Finance, Ways and Means advances seven bills to calendar and rules

The Finance, Ways and Means Committee advanced seven bills to calendar and rules during its March 11, 2025, meeting, voting to move each measure after sponsors described the proposals.

The committee voted to move House Bill 65, which would add a discretionary power within Title 6 to allow city manager–commission governments to contract with private entities for development, construction or operation of indoor or outdoor athletic facilities. Chairman Balso, the bill’s sponsor, described the measure as adding “a discretionary power...to enter into a contract with a private entity for the development, construction, or operation of an indoor or outdoor athletic facility.” The clerk reported 18 ayes, 0 nos; the motion passed.

House Bill 823, amended on the floor with drafting code 004008, would allow two new professional sports stadiums — one in Knoxville and one planned later in Chattanooga — to sell wine and spirits (the bill would not alter beer licensing, which remains local). Chairman Lafferty said the change would align the stadiums with other sports venues in the state. The clerk reported 14 ayes, 2 nos, 4 present not voting; the measure moved forward.

House Bill 114 would continue and modify the STRONG Act education benefits for the Tennessee National Guard: extend the program beyond its 06/30/2025 sunset, raise the undergraduate credit-hour cap from 120 to 130 hours, and shorten the institutional reimbursement window from 90 days to 45 days. Chairman Moon said the STRONG Act has helped recruiting and retention; the clerk reported 22 ayes, 0 nos; the bill was advanced.

House Bill 123 would require the Department to give notice to landowners about the potential creation of a lien when abandoned mine lands (AML) reclamation occurs; sponsors said the change is needed to secure $8.5 million in annual federal AML funding available under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Chairman Powers explained that a lien would be limited to the increased value realized if a landowner sold a parcel after reclamation. The clerk reported 23 ayes, 0 nos; the bill moved on.

House Bill 122 would permit assessment fees for the Tennessee Advanced Communications Network to be used for the network’s maintenance, use and improvement (sponsors described the change as expanding permitted uses beyond the current statutory language). Representative Scarborough presented the bill; the clerk reported 25 ayes, 0 nos and the measure was advanced.

House Bill 695 would raise the statutory cap on county mineral severance taxes (applied to sand, gravel, sandstone, chert and limestone) that fund county roads. The bill would raise the cap from 15¢ per ton to 20¢ per ton by July 1, 2025; then to 25¢ per ton by 2030 and to 30¢ per ton by 2035, with any local tax increase requiring a two-thirds local government approval. Chairman Baum said the change reflects an agreement among county highway officials, road builders and the aggregate industry. The clerk reported 21 ayes, 0 nos; the bill was advanced.

House Bill 444 would change the statutory phrase “blighted area” to “blighted property” for housing authorities and community development agencies exercising eminent domain, and would bar condemnation of agricultural land except for public use. Chairman Halsey said the change would limit the scope of taking to only the property found blighted rather than an entire area. Committee members pressed for examples and for clarification of who qualifies as a condemning authority; state legal staff said they would follow up. The clerk reported 22 ayes, 0 nos, 1 present not voting; the bill moved on.

Votes at a glance: House Bills 65, 823 (amended), 114, 123, 122, 695 and 444 were each advanced to calendar and rules. Several bills drew brief policy or technical questions from committee leaders, and at least one amendment (HB 823) rewrote the bill before the committee voted.