On Tuesday, Gov. Bill Lee’s administration dropped its budget amendment, a move that could signify the looming end of the session.
The budget amendment accounts for impact from proposed changes to the franchise tax, based on a fiscal note released after the original budget was proposed.
The fiscal note found an impact of $1.55 billion for potential refunds to businesses that paid the franchise tax based on property owned in the state rather than its net worth. The budget originally accounted for only $1.2 billion, so the amendment filed shows a $351 million change.
The administration also said it identified bonds approved in 2011 for the purchase of Capitol Towers, the final building near the Capitol Hill five-building complex that the state does not own. Lee recommends using certain state reserves to allow for acquisition of the units in the condominium building (read here).
Legislators will discuss the budget amendment in detail for the first time in the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Monday followed by the Senate’s Finance Ways and Means Appropriations Subcommittee on Tuesday.
Third-party inspectors
A bill to allow third-party inspectors for permitting in place of local or state inspectors has passed both the House and the Senate.
If signed by Lee, it would allow developers to hire licensed or certified professionals to complete inspections for a fee rather than wait on public regulators. Findings would still be submitted and approved by regulators.
“The beauty of this legislation, it does two things,” said Rep. Kevin Vaughan (R-Collierville). “It benefits both parties, both the regulating body as well as the applicant. The applicant has the option now of deciding whether or not they want to wait on the backlog of applications to where it goes through the normal process. But if they find that they can move faster through using these third parties, then they incur the expense of hiring the third party.”
Rep. John Crawford (R-Kingsport) and Rep. Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville) voted against the bill, and six others were present but did not vote.
Tourism records
The Senate passed a bill that would shield “sensitive” Tourism Department records from public requests.
The Tennessee Lookout reported that this could be an attempt to hide records on a potential Super Bowl bid for the future Titans stadium.
The body adopted the House version but added an amendment for information to become public once an event is held or state money is spent. The House will vote on whether to accept the amendment on Monday.
Metropolitik: Tourism transportation still out of harmony three years into regulation attempt
Transpotainment
The House passed a bill regarding permitting for entertainment vehicles. Originally, the bill carried by House Majority Leader William Lamberth (R-Portland) would have rewritten rules and regulations of “transpotainment.” However, the amendment that passed the House had a much lighter touch. (Read more here.) It will be placed on the Senate calendar next.
Day care closures
The House passed a Senate bill that would require a child care agency to inform parents at least 60 days before it closes. Sponsored by Sen. London Lamar (D-Memphis) and Rep. Aftyn Behn (D-Nashville), the bill is one of the few wins for Democrats in the Republican-controlled legislature.
Vaccines in vegetables
The Republicans passed a bill in the Senate that Democratic lawmakers note is conspiratorial in nature.
The bill, which already passed the House, would create regulation for food that contains a vaccine. Rep. Scott Cepicky (R-Culleoka) mentioned vaccines in lettuce during a committee meeting. The AP reports that COVID-19 vaccines are not being passed through produce or livestock, but Republican supporters of the bill maintained on the Senate floor this week that Democrats needed to do more research.
This article was first published by our sister publication, the Nashville Post.
