Legislative Bulletin - Apr 1, 2024

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 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. 

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, removes the offense of possessing a weapon in a building that prohibits or restricts weapons; allows a person with an enhanced handgun carry permit to carry a handgun into a business that prohibits or restricts weapons; removes penalties for violations of certain firearms provisions

As introduced, removes requirement for receipt of certain grants and loans for water and wastewater treatment infrastructure projects that a municipality includes depreciation in its calculation of fees or rates.

As introduced, authorizes mayors of certain local governments to enter into voluntary agreements for energy infrastructure improvements for clean or renewable energy; requires that agreements be approved either by resolution of the respective legislative bodies of such local governments or in accordance with statutory requirements. 

As introduced, deletes an obsolete provision requiring the public utility commission to report by 2011 to the speaker of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, the governor, the chair of the commerce and labor committee of the senate, and the chair of the commerce committee of the house of representatives regarding state-issued certificates of franchise authority under the Competitive Cable and Video Services Act. 

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, 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, authorizes the chief legislative body of a municipality to create a voluntary attainable housing incentive program by ordinance for the purpose of authorizing certain incentives to be provided to property owners who seek to build attainable housing.

As introduced, authorizes a uniform procedure to establish infrastructure development districts as an alternative method to fund and finance capital infrastructure through the levy and collection of special assessments. Provides for the uniform operation, exercise of power, and procedure for termination of any such independent district. Defines "host municipality" and other relative definitions. Authorizes the governing body of a host municipality to create, by resolution, one or more infrastructure development districts located in whole or part within the boundaries of such municipality. Requires an infrastructure development district to be approved by the governing body of each host municipality.

As introduced, removes the offense of possessing a weapon in a building that prohibits or restricts weapons; allows a person with an enhanced handgun carry permit to carry a handgun into a business that prohibits or restricts weapons; removes penalties for violations of certain firearms provisions

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. 

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