Private Acts Committee approves five local bills; measures advance to state and local government

The Private Acts Committee voted to pass five local bills during its March 17 session, forwarding each measure to the State and Local Government Committee for further consideration.

The bills, all of which received majority support in the committee, addressed local governance and court administration in multiple Tennessee jurisdictions and were carried by committee members representing those localities.

House Bill 14-20 (Rogersville). Chairman Hicks, the bill's sponsor, said the measure "just simply authorizes holding of an advisory non binding referendum." The committee recorded seven ayes on the roll call and passed the bill; it was referred to State and Local Government. No mover or seconder was named on the record.

House Bill 14-18 (Lebanon Special School District). Chairman Boyd said the bill would expand the Lebanon Special School District's elected board from three members to five. The clerk reported eight ayes; the committee approved the bill and sent it to State and Local Government.

House Bill 14-23 (Lauderdale County). Representative Hirt described the measure as one that "provides for the orderly transfer of the probate and juvenile court in Lauderdale County from the county courthouse to the Justice Complex." Hirt explained the bill also states that upon expiration of the full term of the presiding judge the probate and juvenile court would be dissolved and probate matters transferred to chancery court while juvenile matters and related clerk duties would transfer to general sessions. The bill passed on a 9-0 committee vote and was referred to State and Local Government.

House Bill 14-17 (Tullahoma). Vice Chairman Bricken said the bill, brought by the city of Tullahoma, "basically extends the city judge term by 1 year in order to coincide with the elections of our mayor" to reduce costs by consolidating items on the ballot. The committee recorded nine ayes and advanced the bill to State and Local Government.

House Bill 14-19 (Montgomery County). Representative Burkett said Montgomery County requested the bill; he noted the county commission passed a related local resolution 18-1. Burkett said the measure would add a general sessions/juvenile judge in response to population growth; the clerk reported 10 ayes and the committee passed the bill and sent it on to State and Local Government.

Meeting context and next steps. Committee members asked few substantive questions on the local measures; most sponsors provided short explanations and the committee moved directly to recorded votes. All five bills now go to the State and Local Government Committee for further consideration and any subsequent floor action required by the legislative process.

Votes at a glance - HB 14-20 (Rogersville): Passed; recorded 7 ayes; referral: State and Local Government; sponsor: Chairman Hicks; motion/second: not specified on the record. - HB 14-18 (Lebanon Special School District): Passed; recorded 8 ayes; referral: State and Local Government; sponsor: Chairman Boyd; motion/second: not specified on the record. - HB 14-23 (Lauderdale County): Passed; recorded 9 ayes; referral: State and Local Government; sponsor: Representative Hirt; motion/second: not specified on the record. - HB 14-17 (Tullahoma): Passed; recorded 9 ayes; referral: State and Local Government; sponsor: Vice Chairman Bricken; motion/second: not specified on the record. - HB 14-19 (Montgomery County): Passed; recorded 10 ayes; referral: State and Local Government; sponsor: Representative Burkett; motion/second: not specified on the record.

The committee did not record individual member votes by name on the public transcript; the clerk announced only the tally for each roll call. Further action on these bills will be determined in later committee and floor consideration.