2008 Report Archive

03/14/08

03/07/08

02/29/08

02/2208

02/15/08

02/07/08

02/01/08

01/25/08

01/18/08

01/11/08

 

2007 Year-End Report

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GOVERNOR SEEKS TN ENERGY POLICY

Gov. Phil Bredesen wants reduced energy consumption by state agencies to serve as an example to businesses and homeowners in Tennessee. Bredesen signed an executive order Wednesday that aims to create a comprehensive energy policy for Tennessee.  "There really is a need for greater attention to both energy efficiency and alternative fuels in this state," Bredesen told reporters after a speech to the Tennessee Business Roundtable. "The state ought to take a leadership role in that, in terms of getting its own house in order." Bredesen said the first step will be to assemble a group of experts to craft recommendations. He wants that group to report back by the fall on how best to reduce energy consumption in the state  Bredesen's order follows a state comptroller's audit released earlier this year that found several deficiencies in the state's existing energy conservation efforts.  The governor announced his plan for an executive order on energy following National Governors Association meetings in Washington last month.

The Senate Education Committee this week also recommended approval of the $4.97 billion budget for elementary and secondary education submitted by Gov. Phil Bredesen, including a $25 million increase for pre-kindergarten classrooms across Tennessee. The committee, which has a 5-4 Republican majority, had been seen as a key test for the governor's push to continue expanding pre-k programs but the panel voted 9-0 to recommend approval of the full budget proposal to the Senate Finance Committee. The finance committee will consider the education spending plan along with the entire $28 billion budget proposal submitted by the governor. Tennessee is spending $80 million this year on 934 pre-k classes statewide -- $55 million from general tax revenue and $25 million from state lottery proceeds.

House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh made an unusual visit to a subcommittee hearing to cast votes that killed several handgun bills, including one that would have allowed diners to carry guns into restaurants. Naifeh, who can cast votes in any House committee or subcommittee of his choosing, voted in three roll call votes that helped defeat bills in the Criminal Practice Subcommittee, as well as in a voice vote that defeated a fourth bill. The votes killed a bill that would have permitted faculty and staff at public schools to carry handguns, one that would have allowed handguns in state parks and one that would have allowed people voluntarily committed to mental hospitals to get handgun licenses. The fourth bill would have allowed guns in restaurants.
 
And to add to the continued woes of the budget crisis, the Tennessee Department of Transportation announced this week that the U.S. Department of Transportation has rescinded $66.3 million in federal funds from TDOT's federal allocation of funds for fiscal year 2008. The latest rescission brings the total of federal funds withdrawn since December 2005 to more than $237.7 million in Tennessee, according to a statement released by TDOT. "Nearly 50 percent of the department's budget comes from the federal government, so a reduction in these revenues significantly impacts the resources available to TDOT," said Gerald Nicely, TDOT commissioner, in a statement. "

Please call if you have questions.

DEFINITIONS

“taken off notice”: This means that the bill will not be scheduled to be heard in the committee unless the sponsor re-calendars it.

“general sub”: This means that the bill will not be scheduled to be heard in the committee unless the sponsor re-calendars it.

“failed for a lack of a motion or second”: This means that the bill did not receive a motion to be heard in the committee, or that a motion was made for the bill to be heard, but there was no second on that motion.  The bill is then “dead” for the session.

“Caption bill”: A caption bill is a bill that has been broadly drafted to open up an entire title to the Tennessee Code Annotated. It can then be amended to do exactly what the sponsor wants, but until that time, caption bills are held on the clerk’s desk until the amendment is filed.  They are then referred to the appropriate standing committee for discussion of the merits.

“Deferred to”: This means that a bill has been scheduled for a date certain in the committee.

“Sine die”: Term used at the end of the second half of the general assembly session when the legislature adjourns for good.  All bills pending in committees die and the legislature starts back up the following January with a clean slate.

