Labor & Agriculture 04/18/2006.
House Status: House Budget Subcommittee deferred to next meeting. |
PUBLIC FINANCE |
SB 1264*
HB 1083
(Full Text) |
Appropriations FYE July 1, 2005. Appropriates certain funds for fiscal years beginning on July 1, 2004, and July 1, 2005. (S: Ramsey; H: Hargett)
Senate Status: Referred to Senate Finance, Ways & Means.
House Status: Referred to House Finance, Ways & Means. |
SB 2055
HB 1916*
(Full Text) |
Appropriations for 2004 and 2005 fiscal years. Appropriates funds for state government operation for fiscal years beginning on July 1, 2004 and July 1, 2005. (S: Kyle; H: Fitzhugh)
Senate Status: Referred to Senate Finance, Ways & Means.
House Status: Referred to House Finance. |
SB 2056
HB 1918*
(Full Text) |
Appropriations for fiscal years 2004 and 2005. Appropriates certain funds for fiscal years beginning on July 1, 2004 and July 1, 2005. (S: Kyle; H: Fitzhugh)
Senate Status: Referred to Senate Finance, Ways & Means.
House Status: Referred to House Finance. |
SB 2301
HB 2328*
(Full Text) |
Budget - estimated growth in economy. Authorizes appropriations to exceed estimated growth in state's economy by $100,000 or 0.001 percent. (S: Kyle; H: McMillan)
Senate Status: Taken off notice in Senate Finance, Ways & Means.
House Status: Taken off notice in House Finance Budget Subcommittee. |
SB 2315
HB 2331*
(Full Text) |
Appropriations 2004-2006. Makes appropriations for fiscal years 2004-2005, 2005-2006. (S: Kyle; H: McMillan) Senate amendment 1 provides that the appropriations for the Pre-K program shall be non-recurring. Senate amendment 6 is the administration amendment to make appropriations to various entities of state government including the sum of $41,400,000 for the purpose of providing a 2% salary improvement for all positions generated within the Basic Education Program formula for each local education agency and a 3 percent cost of living increase for state employees. Increases the rainy day fund from $275 million to $324 million. Funds 14 higher education capital projects. Appropriates $7 million to fight the meth problem in Tennessee. Senate amendment 3, as amended, requires that the governor consider continuing medical assistance coverage for medically eligible TennCare standard recipients from safety net resources and submit report to the speakers of the house and senate. Such allocation shall be in addition to all other funds, including essential access funds, appropriated be reduced to supplant this $10,000,000 allocation. To the extent such funds may earn federal financial participation, any amount earned in excess of $10,000,000 shall be paid over to other essential access hospitals.
Senate Status: Senate 05/27/2005 passed with amendments 6, 1 & 3.
House Status: House passed 05/28/2005.
Other Status: Enacted as Public Chapter 0503 (effective 07/01/2005). |
SB 2316
HB 2332*
(Full Text) |
Appropriations for 2005 and 2006. Makes appropriations for fiscal years 2004-2005, 2005-2006. (S: Kyle; H: McMillan)
Senate Status: Referred to Senate Finance, Ways & Means.
House Status: Referred to House Finance. |
SB 3526
HB 3282*
(Full Text) |
Appropriations for FY 2005-2006. Appropriates certain funds for fiscal years beginning on July 1, 2005, and July 1, 2006. (S: Henry; H: Fitzhugh)
Senate Status: Referred to Senate Finance, Ways & Means.
House Status: Referred to House Finance, Ways & Means. |
SB 3913*
HB 4024
(Full Text) |
Appropriations for FY 2005-2006 and FY 2006-2007 Makes certain appropriations for fiscal years 2005-2006, 2006-2007. (S: Kyle; H: McMillan)
Senate Co-Sponsors: Henry
House Co-Sponsors: Fitzhugh; Tindell; Shaw
Senate Status: Referred to Senate Finance, Ways & Means.
House Status: House Budget Subcommittee deferred to next meeting. |
SB 3914*
HB 4025
(Full Text) |
Appropriations for FY 2005-2006 and FY 2006-2007. Makes appropriations for fiscal years 2005-2006 and 2006-2007. (S: Henry; H: McMillan)
Senate Co-Sponsors: McNally; Kyle; Jackson
House Co-Sponsors: Fitzhugh; Tindell; Shaw House amendment 1 strips the bill. House amendment 3 outlines the 2006-2007 fiscal year budget. House amendment 5 increases the funding to higher education institutions from $30M to $34M recurring. Makes a technical correction relating to monies being allocated to THDA. Changes movie production funding language from $4M recurring and $4M nonrecurring to $10M nonrecurring. Senate amendment 6 strips the bill. Senate amendment 7 outlines the 2006-2007 fiscal year budget. Senate amendment 8 earmarks funds $30M nonrecurring funds within the TennCare Reserves for the trauma centers. Senate amendment 4 allows the lottery proceeds to be appropriated by TSAC for financial grants. Senate amendment 5 allows lottery scholarships to be $4000. Senate amendment 9 appropriates $35M funds for THEC instead of the original $25.2M.
