Tagged: 2013 TN General Assembly

Gov. Bill Haslam has signed legislation that clears the way for cities to begin forming municipal school systems.

The measure passed the House 70-24 and the Senate 24-5. It lifts a 1998 ban that forbids municipalities from starting their own school systems, and benefits six Memphis suburbs seeking to bypass a merger of the Shelby County and Memphis school districts and run their own schools.

A measure that allows any photo identification issued by the state of Tennessee or United States to be used for voting has been signed by the governor.

The Senate version of the legislation at one time would have allowed student ID cards issued by public universities to be used, but the House stripped out that provision and the Senate later agreed with it. The legislation also eliminates library cards as suitable voter ID.

A proposal to freeze the Tennessee's beer tax has been signed by Gov. Bill Haslam.

Tennessee’s beer taxes outstrip any other state's because the bulk of the levy is based on price rather than volume. The more a beer costs, the higher the taxes when buying it.

After several years of advancing major education initiatives, Tennessee lawmakers this year failed to pass the biggest school bills before them. 

The 108th Tennessee General Assembly, which adjourned Friday, debated a proposal to create a school voucher program and a so-called parent trigger measure that would allow parents to decide the fate of a struggling school.  Both appeared to have momentum but failed by the end of the session.

Legislation that provides requirements for setting up a distillery in Tennessee is headed to the governor for his consideration.

The measure was given final approval after the Senate voted 23-6 Thursday to concur with changes made by the House. Under the proposal, after July 1, a manufacturer would petition to the local county mayor, and the county commission would have 45 days to vote on the request.