 

Tennessee Legislation Service (c) 2008 M. Lee Smith Publishers
Thursday, March 20, 2008

ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES

SB 0634*
HB 1750
(Full Text)

Allows sale of alcohol on Sundays that are certain holidays. Allows retailers to sell alcoholic beverages on Sundays between the hours of noon and eleven p.m. and on Labor Day, the Fourth of July, and New Year's Day. (S: Marrero; H: Jones U.)
Senate Status: Failed in Senate State & Local Government 03/13/2007 for lack of a second.
House Status: Referred to House Local Government Subcommittee.

SB 0680*
HB 0787
(Full Text)

Cannot sell beer or alcohol near drug treatment facility. Authorizes counties and cities to adopt ordinance or resolution that prohibits sale of beer and alcoholic beverages within 2,000 feet of a drug or alcohol treatment facility. (S: Bunch; H: Campfield)
Senate Status: Referred to Senate State & Local Government.
House Status: Referred to House Local Government Subcommittee.

SB 0795*
HB 1324
(Full Text)

ID tags on beer kegs. Requires retailers to place identification tag on kegs containing beer that identifies the seller. Requires purchaser to pay a minimum deposit of $75 and to sign a registration form. Directs department of revenue to prescribe and supply forms for keg identification so that buyers and sellers can be held accountable for unlawful purchases. Violation is a Class C misdemeanor. (S: Burchett; H: Briley)
Senate Status: Referred to Senate State & Local Government.
House Status: Taken off notice in House Local Government Subcommittee 04/18/2007.

SB 1221*
HB 1194
(Full Text)
Public Chapter (PDF)

Special occasion license for certain events. Allows charitable, nonprofit, or political organization to obtain special occasion license for event in political subdivision that has approved sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises. Clarifies current law that specifies approval only of the sale of alcoholic beverages at retail on the premises. (S: Cooper J.; H: Harmon)
Senate Co-Sponsor: Haynes House amendment 1 rewrites the bill to authorize the Swiss Colony in Gruetli-Lager to give samples of homemade wine at its annual festival.
Senate Status: Senate passed 05/07/2007.
House Status: House 04/09/2007 passed with amendment 1.
Other Status: Enacted as Public Chapter 0203 (effective 05/22/2007).

SB 1223*
HB 1529
(Full Text)
Public Chapter (PDF)

Special occasion license for charitable organization. Permits alcoholic beverage commission to issue a special occasion license to certain 501(c)(3) organizations for selling wine in closed containers for consumption on or off premises. Allows any resident of Tennessee to donate wine to such organizations. (S: Cooper J.; H: Odom)
Senate Co-Sponsors: Haynes; Kyle; Norris; Marrero Senate amendment 1 requires organization to have $1,000,000 annual budget. Also requires donated bottles of wine to be properly registered with the department of revenue.
Senate Status: Senate 05/07/2007 passed with amendment 1.
House Status: House passed 05/24/2007.
Other Status: Enacted as Public Chapter 0342 (effective 06/05/2007).

SB 1224*
HB 1755
(Full Text)

Retail license holder may offer free samples of wine. Permits entities holding a retail license or a winery license to provide free samples of wine to consumers on the premises under certain circumstances. Subjects those who violate specified requirements while providing samples to suspension of license or a fine of up to $3,000. (S: Cooper J.; H: Jones U.)
Senate Co-Sponsor: Haynes
House Co-Sponsor: Tindell
Senate Status: Taken off notice in Senate State & Local Government 05/01/2007.
House Status: Taken off notice in House Local Government Subcommittee 05/09/2007.

SB 1807*
HB 2120
(Full Text)
Public Chapter (PDF)

Any wine made from 50 percent TN fruit - unlimited sale. Allows any winery selling wine made from 50 percent of any Tennessee fruit to sell it on premises without restriction on number of gallons sold where grapes were previously the only fruit under this provision. (S: Ketron; H: Litz) Senate amendment 1 allows any winery selling wine made from 50 percent of any Tennessee agricultural product to sell it on premises without restriction on number of gallons sold. Clarifies that bill's provision apply to Tennessee fruit only. House amendment 1 substitutes the word "grapes" for "agricultural products" and provides that gift, tourism, or wine related items may be sold on the premises of a licensed winery.
Senate Status: Senate 06/06/2007 concurred in House amendment 1.
House Status: House 05/29/2007 passed with amendment 1.
Other Status: Enacted as Public Chapter 0433 (effective 06/18/2007).

