The Tennessee Legislature passed Senate Bill 884 and delivered it to Gov. Bill Lee this past week on May 18.

Present law imposes an annual privilege tax of $400 on registered lobbyists with the state.

As introduced, the bill eliminated the tax for attorneys, physicians, investment advisors, and lobbyists.

However, as amended and passed, the bill only removes the annual tax for physicians.

The bill becomes effective immediately if signed by the governor or left unsigned for more than 10 days.

Senate Speaker Randy McNally and House Speaker Cameron Sexton announced the Tennessee Legislature will convene a special session on October 27.

The special session will focus solely on COVID-19 issues including mask and vaccine mandates.

This will be the third special session of 2021.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signed a bill to allow PACs to give state Senate candidates $25,400 over a four-year election period.

Senate Bill 1120 requires the PAC limits for Senate candidates to reset every two years in the same manner as they do for House candidates.

This will double the previous PAC limit of $12,700 because Senate candidates may receive the entire $25,400 at one time.

The bill is effective immediately.

The Tennessee House voted unanimously last week to require legislators to disclose travel expenses provided by anyone with an interest in public policy if the travel was for the purpose of educating a legislator with respect to said policy.

The bill, as originally introduced, would cover national organizations such as the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), or other organizations where corporations provide scholarship funds for legislators to attend a conference.

The bill would require disclosure of the corporation or entity providing the scholarship or funding, but would not require specific dollar amounts.

The Senate passed an amendment to the House bill to exclude from the definition of travel expense any expense paid for by an organization of elected or appointed state government officials, or any other established and recognized organization serving as an umbrella organization for legislative officials and staff.

It has been placed back on the House calendar for early May.

The adjournment was the earliest date in 18 years.

The 107^th General Assembly will reconvene on Tuesday, January 10, 2012.

Photo of the Tennessee House Chamber by Ichabod on Wikipedia.