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the Eighth Senatorial District (Blount and Sevier Counties)... |
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BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS: VOTES
(105th General Assembly, First Session: 2007)
| AGRICULTURE, FARMING, AND ANIMAL CARE LEGISLATION: | |
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SB0537: Increases the punishment for the offense of being present as a spectator at a dog fight. DATE: 03/07/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye.
SB0637: Adds to present law defining cruelty to animals certain injurious manners of tethering that would prevent the animal from having adequate access to food, water, or shelter. DATE: 03/12/07. SENATE VOTE: 28/1/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1190: Provides that in animal cruelty prosecutions, if the defendant does not post court-ordered security to pay for expense of caring for the animal with fifteen business days, the animal is forfeited and defendant loses all ownership rights. DATE: 03/28/07. SENATE VOTE: 19/9/2. MY VOTE: Pass (Present, not voting). COMMENT: I declined to vote on this bill, not because of lack of concern for animals but because of problematic wording of the bill. Ten other senators had the same problem with the drafting of the bill, even though it did pass. SB0487: Creates Class E felony for sexual conduct or sexual contact with an animal, except for established farming and veterenarian practices. DATE: 04/02/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB2165: Removes prohibition on funds in the agricultural resources conservation fund being used for administrative pruposes; authorizes the commissioner of agriculture to expend the funds as matching dollars to secure additional funding to fulfill the purposes for which the fund was established. DATE: 04/12/07. SENATE VOTE: 31/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB2282: Creates misdemeanor offenses for removing from a dog an electronic or radio transmitting collar without the permission of the owner. DATE: 04/16/07. SENATE VOTE: 29/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. |
| BANKING, FINANCE, REAL ESTATE, AND COMMERCE LEGISLATION: | |
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SB1121: Prohibits any bank or out-of-state bank from establishing or maintaining a branch on the premises of an affiliate that engages in commercial activities. DATE: 03/05/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye.
SB1159: Specifies that the definition of "commercial real estate" used in the Residential Closing Funds Distribution Act of 2005 applies only in that part. DATE: 03/14/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1871: Authorizes a money transmitter licensed pursuant to title 45, chapter 7 with a net worth of 25-million dollars to own or control a credit card state bank in Tennessee. DATE: 03/14/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0426: Changes time within which purchase-money security interest must be perfected in order for a perfected security in its identifiable good to have priority so that perfection must occur when the debtor recieves possession of the collateral or within 30, instead of 20, days thereafter. DATE: 03/15/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0483: Permits a charitable organization in meeting the reserve requirement to qualify as a qualified charitable gift annuity a deduction for all or any portion of an annuity risk that reflects a reinsurance of this risk by a life insurance company authorized to do business in the state. DATE: 03/19/07. SENATE VOTE: 31/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB2031: Establishes and clarifies rights and procedues related to liens on improvements to real property. DATE: 03/28/07. SENATE VOTE: 32/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1982: Adds requirements to persons applying for an insurance producer license. DATE: 04/09/07. SENATE VOTE: 31/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. |
| BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS LEGISLATION: | |
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SB0443: Requires an accountant who practices in Tennessee under reciprocity with another state to cease practice if his/her license becomes invalid in the state of issuance; changes eligibility for accountancy examination. 03/05/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye.
SB0125: Prohibits most robo calls to telephone service subscribers who are on the Tennessee Regulatory Authority's Do-Not-Call register; prohibits calls from soliciting contributions or donations from such subscribers. DATE: 03/05/07. SENATE VOTE: 24/5/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB2106: Sunset extension: Extends the board of respiratory care until June 30, 2011. DATE: 03/19/07. SENATE VOTE: 31/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB2106: Sunset extension: Extends the committee for the blind and other severely disabled until June 30, 2011. DATE: 03/19/07. SENATE VOTE: 31/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0280: Clarifies that secondhand mattresses are prohibited by mattress manufacturers, wholesalers, or retailers whose sole business is the sale of mattresses, to the exclusion of any and all other items. DATE: 03/19/07. SENATE VOTE: 31/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB2053: Enacts "The Local Government Instances of Fraud Reporting Act." [Read detials through provided link to the text of the bill.]. DATE: 04/04/07. SENATE VOTE: 31/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1784: Requires general and home improvement contractors to submit proof of workers' compensation and general liability insurance upon licensure or renewal. DATE: 04/09/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1870: Enacts the "Employer Responsibility in Hiring Practices Act," to require employers to make electronic inquiry before an employee is hired. DATE: 04/19/07. SENATE VOTE: 27/2/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0630 HB1351: Revises trust legislation to conform to other states' laws. DATE: 04/19/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. |
| CHILD WELFARE LEGISLATION: | |
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SB0003: Extends the requirement to register as a convicted sex offender, if the commission occurred between January 1, 1995 and July 1, 1997. (There was no requirement to register, if the commission occurred before July 1, 1997.) DATE: 02/21/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye.
SB0217: Adds as an advisory factor the fact that the defendant is an adult who sells to, or gives or exchanges, illegal drugs to a minor. DATE: 02/21/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0064: Requires sexual offender who moves to this state who has been convicted of, pled guilty to, pled nolo contendere, or otherwise been adjudicated of a sexual offense or violent sexual offense or was on prior supervision for such offenses on or after January 1, 1995 to register with the TBI's sexual offender registry. DATE: 02/26/07. SENATE VOTE: 29/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB2233: Revises provisions governing temporary assistance to needy families. DATE: 03/19/07. SENATE VOTE: 31/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1177: Clarifies age distinctions required for the offense of statutory rape; makes statutory rape by an authority figure a violent sexual crime for the purposes of the sex offender registry; extends the statute of limitations for the prosecution of aggravated child rape and statutory rape by an authority figure. DATE: 04/02/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0270: Provides a graduated level of misdemeanor fines for offesse of knowingly leaving a child under seven years in a motor vehicle without supervision by a person at least thirteen years in age. DATE: 04/12/07. SENATE VOTE: 31/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0644: Prohibits a court from determining that a parent who is partially or completely unemployed in order to care for a child under six years of age is willfully or voluntarily unemployed or underemployed for the purpose of determining child support. DATE: 04/19/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/1. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1055: Requires that person convicted of indecent exposure is required to register with the sexual offender registry regardless of the number of convictions if the victim of the offense is less than 13 years of age. DATE: 04/23/07. SENATE VOTE: 29/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. |
| CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PROPOSALS: | |
| No vote in 2007. Please return later. |
| CONSUMER PROTECTION LEGISLATION: | |
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SB0262: Enacts the "Tennessee Truth in Musing Advertising Act." [Through provided link, read the text of the bill.] DATE: 03/19/07. SENATE VOTE: 31/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye.
SB0614: Makes advertising that the seller or lessor of a radar or laser detector or jamming device will pay the customer's motor vehicle citation a violation of the Consumer Protection Act as well as a criminal offense. DATE: 03/28/07. SENATE VOTE: 32/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1304 substitute and conform to HB1057: Revises certain provisions of the Tennessee charitable gaming implementation law. DATE: 04/02/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB2202: Authorizes commissioner of commerce and insurance to levy penalties, including civil penalty up to $5,000 per violation, for violations of requirements for modular buildings; specifies that ready-removables are not modular building units for regulatory purposes; makes other technical changes relative to modular buildings. DATE: 04/09/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. |
| EDUCATION LEGISLATION: | |
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NOTE: LEA is an abbreviation for "local education authority," which is a school district. Blount County has three LEAs: Blount County, City of Maryville, and City of Alcoa. Sevier County has one LEA: Sevier County.
