110th General Assembly Kicks Off

At noon last Tuesday, the State Capitol welcomed back the state’s senators and representatives as the legislature gaveled in the 110th General Assembly. There were ceremonies, oaths of office taken, and the state elected a new Lieutenant Governor. The House welcomed eleven new faces from two years ago (see the list here), and the Senate saw a new senator but not a new face with Senator Jon Lundberg taking the seat vacated when Lieutenant Governor Ron Ramsey decided not to seek re-election last year. After the legislators were sworn in, the first order of business for both the House and Senate were to elect speakers. Speaker Beth Harwell was re-elected in the House, and Sen. Randy McNally was elected Lieutenant Governor and Senate Speaker.

 

The beginning of a new General Assembly brings some changes in leadership and on committees. With Sen. McNally succeeding Ron Ramsey as lieutenant governor, Sen. Bo Watson was appointed Senate Finance Chairman. Sen. Jim Tracy moves from Senate Transportation Chairman to Senate Speaker Pro Temp, with Sen. Paul Bailey taking the helm of the Senate Transpiration Committee. The Senate Commerce Committee is still chaired by Sen. Jack Johnson, but it also will see some changes. Sens. Kerry Roberts and Bill Ketron are replacing Sens. Steve Southerland and Todd Gardernhire on the committee. In the House, Rep. Glen Casada was elected Republican Leader and Rep. Ryan Williams elected Republican Caucus Leader. Rep. Gerald McCormick, who stepped down as Republican Leader, was appointed chairman of the House Budget Subcommittee. The House Business and Utilities Committee saw some changes as well, along with its subcommittee. Rep. Pat Marsh is still chair of the full committee and Rep. Art Swann remains chair of the subcommittee. Reps. Mark Lovell and Mike Sparks are additions to the subcommittee with Rep. Martin Daniel leaving the subcommittee. You can review all the committees on the legislature’s website.

 

The legislature will be dealing with several big issues, with perhaps the biggest being a possible gas tax increase and increasing transportation funding. The budget is expected to have a surplus of nearly $1 billion in one-time money and nearly another $1 billion in recurring money. Education is always an area that has several looming issues with voucher legislation likely to be considered again this year. Medical marijuana and criminal justice reform will also be considered. Not much legislation has been filed yet, and the very short attached bill list reflects that.

 

This year is expected to be the busiest one yet on the issue of broadband service in Tennessee, and not just for municipal electric broadband expansion. The Department of Economic and Community Development completed a wide ranging study last summer that showed the need for residents and businesses, including how it effects economic development. TACIR is scheduled to complete its study of broadband when it meets January 25-26 after it released a draft of its report last month (under Tab 3). The governor may propose his own broadband legislation, and several legislators have indicated they may sponsor legislation on the topic. Sen. Mark Green has filed the first bill (SB22), which would create a program to make broadband expansion grants for the purpose of funding the construction, expansion, or operation of broadband infrastructure in underserved areas. TMEPA’s municipal broadband expansion legislation will be filed soon.

 

The legislature adjourned on Thursday to take two weeks off to move offices to accommodate for new legislators and the changes in leadership. They will return on January 30 when Governor Haslam is scheduled to give the State of the State address, followed by several weeks of budget hearings in the Senate and House.  February 9 is the tentative bill filing deadline, when all bills that are to be considered for this year must be filed. Some Senate committees are scheduled to begin closing down the week of March 19.  Senate and House leadership are shooting to adjourn in mid to late April.