SB 1821*
HB 1658
(Full Text)

Registration period for beer manufacturers, distributors. Increases time period from 20 to 25 days for manufacturer or distributor of beer to register at the office of the commissioner of revenue. Broadly captioned. (S: Bunch; H: Mumpower)
Senate Status: Referred to Senate State & Local Government.
House Status: Caption bill held on House clerk's desk.

SB 1879
HB 1119
(Full Text)

Beer distributors' registration. Increases time period during which beer distributors must register with commissioner of revenue from 20 to 25 days. (S: Jackson; H: Buck)
Senate Status: Referred to Senate State & Local Government.
House Status: Caption bill held on House clerk's desk.

SB 1977*
HB 1850
(Full Text)

Wine direct shipper license. Creates wine direct shipper license to be issued through the alcoholic beverage commission that would allow an in-state or out-of-state entity to ship wine directly to consumers age 21 years or older in this state for personal use. (S: Stanley; H: Todd)
Senate Co-Sponsor: Jackson
House Co-Sponsor: Casada
Senate Status: Senate State & Local Government deferred to 03/28/2008.
House Status: Taken off notice in House Local Government Subcommittee 03/05/2008.

SB 2072
HB 1899*
(Full Text)

Sales of wine by certain retail food stores. Prescribes the creation of an additional class of licenses allowing the sale of wine at retail food stores. (S: Marrero; H: Kernell)
Senate Status: Failed in Senate State & Local Government 03/13/2007 for lack of a motion.
House Status: Referred to House Local Government Subcommittee.

SB 2289
HB 1825*
(Full Text)

Wholesaler's license expansion. Allows wholesaler's licenses to be granted in any municipality that has approved the sale of alcoholic beverages rather than only those with a minimum population of 100,000. (S: Burchett; H: Lundberg)
Senate Status: Referred to Senate State & Local Government.
House Status: House Local Government Subcommittee deferred to July 2008.

SB 2686*
HB 2824
(Full Text)

Allows direct shipment of wine for personal consumption. Authorizes the direct shipment of wine for personal consumption to residents of Tennessee who are 21 years of age or older. Requires wine manufacturer, producer, supplier, importer, wholesaler, distributor or retailer to obtain a wine direct shipper license prior to sending any shipments to residents. Specifies that a licensee cannot ship more than two 9-liter cases of wine annually to any person for that person's personal use. Specifies other requirements for licensee. (S: Jackson; H: Shepard)
Senate Status: Referred to Senate State & Local Government.
House Status: House Local Government Subcommittee deferred to last calendar.

SB 2814
HB 2730*
(Full Text)

Direct shipment of wine to consumers. Authorizes the direct shipment of wine for personal consumption to residents of Tennessee who are 21 years of age or older. Requires wine manufacturer, producer, supplier, importer, wholesaler, distributor or retailer to obtain a wine direct shipper license prior to sending any shipments to residents. Specifies that a licensee cannot ship more than two 9-liter cases of wine annually to any person for that person's personal use. Gives authority to the alcoholic beverage commission and the department of revenue to promulgate rules and regulations for the creation of a direct shipper license. (S: Roller; H: Fraley)
Senate Status: Referred to Senate State & Local Government.
House Status: Withdrawn in House 03/03/2008.

SB 2959*
HB 3516
(Full Text)

Direct shipper license for wine shipments to TN residents. Creates direct shipper license to be issued through the alcoholic beverage commission. The license will allow an in-state or out-of-state entity to ship wine directly to consumers age 21 years or older in this state for personal use. Sets out specific requirements for licensing including a $300 licensing fee. Limits the amount of wine that can be shipped annually to each purchaser. (S: Ketron; H: Jones U.)
Senate Status: Taken off notice in Senate State & Local Government 03/11/2008.
House Status: Referred to House Local Government Subcommittee.

