Legislative roundup
Staff (NASHVILLE) - Legislation that addressed Tennesseans' right to vote on various issues faced a mixed reaction this week on Capitol Hill. Such legislation included bills to prohibit forced annexation, as well as a resolution, sponsored by Sen. Mae Beavers, to allow the citizens of Tennessee the right to elect the state's Attorney General. Legislation Advances to Allow Citizens the Right to Vote Against Forced Annexation A Senate committee approved legislation that eliminates forced annexation, which has been the primary form used by municipalities to increase their boundaries over the last several decades in Tennessee. Senate Bill 869 requires a referendum of residents within the area to be annexed by a municipal ordinance prior to annexation; while Senate Bill 2464 accomplishes a referendum process by repealing annexation by ordinance completely. In addition, committee members approved Senate Bill 2472 to continue the moratorium on annexation passed by the General Assembly last year until May 15, 2015. TACIR has already released an Interim Report on Annexation which examines Tennessee's annexation laws and compares and contrasts how similar issues are handled in other states. Legislation to Allow Citizens the Right to Elect the State's Top Lawyer Fails to Pass the State Senate The State Senate, for the second time, failed to adopt SJR 123, which would have allowed the citizens the opportunity to elect the state's Attorney General. The resolution, which has been championed by former Senate Judiciary Chairman and judicial reform advocate, Sen. Mae Beavers, would have permitted the election of the state's top lawyer by the people he or she represents, as opposed to being appointed by the Supreme Court - the very body that the Attorney General must appear before on a regular basis.
Meth / Penalties - Senate Health and Welfare Committee voted this week to strengthen penalties for those who manufacture methamphetamine. Senate Bill 2021, sponsored by Sen. Beavers, provides for a mandatory minimum sentence for possession of meth of 30 days in jail and 180 days in jail for manufacturing of meth.
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