SB0118: Requires department of education to develop alternate methods whereby students at adult high schools may satisfy any requirement that such students have a minimum number of contact hours or earn credit for a course. DATE: 02/26/07. SENATE VOTE: 28/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0189: Removes social security numbers from the public portion of records of guardianships and conservatorships. DATE: 02/26/07. SENATE VOTE: 28/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0113: Renames lottery scholarships "Tennessee Cohen HOPE scholarship." DATE: 02/28/07. SENATE VOTE: 28/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0061: Expands state employee tuition waiver to include online course fees for one course per term in regents online degree programs. DATE: 03/05/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0051: Requires LEAs to develop policies to ensure that school bus drivers deposit student riders only at the student's destination. DATE: 03/05/07. SENATE VOTE: 29/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1730: Requires automatic revocation of a teacher's license to teach upon conviction of certain felonies. DATE: 03/07/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0057: Requires two hours of the required five days of annual teachers' in-service training to be devoted to training in suicide prevention. DATE: 03/12/07. SENATE VOTE: 29/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0026: Exempts from the Open Meetings Act student disciplinary hearings by school board after appeal by student, principal, principal-teacher, or assistant principal of decision of disciplinary hearing authority unless student or student's parent or guardian requests in writing an open hearing; no business other than the disiplinary issue may be discussed; the department of children's services is not excluded. DATE: 03/14/07. SENATE VOTE: 28/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0457: Directs the office of education accountability to study periodically the school accountability system and report its findings to the general assembly; removes the duty of the office of accountability to study schools or school systems on notice of probation. DATE: 03/15/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1800: Requires schools and LEAs to report the number of pupils with excused and unexcused absences. DATE: 03/15/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1962: Requires the commissioner of education to report annually to the state board of education and the senate and house education committees the number of Tennessee candidates for national board certification and the number attaining certification. DATE: 03/15/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1965: Requires the commissioner of education to report annually the number of homeless children who enrolled in public schools without immunization or proof of immunization and the average length of time required for these children to be immunized or to obtain their immunization records. DATE: 03/15/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB2050: Creates the "Tennessee student assistance program account" in the state treasury for the deposit of funds appropriated for Tennessee student assistance awards; provides that earnings on the account are credited to the account and that moneys in the account do not revert to the state general fund at the end of the fiscal year. DATE: 03/15/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0152: Authorizes LEAs to provide vision testing for students who are unable to pay for such vision testing. DATE: 03/19/07. SENATE VOTE: 31/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB2317: Provides that any unexpended appropriations made from the state general fund to the Tennessee intercollegiate state legislature foundation will not revert to the general fund prior to June 20, 2012, instead of prior to June 30, 2000. DATE: 04/12/07. SENATE VOTE: 31/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB2175: Rreplaces present optional high school exit examinations with three assessment examinations, to be administered in grades eight, ten, and eleven, to provide educators with diagnostic information to assist in developing interventions to increase graduation rates and improve readiness for post-secondary education. DATE: 04/12/07. SENATE VOTE: 31/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0065: Adds new combat activity under which dependent children or spouses of POWs or deceased veterans may qualify for higher education tuition and fee waiver; revises the maximum number of hours for which a waiver may be granted; requires notice of the waiver program to be published in institutional catalogs and class schedules. DATE: 04/16/07. SENATE VOTE: 29/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB2080: Makes confidential certain information relating to donors of gifts to public institutions of higher education or to certain related foundations. DATE: 04/16/07. SENATE VOTE: 29/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB2155: Requires extension of contract of director of schools to be the first item on the agenda of the board meeting in which contract extension is to be considered and changes the period of notice required for such action from ten to fifteen days prior to the meeting in which contract extension is to be considered. DATE: 04/16/07. SENATE VOTE: 29/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB2157: Requires greater accountability for alternative education; requires LEAs to develop plans for transitioning between regular and alternative schools. DATE: 04/16/07. SENATE VOTE: 29/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. HJR0106: Endorses the "Read Across America" program. DATE: 04/19/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1714: Requires background checks for students entering teacher training programs. DATE: 04/19/07. SENATE VOTE: 31/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB2162: Expands opportunities for parent involvement in public schools. DATE: 04/23/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. |
| EMINENT DOMAIN LEGISLATION: | |
| No vote in 2007. Please return later. |
| ENVIRONMENT, TOURISM LEGISLATION: | |
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SB0146: Requires the comptroller of the treasury to undertake an audit of agencies and departments that are aurhorized to undertake a performance audit of agencies and departents to take action relative to the conservation of energy, the study and production of alternative sources of energy, and energy security within the state. DATE: 03/14/07. SENATE VOTE: 29/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye.
SB0905: Authorizes speakers' appointments to serve three consecutive two-year terms instead of two. DATE: 03/14/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0123: Requires at least 30 per cent of passenger motor vehicles purchased by the state during a fiscal year to have an estimated highway gasoline mileage rating of at least 35 miles per gallon. DATE: 03/28/07. SENATE VOTE: 28/0/1. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0266: Requires governor, in consultation with state departments, to develop a comprehensivbe state energy conservation plan. DATE: 04/02/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0726: Authorizes a 501(c)(3) non-profit wildlife conservation organization to sell or transfer an elk-take permit issued by the executive director of TWRA pursuant to rules promulgated by the Wildlife Resources Commission; proceeds of the sale will be used for the elk program. DATE: 04/16/07. SENATE VOTE: 29/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB2179: Adds Bon Aqua Woods as a Class I-- scenic-recreational area and Dry Branch as a Class II-- natural-scientific area; revises acreage of Rugby scenic-recreational area from 323 to 445 acres. DATE: 04/16/07. SENATE VOTE: 29/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB2234: Transfers responsibility for administering state building energy management program and revolving retrofit fund from department of general services to department of financa and administration. DATE: 04/16/07. SENATE VOTE: 29/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0422 substitute and conform to HB1156: Prohibits possession of fish or wildlife knowing that such fish or wildlife was acquired, taken, or transported from the state or country of origin in violation of such state's or country's law; provides such offense is a Class A misdemeanor. DATE: 04/19/07. SENATE VOTE: 31/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0135 substitute and conform to HB0145: Requires land managed by TWRA to be open to access and use for recreational hunting, and that agency land management relative to such land not result in any net loss of acreage for hunting opportunities. DATE: 04/23/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. |
| ETHICS LEGISLATION: | |
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SB2000: Amends the Tennessee Ethics Commission Act of 2006 to remove the requirement that lobbyists personally deliver copies of the ethics manual to employers of lobbyists to a requirement that the lobbyist must verify that the employer received or downloaded a copy of the manual; changes lobbyists' registration to coincide with calendar year. DATE: 03/15/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye.
SB0518: Authorizes Shelby County to bring its administrative and legilslative officials and employees within the scope of regulation by the Tennessee ethics commission just as if such officials and employees were state officials and employees; requires reimbursement to the ethics commission for such costs. DATE: 04/02/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB2058: Revises conflict of interest provisions applicable to career service employees. DATE: 04/09/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1353: Requires mass mailings sent by general assembly members within the member's district within thirty days of an election to be paid from the member's campaign account. DATE: 04/16/07. SENATE VOTE: 29/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. |
| HEALTHCARE LEGISLATION: | |
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SB1148: Authorizes a hospice to provide only palliative care services, not supportive medical and other services, to non-hospice patients. DATE: 03/07/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye.