SB 2996*
HB 4161
(Full Text)

Furnishing of alcoholic beverages to persons under 21. Extends coverage of the dram shop act where alcoholic beverages or beer were furnished to a person known to be under the age of 21 or furnished to an obviously intoxicated person. Current law only applies to the selling of alcoholic beverages or beer to such persons. (S: Herron; H: Fincher)
Senate Status: Referred to Senate State & Local Government.
House Status: Introduced 1/31/2008

SB 3121*
HB 3035
(Full Text)

Fees collected by alcoholic beverage commission. Requires the alcoholic beverage commission to deposit all taxes and fees that the commission collects with the state treasury for the general fund. (S: Burchett; H: Tindell)
Senate Status: Referred to Senate State & Local Government.
House Status: Referred to House Local Government Subcommittee.

SB 3139*
HB 3451
(Full Text)

Sales of wine by certain retail food stores. Creates an additional class of licenses allowing the sale of wine at certain retail food stores. Specifies that these licenses are to be known as "wine at food store licenses" and are to be issued by the alcoholic beverage commission. Limits issuance of such licenses to retail food stores located in a county or municipality that has authorized the sale of alcoholic beverages by local option election. (S: Ketron; H: Rinks)
Senate Status: Referred to Senate State & Local Government.
House Status: Referred to House Local Government Subcommittee.

SB 3427*
HB 3974
(Full Text)

Sale of alcohol at premier type tourist resort. Authorizes sale of alcohol for on-premises consumption at a commercially operated premier type tourist resort that is located on at least 500 acres, has at least 50 rooms used for overnight accommodations, and serves at least two meals a day in a dining room that seats a minimum of 50 persons. (S: Burchett; H: Armstrong)
Senate Status: Referred to Senate State & Local Government.
House Status: Referred to House Local Government Subcommittee.

SB 3641
HB 2772*
(Full Text)

On-premises consumption for tourist resort. Authorizes sale of alcohol for on-premises consumption at a commercially operated premier type tourist resort. Requires that the resort be located on at least 500 acres and have at least 50 rooms used for overnight accommodations. Dining room must serve at least two meals a day in a space that will accommodate 50 diners. (S: Ketron; H: Jones U.)
Senate Status: Referred to Senate State & Local Government.
House Status: Referred to House Local Government Subcommittee.

SB 3661
HB 3118*
(Full Text)

Advertising of alcohol's harmful effects. Requires advertising for alcoholic beverages to mention dangers of alcoholism, effects of alcohol on liver and mind, and increased incidence of domestic violence involving use of alcoholic beverages. (S: Finney R.; H: DuBois)
Senate Status: Taken off notice in Senate State & Local Government 03/18/2008.
House Status: Referred to House Local Government Subcommittee.

SB 3706
HB 2791*
(Full Text)

Seating requirement for premier type tourist resorts. Decreases the seating requirements to be classified as a commercially operated recreational facility under premier type tourist resort law for purposes of serving alcohol subject to the requirements of the part. Decreases seating requirements from 150 persons at tables to 100 persons in clubhouse facilities and from 190 persons to 80 persons in private clubhouses. (S: Haynes; H: Odom)
Senate Status: Senate passed 03/13/2008.
House Status: House passed 02/25/2008.
Other Status: Sent to the speakers for signatures 03/13/2008.

SB 3774*
(Full Text)

Sale of Jack Daniels seized during raids. Requires bottles of Jack Daniels whiskey seized during fall 2007 raids in Davidson and Moore counties to be offered at public sale or displayed at state museum. Specifies that revenues from the sale of such whiskey are to be used for drug and alcohol rehabilitation and prevention programs. (S: Haynes)
Senate Co-Sponsor: Roller
Senate Status: Referred to Senate State & Local Government.

SB 3824*
HB 4005
(Full Text)

Manufacturers of wine to contract with wholesalers. Requires manufacturers and importers of wine in this state to contract with Tennessee wholesalers of their choice to sell their brands in this state. Also requires the manufacturers and importers to file copies of pertinent documents with the department of revenue. Requires the department of revenue to notify the manufacturer or importer to cease distribution to unregistered manufacturers or importers in this state until such brands are properly registered and also to notify the ABC to suspend any permit issued to any such manufacturer until registration is complete. Categorizes any wine products not properly registered after 30 days from date of notification as contraband and prescribes they be sold in accordance with seizure laws. (S: Ketron; H: Johnson C.)
Senate Status: Taken off notice in Senate State & Local Government 03/11/2008.
House Status: Referred to House Local Government Subcommittee.

