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Bill to redirect portion of Bass Pro sales tax to TWRA stalls in subcommittee
Summary
SB 2609 would direct a portion of sales tax from Bass Pro Shops to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency to fund emergency services and officer pay; sponsors estimated a $2.0–2.1 million allocation; the committee voted a negative recommendation.
Senator Sutherland told the committee the bill would direct a portion of sales tax generated at Bass Pro Shops to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) to support emergency services and personnel costs. He emphasized TWRA's role in past storms and rescues and said the funding request is ‘‘only $2,000,000’’ (later referenced at $2,100,000 in committee discussion).
Sutherland said TWRA assisted during ice storms and flooding and that the agency lacked reimbursement for those responses; the bill would make a targeted portion of retail sales tax at Bass Pro Shops available to TWRA for emergency response and operational needs.
The committee placed the amendment on the bill and, after a motion for a negative recommendation, the subcommittee recorded a vote sending the bill out with a negative recommendation (committee vote recorded as 5 ayes on the negative motion). The sponsor disputed the sufficiency of current funding and framed the proposal as narrowly targeted to Bass Pro Shops-generated sales.