SB1144: Replaces present law exemption for direct access of patients to physical therapists, under certain conditions. (Click on link to read details of bill.) DATE: 03/14/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0238: Prohibits any person other than a licensed dentist from taking an impression of human teeth for the purpose of creating a cosmetic apparatus intended to be worn in the mouth. DATE: 03/19/07. SENATE VOTE: 31/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0334: Requires hospitals, during the fall and winter months, to offer elderly patients certain immunizations for influenza and pneumococcal diseases. DATE: 03/19/07. SENATE VOTE: 31/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1156: Prohibits the definition of "assisted-care living resident" from being interpreted to deny the admission of residents who are eligible for waiver-based home and community-based services as long as personal safety and individual care plans are consistent with the placement. DATE: 03/19/07. SENATE VOTE: 31/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1164: Authorizes the commissioner of health to undertake a pilot project to evaluate pulse oximetry monitoring of newborns in hospitals in one grand division. DATE: 03/28/07. SENATE VOTE: 32/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SJR0142: Urges Congress and federal agencies to study and correct possible problems with direct-to-consumer advertising by pharmaceutical companies. DATE: 04/05/07. SENATE VOTE: 23/0/6. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0207 substitute and conform to HB0204: Requires the Tennessee higher education commission to develop an institute of public health, in consultation with the department of health; no state funds are required. DATE: 04/09/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0826: Establishes a nineteen-member Tennessee Alzheimer's Disease Task Force (TADTF). DATE: 04/12/07. SENATE VOTE: 31/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB2325: Extends termination date for monthly 6 per cent tax on intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded (ICFMR) from July 1, 2007, to July 15, 2009. DATE: 04/12/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/1. MY VOTE: Pass (present, not voting). HJR0135: Urges Congress to expedite funding for Veterans Home in Montgomery County. DATE: 04/12/07. SENATE VOTE: 26/0/4. MY VOTE: Pass (present, not voting). SB1210: Allows an organization that sponsors volunteer health care services to file reports concerning the physicians providing such volunteer services on a quarterly basis and to maintain confirmation of licensure of such physicians as provided on the state Website; clarifies that activities that are not otherwise authorized cannot be performed at the physician's office on behalf of the sponsoring organization. DATE: 04/16/07. SENATE VOTE: 29/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0268: Requires each health care facility licensed in this state to report all instances of staphylococcal infections detected at that facility. DATE: 04/19/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0466 substitute and conform to HB0270 SB1168: Authorizes licensed speech pathologists to use endoscopes to observe pharyngeal and laryngeal areas of throat; authorizes board of communications disorders and science to adopt rules governing the qualifications that must be met by speech pathologists using endoscopes. DATE: 04/23/07. SENATE VOTE: 29/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1657 substitute and conform to HB1604: Requires the department of mental health and development disabilities to establish by rule those persons authorized to evaluate the need for isolation and restraint. DATE: 04/23/07. SENATE VOTE: 31/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB2292: Sets policies for hospitals in charging self-pay patients and posting charity care policies. DATE: 04/23/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. |
| INSURANCE LEGISLATION: | |
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SB0343: Revises the criteria for pooling liabilities to be a self-insurer; exempts a pool from mandated benefits and generic information nondiscrimination requirements created by an association in existence for at least 25 years of private, not-for-profit educational institutions. DATE: 03/19/07. SENATE VOTE: 31/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye.
SB2082: Requires county mutual insurance companies to pay a premuim tax in accordance with the general law which taxes gross premiums instead of setting the tax at the rate of 2.5 per cent of their gross premiums. DATE: 04/04/07. SENATE VOTE: 31/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0377: Requires demolishers of motor vehicles to maintain records of the vehicle identification number or vehicle serial number, if available, and identification of the person transmitting a vehicle for demolition. DATE: 04/23/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. |
| JUDICIARY (COURTS) LEGISLATION: | |
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SB0127: Expands punishment for escaping from a penal institution to those persons lawfully being held for a civil offense. DATE: 02/28/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye.
SB1171: Requires TBI sexual offender and violent sexual offender registration form to disclose the number of different victims involved in each offender's convictions. DATE: 03/05/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0139: Revises present law to increase punishment for the offense of owning a dog running at large. DATE: 03/08/07. SENATE VOTE: 18/3/9. MY VOTE: Present, not voting. COMMENT: Several senators found the language of the bill problematic. The sponsor was asked to delay the bill a few days to permit introduction of amendatory language, but he refused any delay. SB0143: Imposes liability upon the owner of a dog which causes injury to another person, regardless of whether the dog had any past propensity for viciousness or whether the owner had any knowledge of the dog's viciousness. DATE: 03/05/07. SENATE VOTE: 27/0/4. MY VOTE: Aye. COMMENT: This bill eliminates the "first bite rule," a rule eliminated by most states. SB1157: Makes age of sexual offender and of victim at time of offense public information on the sexual offender registry. DATE: 03/07/07. SENATE VOTE: 29/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0791: Prohibits suspension of prosecution by agreement between prosecutor and defendant in cases where crime being prosecuted is vehicular homicide. DATE: 03/15/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1963: Deletes statutory directive to the district attorneys general conference requiring the conference, subject to availability of federal funding, to establish and administer an automated victim notification system. DATE: 03/15/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SJR0091: Directs the comptroller of the treasury to study current alcohol and drug laws. DATE: 03/15/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0390: Removes restriction that males who help law enforecement in operations to prevent beer or alcohol from being sold to minors may not have facial hair. DATE: 03/19/07. SENATE VOTE: 31/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1599: Makes various refinements to statutes pertaining to probate, estate administration, wills, guardians and conservators, uniform transfer to minors, trusts, life insurance, and taxes. DATE: 03/19/07. SENATE VOTE: 31/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1760: Allows trial court to enforce any orders assessing criminal fines that are in default as criminal contempt. DATE: 03/19/07. SENATE VOTE: 31/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1046: Makes numerous technical corrections to present law (Tennessee Uniform Trust Code) regarding trusts, such as duties of trustees and charitable trusts. DATE: 03/19/07. SENATE VOTE: 31/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0942: Allows a court to award reasonable attorney fees to a parent who either proposes or opposes a parental relocation with a child who is the subject of a custody order; protects social security numbers of the parties and their children in certain divorce and child custody and support proceedings; requires all parties to any divorce to be subject to certain temporary injunctions, and adds a new temporary injunction against hiding evidence stored electronically; requires capital losses to be deducted from capital gains for the purpose of calculating income pursuant to the child support guidelines. DATE: 03/21/07. SENATE VOTE: 32/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1598 substitute and conform to HB0418: Senate bill follows-- see amended House bill (HB0418) for any changes. Clarifies that the net estate for the purpose of calculating a surviving spouse's elective share does not include assets over which the decedent held a power of appointment; that the gross estate excludes the homestead allowance, exempt property, and the year's support allowance; that the elective share is exempt from allocation for estate taxes; and that the elective share must be elected within nine months of the decedent's death. DATE: 03/21/07. SENATE VOTE: 32/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1388: Adds juvenile and general session courts with domestic relations jurisdiction as courts that may be presented with a petition for grandparent visitation, in addition to circuit and chancery courts; includes children born out of wedlock. DATE: 03/28/07. SENATE VOTE: 32/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0276: Adds campus police officers to present law enforcement officers authorized to conduct certain seizures of property and related forfeiture sales of such property. DATE: 04/02/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1056: Requires a sexual offender or violent sexual offender to report any change in the offender's employment status to the registering agency within 48 hours of the change of status. DATE: 04/02/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1173: Adds rape of a child and aggravated rape of a child to felony murder offenses elevating a murder to first degree murder when death results from perpetration of such offenses. DATE: 04/02/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB2001 see Amendment 1, which makes the bill: Provides certain conditions for action and dismissal with prejudice for cases of medical malpractice, based on certificate of faith outlining plaintiff's consultation with competent medical experts. DATE: 04/02/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1174: Prohibits sexual offender or violent sexual offender from threatening or harassing the former victim or victims' family by verbal or electronic communication for no legitimate purpose. DATE: 04/04/07. SENATE VOTE: 31/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0265 substitute and conform to HB0225: Requires the commissioner of finance and administration to report every five years to the chief clerks of the house and the senate the amount that fines imposed for criminal offenses would be if corrected for cost of living and personal income increases (a measure to keep fines consistent with inflation