AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 57, relative to alcoholic beverages.
Summary
HB0606 amends Tennessee’s alcohol-related ethics/disclosure law in Title 57. The bill changes Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 57-1-206(a), by replacing the phrase “the members of the general assembly” with “the governor and the members of the general assembly.” In practical terms, this expands the statute’s coverage from legislators alone to include the governor as well.
The measure appears to address the handling of alcoholic beverages in a government-related context, likely extending an existing restriction or reporting requirement to the governor in the same way it already applies to lawmakers. The bill takes effect immediately upon becoming law, reflecting an intent for prompt implementation.
Impact
The bill would amend Tennessee Code Annotated Title 57 by broadening the class of public officials covered by Section 57-1-206(a). It would add the governor to the statute’s scope, thereby affecting the governor’s conduct or obligations under the state’s alcoholic beverage laws in the same manner as members of the General Assembly. No other statutes are changed, but the amendment would alter how the existing law is applied to state officials.
Sentiment
The available voting history suggests limited support for the bill in committee, as it failed in the House Departments & Agencies Subcommittee by a vote of 1-6. There are no committee transcripts provided, so there is no recorded debate to indicate broader enthusiasm or opposition. The vote outcome indicates the bill was not well received at the subcommittee stage.
Contention
The main point of contention appears to be whether the governor should be added to the existing statutory language that already applies to members of the General Assembly. Supporters likely viewed the change as a straightforward extension of an existing rule to another top state official, while opponents may have questioned the need for the amendment or the policy rationale for treating the governor the same as legislators under this alcohol-related provision. The lopsided subcommittee vote suggests resistance to the expansion, but no detailed objections are available in the record provided.