SB 3863*
HB 3690
(Full Text)

Fines collected by Alcoholic Beverage Commission. Requires all fines, taxes, and fees the ABC collects to be deposited with the state treasury for the general fund, instead of having such collections earmarked specifically for the ABC's use. (S: Burchett; H: Tindell)
Senate Status: Referred to Senate State & Local Government.
House Status: Referred to House Local Government Subcommittee.

SB 3930*
HB 3861
(Full Text)

Fines collected by alcoholic beverage commission. Requires alcoholic beverage commission to deposit any fines collected into the general fund instead of having such fines earmarked for the commission's use. (S: Burchett; H: Tindell)
Senate Status: Senate passed 03/17/2008.
House Status: House Budget Subcommittee recommended 03/19/2008. Referred to House Finance, Ways & Means.

SB 3988
HB 3809*
(Full Text)

Selling of alcoholic beverages on paddlewheel steamboat. Removes requirement under current law that specifies that for the licensee to sell alcoholic beverages for consumption on a paddlewheel steamboat, the vessel must provide overnight accommodations to its passengers. (S: Stanley; H: Rinks)
Senate Status: Referred to Senate State & Local Government.
House Status: House passed 03/03/2008.

SB 4115*
HB 4166
(Full Text)

Residency requirement for retailer license. Decreases the amount of time an individual must have resided in Tennessee to obtain a retailers license or hold stock in a corporation from either two years to one year or from ten consecutive years to five consecutive years at any point. (S: Ketron; H: Odom)
Senate Status: Referred to Senate State & Local Government.
House Status: Referred to House Local Government Subcommittee.

COMMERCIAL LAW

SB 0850*
HB 1019
(Full Text)

Processing fees charged for use of debit or credit card. Prohibits card issuer from charging a processing fee to retail merchants for the use of credit or debit cards that is more than seventy-five hundredths of one percent (0.75 percent) per transaction for all processing fees involving the use of a credit or debit card. (S: Kilby; H: Ferguson)
Senate Status: Senate Commerce, Labor & Agriculture deferred to 05/01/2007.
House Status: Taken off notice in House Utilities, Banking & Small Business Subcommittee 04/10/2007.

EDUCATION

SB 3475*
HB 3431
(Full Text)

THEC - promulgation of regulations for proprietary schools. Directs THEC to promulgate rules and regulations for the operation of proprietary schools. Specifies that such rules include requiring each institution to provide written information to potential students on annual tuition, disclosure of all pertinent information about the school's programs and courses, and degree requirements for instructors. (S: Burks; H: Odom)
Senate Status: Referred to Senate Education.
House Status: Taken off notice in House Education Special Initiatives Subcommittee 03/05/2008.

SB 3477*
HB 3428
(Full Text)

Operation and governance of TN post secondary education. Requires the Tennessee Higher Education Commission to promulgate rules and regulations for requirements to operate proprietary schools, including the use of a new fee collection scale which calculates an institution's annual gross tuition revenue based on the institution's previous fiscal year. (S: Burks; H: Odom)
Senate Status: Referred to Senate Education.
House Status: Taken off notice in House Education Special Initiatives Subcommittee 03/05/2008.

SB 3478*
HB 3429
(Full Text)

Operation and governance of TN post secondary education. Authorizes the Tennessee Higher Education Commission to promulgate rules and regulations to increase fee structure for proprietary schools in Tennessee. Designates proceeds from such increased fees shall be used by the THEC to increase the number of regulation staff. (S: Burks; H: Odom)
Senate Status: Referred to Senate Education.
House Status: Taken off notice in House Education Special Initiatives Subcommittee 03/05/2008.