every five years). DATE: 04/05/07. SENATE VOTE: 31/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0219: Prohibits certain convicted felons from possessing a rifle, shotgun, or any firearm rather than a handgun. DATE: 04/09/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0926: Clarifies that if the elected successor to a judicial office becomes ineligible to serve prior to September 1 due to death or other reason, a vacancy exists in that position. DATE: 04/09/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1509: Extends limited liability to all healthcare research institutions, and employees thereof, for injuries caused in the development, testing, or administration of certain vaccines except in cases of willful misconduct resulting in death or serious bodily injury. DATE: 04/09/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1799 substitute and conform to SB1540: Extends the sunset termination date of "Tennessee White Water Rafting Responsibility Act" by two years until July 1, 2010. DATE: 04/09/07. SENATE VOTE: 29/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB2016: Enacts the "Motorcycle and Off-Road Vehicle Dealer Fairness Act," imposing certain requirements on retail agreements involving motorcycles and off-road vehicles. DATE: 04/09/07. SENATE VOTE: 29/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0326: Revises penalty for rape of a child to be not less than 25 years nor more than life in prison, instead of present 15-60 years; paroled offender remains on community supervision for life. DATE: 04/12/07. SENATE VOTE: 31/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. COMMENT: This bill makes Tennessee's punishment for child rape more in line with Florida's much publicized Jessica's law. SB1178: Expands group of persons required to furnish DNA samples for testing to include misdemeanants whose offense requires them to register with the sexual offender registry. DATE: 04/12/07. SENATE VOTE: 31/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1263: Prohibits adult-oriented businesses from being located within 1,000 feet of a child-care facility, a school (public, private, or charter), a public playground, a public recreational facility, a residence, or a place of worship. DATE: 04/12/07. SENATE VOTE: 31/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. COMMENT: Local ordinances may make the distance greater than this distance, which is set as a minimum state standard. SB1551 substitute and conform to HB1183: Requires-- rather than encourages-- physicians to report suspected domestic abuse to the department of health for the compilation of anonymous statistical data on such abuse. DATE: 04/12/07. SENATE VOTE: 29/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB2005: Provides that certain information contained within personnel files maintained by law enforcement agencies is confidential and shall be redacted whenever possible. DATE: 04/12/07. SENATE VOTE: 31/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0421: Requires property declared contraband to be destroyed or delivered to the commissioner of general services and sold in the same manner as surplus property instead of destroyed or advertised and sold at the courthouse of the county where the property was seized. DATE: 04/16/07. SENATE VOTE: 29/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0429: Expands and clarifies the offense of trespass on or unlawful entry in an airport or aircraft or secure areas of the air operation areas. DATE: 04/16/07. SENATE VOTE: 29/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1935: Authorizes courts to enjoin continuation of public nuisances before notice and hearing is afforded defendant under certain circumstances. DATE: 04/16/07. SENATE VOTE: 29/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB2206: Limits scope of review in appeal of state procurement process to chancery court from the review committee to the record before the review committee; limits scope of inquiry in appeals to whether the review committee acted illegally or without material evidence to support its action. DATE: 04/16/07. SENATE VOTE: 29/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SJR0058: Requests department of correction to review National Bill of Rights for Children of the Incarcerated and update 1995 report on Children and Families of Incarcerated Felons. DATE: 04/16/07. SENATE VOTE: 29/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1294: Prohibits commissioner of correction and prison contractors from accepting out-of-state prisoners for incarceration unless the sending state contractually agrees to return and to pay the full costs of returning such prisoner to the sending state prior to the person's release from incarceration. DATE: 04/19/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0274: Requires the department of correction to issue identification cards to inmates upon their release from state custody and to charge a fee of six dollars for the card; the card may not serve as a license to operate a motor vehicle, is valid for only one year, and is not renewable. DATE: 04/19/07. SENATE VOTE: 31/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0418: Complicated bill related to boat operation regulations. [See link to bill and amendments for details.] DATE: 04/23/07. SENATE VOTE: 29/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0723 substitute and conform to HB0402 SB1196: Requires that a DNA sample be taken and sent to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation for inclusion in the DNA database for persons arrested for a violent felony on or after July 1, 2007, subject to later destruction pending disposition of the charge. DATE: 04/23/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. |
| MISCELLANEOUS LEGISLATION: | |
| No vote in 2007. Please return later. |
| SAFETY LEGISLATION: | |
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SB0201: Requires all written driver license examinations to be given in English. DATE: 03/05/07. SENATE VOTE: 24/5/0. MY VOTE: Aye.
SB0886: Abolishes certificates of driving; authorizes issuance of one-year renewable driver licenses to aliens demonstrating lawful presence. DATE: 03/14/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0376: Requires law enforcement officer to conduct test to determine blood alcohol of driver involved in accident resulting in injury or death if officer has probable cause to believe driver committed DUI vehicular assault, vehicular homicide, or aggravated vehicular homicide. DATE: 03/19/07. SENATE VOTE: 31/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0498: Substitute and conform to HB0275. Redefines criminal offenses relating to driving while viewing video broadcasts or installing such video equiment. [See appropriate link for details.] DATE: 03/19/07. SENATE VOTE: 31/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1604: Makes permissive the department of safety to negotiate an agreement with federal authorities to train certain highway patrol officers to perform certain immigration law enforcement functions; authorizes highway patrol officers certified as trained under such an agreement to enforce federal immigration and custom laws in Tennessee. DATE: 03/19/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/1. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0614 substitute and conform to HB0156: Allows peace officers who are appointed or designated for duties at a Category I nuclear facility to utilize deadly force under extreme necessity, when all lesser means have failed or cannot reasonably be employed, and when deadly force appears reasonably necessary to protect the endangered peace officer; prevent commission of a serious offense; prevent theft, sabotage, or unautorized control of a nuclear weapon or explosive device or special nuclear material; or apprehend or prevent escape of a person reasonably believed to have committed a serious offense. DATE: 03/28/07. SENATE VOTE: 32/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1597: Eliminates the power of the governor by executive order to commandeer any privately owned firearms and ammunition or suspend or limit the sale, dispensing, or transportation of firearms and ammunition. DATE: 03/28/07. SENATE VOTE: 32/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1596: Authorizes counties that create county-wide fire districts to include performance-based criteria in interlocal agreements and contracts for fire prevention services, subject to local approval. DATE: 04/04/07. SENATE VOTE: 31/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1511: Exempts persons 21 years and older from requirement that persons riding a motorcycle must wear a helmet. DATE: 04/09/07. SENATE VOTE: 19/11/0. MY VOTE: Nay. COMMENT: This bill represents a clash between individual rights and public health policy. I appreciate the freedom issue of an individual's decision whether to wear a helmet. However, a head injury from a person being thrown from a motorcycle is horrific and care may be extremely expensive, both immediately and longterm. Medical and disability costs must be borne by society, even if persons have medical insurance. This issue presents the same balance between an individual's rights and public health policy as presented by the use of a safety restraint in an automobile. SB1699 substitute and conform to HB0235: Adds to the present "rules of the road" law by requiring the operator of a motor vehicle to leave a safe distance between the vehicle and a bicycle when passing a bicycle in the same direction. DATE: 04/09/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. COMMENT: This bill raises and leaves unanswered a number of questions about sharing the road between bicyclists and motorists. More work needs to be done, and I will think about these issues before the 2008 session. SB2261: Authorizes retention of commissioned instructors at Tennessee law enforcement training academy following job-related injuries; authorizes issuance of retired commission cards to certain instructors; adds mandatory retirement for commissioned instructors at age 60. DATE: 04/09/07. SENATE VOTE: 31/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0053: Authorizes holder of gun carry permit to carry gun for self-defense purpose only into public hunting areas, refuges, wildlife management areas, and state-managed national forests, provided gun is carried only on roadways, in campgrounds, or within twenty feet of designated hiking trails, and provided gun is not used for hunting (without appropriate hunting license), poaching, or target practice, and is not fitted with a 'scope. DATE: 04/16/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0593: Defines "digital billboard" for purposes of "Billboard Regulation and Control Act of 1972;" billboards must retain a panel at least 8 seconds and take no more than 2 seconds to change panels, with no moving pictures, and billboards must be spaced at least 2,000 feet apart. DATE: 04/19/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0464 substitute and conform to HB0259 |
| STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT LEGISLATION: | |
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SB0041Codifies the acts of the 2006 legislative session. DATE: 02/21/07/ SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye.
