Senate committee sets rules, deadlines and names liquor "omnibus" bill at brief organizational meeting

Chairman Briggs called the Tennessee Senate committee to order for a brief organizational meeting and reviewed the panel’s membership, staff and operating rules. He said the committee would be “very, very short” and outlined key deadlines and public-testimony procedures.

Briggs listed members for the year and introduced committee staff, identifying Josh Houston as the committee attorney, Rourke Brown as the budget analyst and Meredith Lisonbee as the research analyst, among others. He said the deadline to put bills on notice each week is Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. and that the amendment-filing deadline is Friday at 4:30 p.m. He added that substantial amendments require additional time and that anyone seeking to testify on a bill must request to do so at least 24 hours before the meeting; testimony will be allowed at the chair’s discretion and, if permitted, limited to three minutes.

On public conduct, Briggs told attendees that signs are allowed in the gallery but must be held at chest level so as not to block others’ views and that profanity on signs is prohibited. He also announced that, in his words, “Senate bill 16 20 will serve as the liquor by the drink omnibus bill this year,” and said business entities seeking designation as a premier tourist resort or similar status for state liquor licensing should file those requests as amendments to that omnibus; staff will circulate an email with filing details.

The chair asked whether members had questions about the rules; none were raised. A motion to adjourn was made, members answered “Aye,” the chair declared the motion prevailed, and the meeting was adjourned. No bills were debated or voted on during the session.

The committee’s staff roster and the deadlines laid out at the meeting will apply for subsequent committee proceedings; the office will send written instructions for filing amendments to the named omnibus bill.