ENVIRONMENT & NATURE

SB 4116
HB 4184
(Full Text)

Annual report by TDEC. Requires the commissioner of environment and conservation to annually report certain information to the senate environment, conservation and tourism committee and the house conservation and environment committee, including information on the number of enforcement orders issued in the previous calendar year, the number of consent orders or final orders issued in the previous calendar year, and the number of contested cases issued before the board in the previous year. (S: Southerland; H: McCord) Senate Environment, Conservation & Tourism Committee amendment 1 corrects clerical error in the bill.
Senate Status: Senate Environment, Conservation & Tourism recommended 03/12/2008 with amendment. Sent to Senate Finance.
House Status: House Conservation & Environment deferred to 03/26/2008.

GOVERNMENT REGULATION

SB 3175
HB 2949*
(Full Text)

Holders of licenses, certifications or registrations. Requires regulating entities to notify a holder of a license, certification, or registration of existing applicable laws and changes in applicable laws. Adds policies, in addition to statutes, rules and regulations to the requirement for notification. (S: Johnson J.; H: Lynn)
Senate Status: Taken off notice in Senate Commerce, Labor & Agriculture 01/29/2008.
House Status: House State & Local Government 03/11/2008 recommended. Referred to House Government Operations.

SB 3436*
HB 3631
(Full Text)

Requires governor appointees on certain non-profit boards. Requires all non-profit organizations receiving more than $100,000 in state funds to have a member on the board appointed by the governor. Requires such member to serve for a term of at least four years. (S: Burchett; H: Kernell)
House Co-Sponsors: Cooper B.; Coley; Lollar
Senate Status: Taken off notice in Senate State & Local Government 02/26/2008.
House Status: House State Government Subcommittee deferred to 03/26/2008.

HEALTH CARE

SB 3267*
HB 3886
(Full Text)

Long-Term Care Identification and Assessment Act. Requires the bureau of TennCare to establish a system of independent professional assessments of individuals living in institutions as well as individuals seeking long-term care services through Medicaid or other state and federal programs. Requires the assessments be conducted by independent evaluators qualified to assess and make recommendations regarding appropriate long-term care services, including home- and community-based services. Requires preliminary assessments to be completed within five days for people seeking to enter long-term care facilities who do not currently reside there. Requires the bureau to perform preliminary assessments of those people currently residing in long-term care facilities by July 1, 2009. Requires that subsequent assessments take place between 24 and 36 months later. Grandfathers in individuals who have resided three or more years in a long-term care facility and those individuals who are there for only a period of less than three months. Requires the board to take steps to administer a transition within 90-180 days when a person wishes to transition to home- and community-based care and is approved by the evaluator. Requires the commission on aging and disability, hospitals, and institutions for long-term care to provide information regarding assessment to their respective parties. Requires the bureau to report its findings to several appropriate agencies. (S: Johnson J.; H: Mumpower)
Senate Status: Referred to Senate General Welfare, Health & Human Resources.
House Status: Referred to House Health & Human Resources.

SB 3887*
HB 4013
(Full Text)

Home medical service providers - medicare participation. Redefines "home medical equipment provider" and "home medical equipment services." Clarifies that home medical service providers are not prohibited from participating in the federal Medicare program. (S: Crowe; H: Armstrong)
Senate Status: Referred to Senate General Welfare.
House Status: Referred to House Health & Human Resources.

SB 4148
HB 4104*
(Full Text)

Licensure renewal for health care facilities. Allows a health facility licensee to renew its license within 60 days following the license expiration date upon payment of the renewal fee in addition to a late penalty established by the board for each month or fraction of a month that payment for renewal is late. Penalty cannot exceed twice the renewal fee. Requires any licensee who fails to renew within the 60 days to reapply for licensure as if for the first time. (Part of Administration Package.) (S: Kyle; H: Pruitt)
Senate Co-Sponsor: Herron
House Co-Sponsor: Odom
Senate Status: Referred to Senate General Welfare.
House Status: House Health Care Facilities Subcommittee recommended 03/19/2008. Referred to House Health & Human Resources.