SB1087: Designates March 10 as a state holiday, "Harriet Tubman Day." DATE: 02/21/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SJR0069: Designates October 17, 2007 as "Tennessee Bus Drivers' Appreciation Day." DATE: 02/28/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0061: Subject to local approval, redesignates the title of "county mayor" to "county executive" in Roane County. DATE: 03/05/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0128: Subject to local approval, redesignates the title of "county executive" to "county mayor" in Robertson County. DATE: 03/05/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0327: Extends the initial reporting deadline until December 1, 2007 and the final reporting deadline until February 1, 2008 for the spoecial joint committee to study open government laws. DATE: 03/05/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0435: Sunset: Extends the board of nursing until June 30, 2010. DATE: 03/05/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0552: Designates segment of APD 40 Bypass in City of Cleveland and County of Bradley as "Veterans Memorial Highway." DATE: 03/05/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SJR0013: Urges Congress to enact legislation to accelerate naturalization process and make such process more accessible to legal immigrants. DATE: 03/05/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0659: Removes the authority of any county legislative body to redesignate the chief executive officer as the "county executive," rather than the "county mayor" by private act. DATE: 03/05/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SJR0038: Urges President George W. Bush to pardon Border Patrol agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean. DATE: 03/05/07. SENATE VOTE: 29/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SJR0066: Commends and supports efforts of Taiwan to join the United Nations, World Health Organization, and other international organizations. DATE: 03/05/07. SENATE VOTE: 29/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0194: Subject to local approval, amends Athens' city charter to provide for election of school board officers at the first meeting after the official certification of each general city election and to delete requirements that no utility rate change shall be made effective earlier than 17 days after passage. DATE: 03/14/07. SENATE VOTE: 28/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0358: Subject to local approval, redesignates title of "county mayor" to "county executive" in Wayne County. DATE: 03/14/07. SENATE VOTE: 28/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0374: Subject to local approval, terminates board of directors of Bradley County Memorial Hospital. DATE: 03/14/07. SENATE VOTE: 28/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0473: Subject to local approval in Henderson, creates position of city judge; revises method of filling vacancy in office of mayor and for fixing salary and benefits of aldermen and mayor; revises other charter provisions. DATE: 03/14/07. SENATE VOTE: 28/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0817: Subject to local approval, clarifies that Hawkins County planning commission members be paid 50 dollars per meeting, rather than an amount equal to that of county legislative body members. DATE: 03/14/07. SENATE VOTE: 28/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0818: Subject to local approval in Hawkins County, raises minimum sealed bidding required for purchases of materials, supplies, or equipment from 2,500 dollars to the amount set forth in the County Purchasing Act of 1983. DATE: 03/14/07. SENATE VOTE: 28/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0819: Subject to local approval, increases the maximum amount of hotel/motel tax from 4 per cent to 7 per cent in Rogersville. DATE: 03/14/07. SENATE VOTE: 28/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0856: Subject to local approval, allows persons owning property in Campbell County, and wh are otherwise eligible, to vote in municipal (Lafollette) elections. DATE: 03/14/07. SENATE VOTE: 28/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1626: Subject to local approval, authorizes the imposition of a 3 per cent occupancy tax on transients, including time-share use, staying overnight in lodging facilities located outside the boundary of any incorporated municipality in Sevier County that has imposed a similar tax on transients. DATE: 03/14/07. SENATE VOTE: 28/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. COMMENT: This bill is introduced upon request of the Sevier County Commission, having received a supermajority vote of the commission. SB1956: Subject to local approval, increases salary for members of White Bluff town council from 100-dollars to 150-dollars per month. DATE: 03/14/07. SENATE VOTE: 28/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1957: Subject to local approval, increases salary of mayor of White Bluff from 400-dollars to 500-dollars per month. DATE: 03/14/07. SENATE VOTE: 28/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB2159: Subject to local approval, extends the term of the office of mayor of the Town of Livingston from two years to four years, beginning with the June 2008 regular election. DATE: 03/14/07. SENATE VOTE: 28/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0750: Amends the County Purchasing Law of 1957 to grant counties clear authority to conduct sales of surplus property by means of online auctions or Internet-based auctions. DATE: 03/15/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB2816: Revises maximum age regarding the termination of a national guard officer's appointment; sets age limits as those "prescribed in federal law," instead of existing age limits. DATE: 03/15/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0279: Designates a segment of State Route 265 in Davidson County as the "Ed Walsh Pike." DATE: 03/15/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0467: Designates the "Fred Pruett Memorial Bridge," which spans South Creek on U.S. Highway 41/76 in Hamilton County. DATE: 03/19/07. SENATE VOTE: 31/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0467: Designates the "Jack Sharp Memorial Bridge," which spans I-75 on U.S. Highway 41/76 in Hamilton County. DATE: 03/19/07. SENATE VOTE: 31/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0467: Designates the "Deputy Donald Bond Memorial Highway" on a segment of State Route 320 in Hamilton County. DATE: 03/19/07. SENATE VOTE: 31/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0100: Subject to Murfreesboro local approval, revises definition of "person" to include governmental entities other than the federal government. DATE: 03/21/07. SENATE VOTE: 32/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0968: Sunset extension: Extends the east community service agency until June 30, 2011. DATE: 03/21/07. SENATE VOTE: 32/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0976: Sunset extension: Extends the northeast community service agency until June 30, 2011. DATE: 03/21/07. SENATE VOTE: 31/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0983: Sunset extension: Extends the southeast community service agency until June 30, 2011. DATE: 03/21/07. SENATE VOTE: 32/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB2105: Sunset extension: Extends Sports Festival, Inc. until June 30, 2011. DATE: 03/21/07. SENATE VOTE: 32/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0494: Revises election laws statutory language to replace "handicapped voter(s)" with "voter(s) with a disability (with disabilities)." DATE: 03/22/07. SENATE VOTE: 32/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1182: Requires the state coordinator of elections to enter into agreements with other states for the purpose of comparing data to identify duplicate voter registrations. DATE: 03/22/07. SENATE VOTE: 32/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0488: Permits municipalities and counties to adopt more stringent requirements for professional boxing, mixed martial arts, sparring or wrestling matches or exhibitions than those that have been adopted by state law. DATE: 03/22/07. SENATE VOTE: 32/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0494: Designates the fourth Saturday in May as "Bluegrass Day" to honor bluegrass music and its many contributions to Tennessee as a day of special observance. DATE: 03/22/07. SENATE VOTE: 32/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB2057: Specifies that local government joint venture entities are required to report their revenue and expenses to the comptroller of the treasury instead of requiring the local government entities that create the joint venture entity to make such reports. DATE: 04/04/07. SENATE VOTE: 31/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0259: Prohibits state employees from being appointed to the commission on firefighters personnel standards and education, but does not affect terms of current members of the commission. DATE: 04/02/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0553: Designates August 8 as "Emancipation