House Passes State Budget
House lawmakers passed the state’s $37 billion budget on Friday, just one day after a blowup on the House Floor where member amendments pushed the budget almost half a billion dollars out of balance. On Friday, members hit the reset button, stripping off all amendments added to the budget on Thursday and presenting a “clean … Continued
Budget Deliberations to Begin This Week
On Tuesday, the Governor’s proposed budget amendment is expected to be released. The amendment provides an opportunity to alter the original budget proposal based on the State’s latest forecasted revenues. We will update advocates of any changes that impact the University of Tennessee. Senate budget amendments were released last week. Several amendments relate to the … Continued
Guns On Campus Bill Dropped by Senate Sponsor
Legislation to expand the presence of guns on college campuses was killed by its Senate sponsor on Wednesday after college officials spoke against the effort. The measure would have allowed part-time, permit-holding employees to carry their weapons concealed on campus, and was sponsored by Rep. Dennis Powers (R-Jacksboro) and Sen. Frank Niceley (R-Strawberry Plains). Read more … Continued
Tuition Stability Act Delayed Until 2018
Sen. Steve Dickerson (R-Nashville) has sent his “Tuition Stability Act” to the Senate’s General Subcommittee, and although he plans to pursue the issue again next year, he noted on Wednesday some flaws with his existing language and the difficulty he had getting his plan in a workable form. The bill was never put on notice … Continued
State Budget Update
Lawmakers are yet to begin budget deliberations in a legislation session now anticipated to continue until mid-May. Legislative sessions in recent years have adjourned in mid-April, but the one thing members must do (per the Tennessee Constitution) is pass a balanced budget prior to adjourning. Lawmakers are awaiting the Governor’s Budget Amendment before considering a … Continued