LABOR LAW

SB 3169*
HB 3706
(Full Text)

Monthly wage payment permitted in private employment. Permits the payment of wages to employees in private employment on a monthly basis in addition to the present law which authorizes payment at more frequent periods than semi-monthly. Clarifies that the time periods in present law in which employees are to be paid apply to payments of wages on a semi-monthly basis. (S: Bunch; H: Brooks, Kevin)
Senate Status: Re-referred to Senate Calendar Committee 03/10/2008.
House Status: House Employee Affairs Subcommittee deferred to 03/25/2008.

PUBLIC EMPLOYEES

SB 4100
HB 4068*
(Full Text)

Mandatory retirement for certain EMS personnel. Authorizes certain political subdivisions to establish a mandatory retirement age for certain emergency management services personnel. Retirement age shall be at least 60 years old. Permits certain EMS personnel, being 55 years of age or older and having at least 25 years of creditable service, to retire early. (S: Kyle; H: Moore)
Council on Pensions and Insurance comment: This bill would extend the mandatory retirement provisions that relate to public safety officers to emergency medical dispatchers, emergency medical technicians, and emergency medical technician-paramedics who are employed by local governments participating in TCRS provided the political subdivision passes a resolution authorizing the provisions, and accepting the liability therefore. Enactment of this bill will have no fiscal impact on the State.
Senate Status: Referred to Senate State & Local Government.
House Status: Referred to House State Government Subcommittee.
Other Status: Council on Pensions & Insurance 03/03/2008 returned with unfavorable recommendation.

TAXES BUSINESS

SB 1394*
HB 1193
(Full Text)

Increased tax on cigarettes and wine. Increases tax on spirits from $4.40 per gallon to $4.50 per gallon. Also increases tax on wine from $1.21 per gallon to $1.31 per gallon. Increases tax on cigarettes from 10 mills per cigarette to 1.5 cents per cigarette. (S: Crutchfield; H: Harmon)
Senate Status: Taken off notice in Senate Finance Tax Subcommittee 03/20/2007.
House Status: Referred to House Finance Budget Subcommittee.

SB 2659*
HB 3100
(Full Text)

Tax credits for small business providing health benefits. Provides a tax credit for small business employers that provide health benefits to employees. Defines "small business" as a taxpayer that employs no more than 25 eligible employees throughout the taxable year. (S: Black; H: Curtiss)
Senate Co-Sponsors: Herron; Norris
House Co-Sponsors: Sargent; McDaniel; Harrison
Senate Status: Senate Finance Tax Subcommittee deferred to next meeting.
House Status: House Government Operations 03/19/2008 recommended. Sent to House Finance, Ways & Means.

TAXES SALES

SB 1802*
HB 1296
(Full Text)

Exemptions for certain licensed wholesalers and retailers. Exempts certain sales of tangible personal property and services made by licensed wholesalers and retailers from a central warehouse or distribution point other than its principal place of business from sales and use tax. (S: Ketron; H: Sargent)
Senate Status: Taken off notice in Senate Finance Tax Subcommittee.
House Status: Referred to House Finance Budget Subcommittee.

SB 1974*
HB 2158
(Full Text)

Alcoholic beverages sold for consumption on premises. Specifies that the burden of proving that a taxpayer's records are inaccurate for the purpose of projecting taxpayer sales of alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption from the taxpayer's wholesale purchases shall be on the department of revenue, (S: Haynes; H: Briley)
House Co-Sponsor: Jones U.
Senate Status: Senate 06/11/2007 passed.
House Status: Taken off notice in House Finance Budget Subcommittee 06/11/2007.

TRANSPORTATION GENERAL

SB 2571*
HB 2590
(Full Text)

Parking for disabled. Requires businesses to provide disabled parking. Specifies if at least four disabled parking spots are provided, one parking space should be van accessible. Requires van accessible parking spaces to be at least nine feet wide and to have an adjacent access aisle that is at least eight feet wide. (S: Marrero; H: Richardson)
Senate Status: Senate Transportation 03/19/2008 recommended. Sent to Calendar Committee.
House Status: House Transportation Public Safety & Rural Roads Subcommittee deferred to 03/25/2008.

 

 

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P. O. Box 58083
Nashville, TN 37205
(615)298-8165