Day," a day of special observance. DATE: 04/02/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1167: Provides that certified public administrator educational incentive payments to assessors shall not be offset by compensation received by assessors for obtaining certain professional designations. DATE: 04/02/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1757: Requires that the appointment of the county fire chief by the county mayor in Shelby County, subject to confirmation by the county legislative body, requires that the county mayor and legislative body ensure that the views and opinions of all participating governmental entities are given full consideration, with the exact methodology to be determined by local ordinance. DATE: 04/02/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1587: Subject to local approval, vacancies on the board of aldermen of Sharon shall be filled by appointment of the mayor until the next scheduled election. DATE: 04/02/07. SENATE VOTE: 31/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB2340: Subject to local approval, imposes residency and other requirements on the board of mayor and aldermen of Gates. DATE: 04/02/07. SENATE VOTE: 31/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB2341: Subject to local approval, authorizes the city council of Algood by a two-thirds majority to vote to fix the salaries of councilmen prior to each municipal election, which compensation shall not be altered prior to the end of the term for which the councilmen were elected; also authorizes the council to establish by resolution the procedure for reimbursing councilment for necessary expenses incurred in connection with city business. DATE: 04/02/07. SENATE VOTE: 31/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB2343: Subject to local approval, following the August, 2007 Trenton city election moves the election to coincide with the November general election; beginning with the November, 2010 election, eliminates a run-off requirement and instead in the case of a tie, authorizes the remaining members of the newly elected city council to select the mayor or the sixth councilman. DATE: 04/02/07. SENATE VOTE: 31/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB2344: Subject to local approval, revises severance tax in Roane County so that severance tax applies when minerals are weighed for sale rather than when severed from the earth. DATE: 04/02/07. SENATE VOTE: 31/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB2345: Subject to local approval, changes certain duties for mayor, city recorder, and mayor pro tem of Gallatin; changes attendance requirements at city council meetings for department heads. DATE: 04/02/07. SENATE VOTE: 31/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB2346: Subject to local approval, institutes a civil service program for employees of the sheriff's department in Maury County. DATE: 04/02/07. SENATE VOTE: 31/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB2351: Subject to local approval, expands the exceptions in Wilson County Adequate Facilities Tax to include historical structures which can be documented as being at least 100 years old which are in the process of being moved or torn down and relocated. DATE: 04/02/07. SENATE VOTE: 31/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB2355: Subject to local approval, revises the charter for the City of Hohenwald. DATE: 04/02/07. SENATE VOTE: 31/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB2356: Subject to local approval, allows property owners who are not residents of the City of New Johnsonville to vote in municipal elections. DATE: 04/02/07. SENATE VOTE: 31/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. HJR0172: Names April, 2007 as "Child Abuse Prevention Month." DATE: 04/02/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SJR0147: Names Tennessee National Guard Armory in Erwin in honor of the late Sergeant First Class Mark O. Edwards, Tennessee Army National Guard. DATE: 04/02/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0077: Authorizes the "Frank B. Halsell Memorial Highway" sign on segment of State Route 33 in Clay County. DATE: 04/02/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0078: Authorizes the "Sergeant Claude R. Walls Memorial Highway" sign on segment of U.S. Highway 231 in Wilson County. DATE: 04/02/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0083: Authorizes the "Edsel Cordell Floyd Bridge" sign spanning Round Lick Creek on U.S. Highway 70 in Watertown, Wilson County. DATE: 04/02/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0165: Authorizes the "Mayor Edwin L. 'Ed' Kelley Memorial Highway" sign on segment of State Route 61-62 within the corporate limits of the Town of Oliver Springs. DATE: 04/02/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0213: Authorizes the "Trooper Calvin Wayne Jenks Memorial Highway" sign on segment of State Route 50 in Maury County. DATE: 04/02/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0225: Authorizes the "Rosalee Fly Atkisson Memorial Bridge" sign spanning Norfolk Southern Railway on U.S. Highway 421 (State Route 34) in the City of Bristol. DATE: 04/02/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0093: Authorizes the "PFC Nilon K. Bacon Memorial Highway" sign on segment of State Route 93 in Washington County. DATE: 04/02/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1170: Authorizes the "Korean Veterans Memorial Bridge" sign on State Highway 386 in Sumner County. DATE: 04/02/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1226: Authorizes the "Corporal Lance Tyler Overstreet Memorial Highway" sign spanning East Fork of Station Camp Creek on State Route 224 in McNairy County. DATE: 04/02/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1247: Provides for erection of signs designating the Midway community on Highway 41-A in Bedford County. DATE: 04/02/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1469: Authorizes the "Casey C. Jones Memorial Highway" sign spanning Norfolk-Southern railroad tracks on Magnolia Avenue (US Highway 11/ U.S. Highway 70/ State Route 1 in Knoxville. DATE: 04/02/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1470: Authorizes the "Roger J. Booker Bridge" sign spanning James White Parkway (State Route 158) on Summit Hill Drive in Knoxville. DATE: 04/02/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1536: Authorizes the "Colonel Bernie S. Bass Highway" sign on segment of State Route 53/ State Route 141 between New Middleton and Gordonsville. DATE: 04/02/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1630: Authorizes the "Fred Thompson Boulevard" segment of U.S. Highway 43 within corporate limits of City of Lawrenceburg. DATE: 04/02/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1631: Authorizes the "Luther and Marvin Patton Memorial Bridge" spanning Buffalo Creek on State Route 99 in Riverside community of Lewis County. DATE: 04/02/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1632: Authorizes the "Spencer Holman Memorial Bridge" spanning Big Bigbee River on U.S. Highway 43 in Maury County. DATE: 04/02/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1742: Authorizes the "Donny Ray Hudson Memorial Bridge" spanning Elk River on U.S. Highway 64 in Lincoln County. DATE: 04/02/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB2274: Authorizes the "W. I. Daniel Overpass" spanning of U.S. 11W in grainger County. DATE: 04/02/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB2275: Authorizes the "Zane Daniel Highway" segment of State Route 131 in Knox County. DATE: 04/02/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB2314: Authorizes the "Herman Neal Walker Memorial Bridge" sign spanning North Fork of Obion River on State Route 118 in Weakley County. DATE: 04/02/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SJR0100: Authorizes the "Trooper Todd M. Larkins Memorial Highway" sign on segment of I-40 in Dickson and Williamson counties. DATE: 04/02/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SJR0105: Authorizes the "Trooper Samuel F. Holcomb Memorial Highway" sign on segment of I-40 in Dickson County. DATE: 04/02/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SJR0140: Authorizes the "Lyle McDonald Bridge" sign spanning State route 840 in Rutherford County. DATE: 04/02/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SJR0155: Authorizes the "Jimmy Halbrook Memorial Bridge" spanning I-40 on State Highway 76 in Haywood County. DATE: 04/02/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0226: Authorizes retired firefighters to receive firefighter license plates upon proof of retirement in good standing from firefighting unit. DATE: 04/02/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0540: Authorizes issuance of Trout Unlimited new specialty earmarked license plates; allocates fifty percent of funds derived from sale of such plates to Trout Unlimited. DATE: 04/02/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0612: Authorizes issuance of Alpha Omicron Pi sorority new specialty earmarked license plates. DATE: 04/02/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0772: Authorizes issuance of Nashville Predators new specialty earmarked license plates; allocates funds derived from sale of such plates to Nashville Predators Foundation. DATE: 04/02/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1151: Authorizes issuance of Diabetes Awareness new specialty earmarked license plates; allocates fifty percent of funds derived from sale of such plates to Tennessee Division of American Diabetes Association. DATE: 04/02/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1665: Authorizes issuance of Friends of Natchez Trace Parkway new specialty earmarked license plates; allocates fifty percent of funds derived from sale of such plates to Natchez Trace Parkway Association. DATE: 04/02/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1673: Prescribes design for honorary consular cultural license plates. DATE: 04/02/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1741: Redesignates, effective July 1, 2007, cultural plates for qualified Holders of the Purple Heart, which currently require a registration fee and an initial amount to make such plates revenue neutral, as memorial plates, which are issued free of charge. DATE: 04/02/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1877: Authorizes issuance of a new specialty earmarked license plate for the Sons of the American Revolution. DATE: 04/02/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1971: Authorizes issuance of 101st Airborne new specialty license plates. DATE: 04/02/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1961: Authorizes issuance of Civil War Preservation new specialty earmarked license plates; allocates fifty percent of funds derived from sale of such plates to Tennessee Civil War Preservatiuon Association. DATE: 04/02/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB2086: Authorizes issuance of Sandhill Crane new specialty earmarked license plates; allocates fifty percent of funds derived from sale of such plates to wildlife resources fund. DATE: 04/02/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB2207: Authorizes state governmental entities to allow limitations of liability and warranty in contracts pursuant to rules promulgated by commisisoner of finance and administration instead of requiring commissioner's approval for every limitation of liability or warranty. DATE: 04/04/07. SENATE VOTE: 31/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB2218: Renames department of personnel as "department of human resurces.". DATE: 04/04/07. SENATE VOTE: 31/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0333: A complicated bill, makes various changes and technical corrections to existing law regarding pensions and compensation for public officers and employees. DATE: 04/05/07. SENATE VOTE: 31/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0076: Authorizes the "Joe A. Clark Memorial Highway" sign on segment of State Route 53 in Clay County. DATE: 04/09/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0076: Authorizes the "Joe A. Clark Memorial Highway" sign on segment of State Route 53 in Clay County. DATE: 04/09/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0650: Requires notary public to report name change to county clerk and pay fee currently required for moving residence or principal place of business. DATE: 04/09/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0728: Adds Madison County to Community Redevelopment Act of 1998. DATE: 04/09/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1187: Authorizes the City of Goodlettsville to conduct a referendum for consumption on the premises only in that portion of the city located in Sumner County without affecting the sale of such beverages in Davidson County. DATE: 04/09/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1997: Allows Gilt Edge and Burlison by a two-thirds majority vote of their city councils to fix the date of regular municipal elections to coincide with the regular November election. DATE: 04/09/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0903: Prohibits the use in this state of a federal individual taxpayer identification number as a form of identification to prove immingration status. DATE: 04/09/07. SENATE VOTE: 27/0/3. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0590: Increases maximum period of paid leave of absence in a calendar year for state employees serving as reservists from 15 to 20 days. DATE: 04/12/07. SENATE VOTE: 31/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1703: Authorizes highland Rim Economic Corporation to become participating employer in Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System (TCRS). DATE: 04/12/07. SENATE VOTE: 31/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB2349: Subject to local approval, increases the minimum contract amount required for competitive bidding in Bradley County for general fund, board of education, and road department purchases. DATE: 04/12/07. SENATE VOTE: 31/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB2352: Subject to local approval, enacts the Meigs County Financial Act, repealing portions of Chapter 403 of the Private Acts of 1049, as amended. DATE: 04/12/07. SENATE VOTE: 31/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB2354: Subject to local approval, beginning with the 2008 city election, moves the election to coincide with the November election to elect mayor and two commissioners for four-year terms; allows property owners who are not residents of the Town of Benton to vote in municipal elections; reduces candidate qualification requirement from two years to one year. DATE: 04/12/07. SENATE VOTE: 31/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0408: Authorizes the "Aubrey J. 'Red' Wagner Memorial Bridge," spanning Watts Bar Dam and Lock on State Route 68. DATE: 04/12/07. SENATE VOTE: 31/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1307: Authorizes issuance of Project Care license plates. DATE: 04/12/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1940: Includes as "certain unfunded pension obligations," for purposes of local government public obligations law, pension benefits for past service of employees of a local government whose pension benefits arise from a defined pension plan adopted by referendum of a county charter, and which limits enrollment to law enforcement employees of the local government. DATE: 04/12/07. SENATE VOTE: 31/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1758: Authorizes Shelby County mayor to appoint board of director of emergency communication districts from present seven to nine members. DATE: 04/12/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0227: Requires a voter to present photographic identity before voting; voter without proper identification shall be allowed to cast a provisional ballot. DATE: 04/16/07. SENATE VOTE: 18/10/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB2347: Subject to local approval, rewrites the town charter of Cumberland Gap. DATE: 04/16/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB2357: Increases the aggregate principal amount of bonds for the Franklin Special School District from 3-million dollars to 13-million dollars; sets the tax rate based on the amount of bonds issued. DATE: 04/16/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0079: Authorizes Recreational Vehicle new specialty earmarked license plates. DATE: 04/16/07. SENATE VOTE: 29/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0090: Authorizes trauma nurses in emergwency rooms and trauma centers to receive emergency license plates upon payment of all applicable fees for such license plates. DATE: 04/16/07. SENATE VOTE: 29/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0920: Classifies records of job-related critical incident counseling to county and municipal corrections officers and dispatchers as confidential for purposes of open records law. DATE: 04/16/07. SENATE VOTE: 29/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB2358: Subject to local approval, removes qualification from charter that city clerk must be a resident of Brownsville; removes requirement from charter that property owners must maintain sidewalks. DATE: 04/16/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB2363: Subject to local approval, revises provisions concerning the board of trustees for the Cookeville Regional Medical Center. DATE: 04/16/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1942: Permits Hardeman County, by two-thirds vote of county legislative body, or any municipality in that county, to adopt child curfew laws for use in that county or municipality. DATE: 04/16/07. SENATE VOTE: 29/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB2012: Moves date for presidential primary from second Tuesday in February to first Tuesday in February. DATE: 04/16/07. SENATE VOTE: 29/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB2026: Authorizes Franklin Historic District new specialty earmarked license plates. DATE: 04/16/07. SENATE VOTE: 29/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. HJR0118: Designates April 19, 2007 as "Patriot's Day.". DATE: 04/16/07. SENATE VOTE: 29/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0504: