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Subcommittee roundup: key bills advanced, several failed; omnibus and multiple alcohol measures move forward
Summary
The Department and Agency Subcommittee approved multiple bills and amendments, moved an omnibus bill and several alcohol-related items to full committee, and defeated a retail package store expansion measure.
The Department and Agency Subcommittee concluded a multi-item session, advancing several bills to the full committee, adopting amendments on an omnibus measure and rejecting others.
Notable actions and outcomes:
- House Bill 381 (omnibus), as amended with multiple house amendments, received a positive recommendation and will move to the full committee. The subcommittee rolled numerous amendments into a single amendment before approving the omnibus package.
- House Bill 52 (disabled-veteran property tax exemption increase): Sponsor said the measure would raise the exemption to account for rising home values; the committee voted and the bill moved out with an "ayes" report to the full committee.
- House Bill 604 (Leader Lambert) on confidentiality of records for alcohol-related crashes: Committee adopted an amendment and approved the bill to move to full committee.
- House Bill 1361 (Johnson City premier tourism district): Sponsor said the measure would allow a designated downtown resort district to set late-night alcohol-by-the-drink hours; the committee approved and moved the bill to the full committee.
- House Bill 142 (distillery/winery on same property tasting rooms): Clean-up language allowing shared tasting rooms when ownership meets specified thresholds was approved and moved to the full committee.
- House Bill 557 (state disaster relief program): The committee approved creation of a grant program to assist counties that declare emergencies but do not qualify for federal aid; the bill moved to the full committee.
- House Bill 606 (retail package store expansion): A bill to allow larger retail package stores to operate additional locations failed in the subcommittee (vote announced as 1 aye, 6 noes), leaving the current caps in place.
Several additional bills were amended and moved; where the subcommittee recorded roll-call counts, they are noted below. Individual bills outside this roundup that received fuller discussion have separate articles.
Vote tallies (as recorded by the clerk during the meeting): House Bill 52 — 8 ayes; House Bill 604 — 8 ayes; House Bill 1361 — 8 ayes; House Bill 142 — 7 ayes; House Bill 557 — 8 ayes; House Bill 381 (omnibus) — 7 ayes; House Bill 606 — 1 aye, 6 noes (failed).
The subcommittee adjourned after completing the calendar.
