Daily Update - Mar 20, 2024

As introduced, raises the penalty for the offense of drag racing from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony.

As introduced, raises the penalty for the offense of drag racing from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony.

As introduced, authorizes local governments to regulate the storage of a firearm in a motor vehicle when the motor vehicle is unoccupied; applies in counties having a population greater than 98,800, according to the 2020 or a subsequent federal census. 

Proposes an amendment to Article VI, Section 14 of the Tennessee Constitution to authorize municipal courts to impose civil penalties up to $3,000 for violations of municipal ordinances. 

As introduced, exempts persons who are authorized to carry a firearm pursuant to an enhanced handgun carry permit or a concealed handgun carry permit from the criminal offense of possessing a firearm in a concealed manner at a meeting conducted by, or on property owned, operated, or managed or under the control of the individual, corporation, business entity, or government entity that is properly posted.

As introduced, authorizes a governing body to provide a period of public comment for each item on an agenda for a public meeting or at the end of the agenda for comment collectively on matters germane to the items on the agenda. 

As introduced, excludes recreational facilities, recreational purposes, and parks from the definition of "public use" as it applies to eminent domain.

As amended, prohibits local governments from being liable in a class action resulting from a cyber security event.  As introduced, declares a private entity to be not civilly liable in a class action resulting from a cybersecurity event unless the cybersecurity event was caused by willful, wanton, or gross negligence on the part of the private entity.

As introduced, requires the review of executive branch agency policies and spending as it relates to illegal immigration; requires a report to be compiled and delivered to the governor and the speakers of the senate and house of representatives regarding such review. 

As introduced, enacts the "Housing Optimization and Market Empowerment Solutions (HOMES) Act of 2024."

As introduced, requires a municipality levying the hotel-motel tax under general law to submit a report annually detailing how the revenue earned from the tax is used by the municipality; requires the comptroller of the treasury to audit the reports of the municipality; requires a municipality found to have used the funds improperly to appropriate general funds in the same amount for promotion of tourism and tourism development; prohibits a municipality, on and after July 1, 2025, from levying or increasing the hotel-motel tax if the aggregate total tax would exceed 8 percent

As introduced, creates a recall process for elected municipal officials and school boards.

As introduced, authorizes any local government in this state to create a land bank; authorizes a local government to post on its website, if available, a link to a state website or publication identifying surplus real property for sale or conveyance.

As introduced, removes the requirement that the state building commission set a ratio for water closets at publicly and privately owned facilities where the public congregates, including certain football stadiums in Davidson County.

As amended, establishes the process of assessment and valuation of low-income housing properties for property tax purposes.  As introduced, increases from 18 to 24 months the period of exemption from real property taxes to which a charitable organization is entitled for the first lot purchased or developed by the organization for the construction of a single family residence for a low-income household. 

As introduced, permits a court to award the reasonable court costs and attorney's fees to a petitioner successfully proving that a governing body knowingly and willfully violated the public meetings laws in this state. 

As introduced, clarifies that only a person who has requested to personally inspect a state, county, or municipal record and whose request has been denied has standing to file an action for judicial review of the denial and that intervention by a non-governmental third party in a public records lawsuit is not permitted. 

As introduced, adjusts the minimum size requirements for one of two noncontiguous tracts of property to qualify as agricultural land under the greenbelt law, from a size of at least 10 acres to less than 15 acres. 

As introduced, prohibits counties and municipalities from adopting and enforcing regulations to prohibit gardening and raising limited numbers of chickens or rabbits at single-family residences.