Authorizes Ohio State University new specialty earmarked license plates. DATE: 04/19/07. SENATE VOTE: 29/1/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1938 substitute and conform to HB1562: Transfers authority over utility management review board and water and wastewater financing board from department of environment and conservation to the comptroller of the treasury. DATE: 04/19/07. SENATE VOTE: 28/1/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0004: Designates segments of Metro Center Boulevard and Eighth Avenue North in Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County as the "Rosa L. Parks Boulevard." DATE: 04/19/07. SENATE VOTE: 31/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0519: Authorizes certain counties to establish and operate emergency medical services and to charges fees or rates for such services. DATE: 04/19/07. SENATE VOTE: 29/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1703: Authorizes Highland Rim Economic Corporation to become a participating employer in the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System (TCRS), under existing statutes. DATE: 04/19/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1264: Prohibits state and local officials from seeking elected state or local office after conviction of a state or federal felony related to public service. DATE: 04/19/07. SENATE VOTE: 29/0/1. MY VOTE: Aye. SB2056 substitute and conform to HB1471: Authorizes municipalities having charter provisions or private act requirements governing competitive bidding and purchasing to establish exemptions to the competitive bidding process by ordinance as an alternative to establishing the exemptions by charter amendment only. DATE: 04/19/07. SENATE VOTE: 31/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1905: Requires governor to submit legislation to revise teh Tennessee Code Annotated to reflect changes in governmental structure made by executive order. DATE: 04/23/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB2140: Extends the sunset provision for the department of transportation until June 30, 2010. DATE: 04/23/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0925: Clarifies and defines applications for voter registration. DATE: 04/23/07. SENATE VOTE: 28/1/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0996: Extends the sunset provision for the Hamilton County community service agency until June 30, 2011. DATE: 04/23/07. SENATE VOTE: 28/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. |
| TAX AND REVENUE LEGISLATION: | |
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SB1109: Allows assessor to correct forced assessment of tangible personal property if it is determined that the taxpayer was not in business as of the assessment date. DATE: 04/05/07. SENATE VOTE: 31/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye.
SB0163: Permits Oliver Springs to enact a hotel-motel tax upon the adoption of an ordinance by a two-thirds majority vote, even if one or all of the counties in which the municipality is located has or have adopted a hotel-motel tax. DATE: 04/05/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1106: Authorizes assessors to set a date within which a taxpayer or owner may seek concurrence to directly appeal valuation of certain property to the state board of equalization. DATE: 04/05/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1107: Clarifies that a schedule of tangible personal property may be amended by the taxpayer if it is timely filed with the assessor. DATE: 04/05/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1108: Allows taxpayer to return schedule of tangible personal property used in taxpayer's business or profession to assessor on March 1 of every year. DATE: 04/05/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1373: Clarifies that transfers of real estate to or from a revocable living trust are exempt from transfer tax only if the trust was created by the transferror or the transferror's spouse, and further clarifies that deeds execuited by the trustee of a revocable living trust to implement a testamentary device by the trustor of the trust are exempt from a transfer tax. DATE: 04/05/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1603: Exempts from sales and use tax vehicles sold to members of coast guard stationed at coast guard stations or support facilities located entirely within Tennessee. DATE: 04/05/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB2062: Makes technical changes to reporting deadlines and confidentiality requirements with regard to property tax filings. DATE: 04/09/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB2166: Increases from $15 to $30 per day the amount that soil district supervisors receive for attending meetings of the soil district; authorizes soil districts to enter into agreements to help improve traditional areas of farm production and to encourage diversification and innovation of farming operationsa within the district. DATE: 04/09/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1484: Makes technical change to definition of "dominant business activity" for purposes of business tax. DATE: 04/12/07. SENATE VOTE: 31/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB1309: Permits taxpayers and owners of commercial and industrial property in Hamilton County to appeal valuation of such property directly to the state board of equalization with the written consent of the assessor of property. DATE: 04/16/07. SENATE VOTE: 29/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB2063: Increases the per diem for members of the assessment appeals commission from $75 to $95 for each day or part of a day in attendance at meetings of the assessment appeals commission. DATE: 04/16/07. SENATE VOTE: 29/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB2065: Changes provisions regarding when the state board will accept an appeal from the taxpayer to specify that the appeal will be accepted up to March 1 of "the year in which the time for appeal to the state board has begun to run" instead of "the year in which the assessment was made." DATE: 04/16/07. SENATE VOTE: 29/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB2066: Specifies, in regard to the provision whereby a conditionb for appeal is that the undisputed portion of the tax levied be paid before the delinquent date of the tax and that no delinquent taxes have accrued on the property, that failure to pay the undisputed portion of the tax or any other delinquency on the property by the time of the hearing will result in dismissal of the hearing without further right to appeal. DATE: 04/16/07. SENATE VOTE: 29/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB2067: Specifies that the local approval required by a county in order for property owned by a nonprofit community and performing arts organization to be eligible for a property tax exemption as a charitable or educational use of property must be approved by a two-thirds vote. DATE: 04/16/07. SENATE VOTE: 29/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. |
| TRANSPORTATION LEGISLATION: | |
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SB2196: Autorizes department of transportation to award contracts using a design-build procedure. DATE: 04/19/07. SENATE VOTE: 31/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye.
SB1027 substitute and conform to HB1203 |
| UTILITIES, TELECOMMUNICATION, AND ENERGY LEGISLATION: | |
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SB0859: Subject to local approval, authorizes compensation of public utility board members in Roane County up to $100 per month. DATE: 03/05/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye.
SB0664: Defines notice requirements of persons excavating near a street or highway to avoid adverse effect on underground utilities. DATE: 04/09/07. SENATE VOTE: 30/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. SB0881: Authorizes a municipal corporation to obtain temporary easement to construct or provide maintenance to water or sewer lines on private property if the municipal corporation enters into a hold-harmless agreement with the owner of the private property and if construction or maintenance is required because of sanitary sewer overflows caused by groundwater or rainwater. DATE: 04/02/07. SENATE VOTE: 29/0/0. MY VOTE: Aye. |
| WORKERS COMPENSATION AND LABOR LEGISLATION: | |
| No vote in 2007. Please return later. |
| SPECIAL ELECTIONS: | |
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ELECTION OF SPEAKER OF THE SENATE. MY VOTE: Senator Ron Ramsey. SENATE VOTE: 18 for Ron Ramsey, 15 for John Wilder. DATE: 01/09/07.
ELECTION OF COMPTROLLER (JOINT SESSION). MY VOTE: Abstain. JOINT SENATE/ HOUSE VOTE: 81 for John Morgan, 51 abstain. DATE: 01/10/07. ELECTION OF TREASURER (JOINT SESSION). MY VOTE: Abstain. JOINT SENATE/ HOUSE VOTE: 80 for Dale Sims, 52 abstain. DATE: 01/10/07. RULE 70, TEMPORARY RULES OF ORDER FOR 105th GENERAL ASSEMBLY. Requires a two-thirds vote of the membenrship before any rule may be altered or amended. MY VOTE: Aye. SENATE VOTE: 16/13/1. DATE: 04/16/07. |
| CONSENT CALENDAR BILLS/RESOLUTIONS: | |