Senate Status: Senate 05/26/2006 concurred in House amendments 1, 3, and 5.
House Status: House Finance 05/25/2006 recommended with amendments 1 & 2. Sent to House Calendar. Set for House Calendar & Rules 05/25/2006. Set for House floor 05/25/2006. House 05/25/2006 passed with amendments 1, 3 and 5. House amendment 1 strips the bill. House amendment 3 outlines the 2006-2007 fiscal year budget. House amendment 5 increases the funding to higher education institutions from $30M to $34M recurring. Makes a technical correction relating to monies being allocated to THDA. Changes movie production funding language from $4M recurring and $4M nonrecurring to $10M nonrecurring.
Other Status: Sent to governor 05/26/2006. |
RETAIL TRADE |
SB 1240*
HB 1578
(Full Text) |
Tennessee Deposit Beverage Container Recycling Act of 2005. Enacts "Tennessee Deposit Beverage Container Recycling Act of 2005" in order to increase participation and recycling rates for specified deposit beverage containers and to reduce litter. Beginning on October 1, 2005, every deposit beverage distributor shall pay to the department a container fee on each polyethylene terephtalte, high-density polyethylene, or metal deposit beverage container manufactured in or imported into the state. The fee shall be imposed only once on the same beverage container. The fee shall be one-half cent (1/2¢) per beverage container. After October 1, 2007, the fee will increase to one cent per container. Beginning in 2008, the container fees shall be based on the distributors' previous quarter's recycling rates. (S: McNally; H: Johnson R.)
Senate Status: Taken off notice in Senate Environment, Conservation & Tourism.
House Status: Failed in House Local Government Subcommittee 04/13/2005. |
TAXES PROPERTY |
SB 2544*
HB 3827
(Full Text) |
Software as intangible personal property. Includes computer software in the definition of intangible personal property, with result that property tax would not be collected on it. (S: Person; H: DeBerry L.)
Senate Status: Taken off notice in Senate Finance Tax Subcommittee.
House Status: House companion bill introduced. (H: DeBerry L.) |
SB 2550*
HB 2845
(Full Text) |
Ad valorem taxation of computer software. Defines computer software to be intangible personal property for ad valorem taxation, with result that property tax is not collected on it. (S: Cooper J.; H: Curtiss)
Senate Status: Taken off notice in Senate Finance Tax Subcommittee.
House Status: Referred to House Finance, Ways & Means. |
TAXES SALES |
SB 1835*
HB 1675
(Full Text) |
Out-of-state retailers to collect and remit sales tax. Requires out-of-state retailers to collect and remit sales tax on items sold for delivery in Tennessee. (S: Herron; H: Fitzhugh)
Senate Status: Taken off notice in Senate Finance Tax Subcommittee.
House Status: Referred to House Finance, Ways & Means. |
SB 3843
HB 3661*
(Full Text) |
Exemptions for certain computer software. Exempts from sales and use tax the fabrication of internally developed computer software by affiliated companies for the sole use and consumption of such affiliated companies. Deletes outdated statutory language in TCA 67-6-350 pertaining to tax exemptions for certain affiliated corporations. (S: Person; H: Miller L.)
Senate Status: Taken off notice in Senate Finance Tax Subcommittee.
House Status: Withdrawn in House 03/09/2006. |
TENNCARE |
SB 3374*
HB 3786
(Full Text) |
Employers with 25 or more employees receiving TennCare. Requires the department of finance and administration to report to the general assembly those employers who employ 25 or more full-time employees who receive TennCare benefits or whose spouses or dependent children receive TennCare benefits. (S: Herron; H: Rinks)
TennCare Oversight Committee comment: Revisions of the bill may encourage more employers to offer health insurance. Would give the General Assembly more information regarding the issue of health insurance and the uninsured citizens of Tennessee .
Senate Status: Taken off notice in Senate Commerce, Labor & Agriculture 04/18/2006.
House Status: Referred to House Government Operations.
Other Status: TennCare Oversight Committee 04/10/2006 adopted the comment. |
