Not waiting until January

State legislators are already beginning to file legislation for the upcoming 106th General Assembly. Big thumbs up on HJR0003 (no income tax) and HB0009/SB0003 (picture ID for voters). Looks like Rep. G. A. Hardaway (D-Memphis) is still on his parental rights soapbox. You may remember he was the one who managed to offend nearly every woman in the state by suggesting all babies be tested for paternity. I like lower taxes on food...but Hardaway is sponsoring it?

I certainly hope that this group of legislators realizes that the number of bills has gotten completely out of hand---4,280 last session. Filing a bill doesn't make you a good legislator. Remember quality trumps quantity. You'll have enough to do just balancing the budget mess Gov. Bredesen and Speaker Naifeh gave us.

*HB0001 by *Cobb J, *McCormick, *Dean. (SB0001 by *Watson.)

Highways, Roads and Bridges - As introduced, enlarges optional projects as pilot programs permissible under Tennessee Tollway Act to include: (1) presently permissible single highway project and single major bridge project, (2) two highway projects or (3) two major bridge projects. - Amends TCA Section 54-3-113.

*HB0002 by *Hardaway.

Child Custody and Support - As introduced, enacts the "Equal and Fair Parenting Act" to create a rebuttable presumption that equally shared parenting time is the custody arrangement in the best interest of a child. - Amends TCA Title 36, Chapter 6, Part 1.

HB0003 by *Cobb J. (SB0002 by *Yager.)

Rhea County - Subject to local approval, repeals the ban on partisan elections for county executive and county legislative body of Rhea County. - repeal Chapter 322 of the Private Acts of 1978.

*HB0004 by *Bass, *Turner M.

Handgun Permits - As introduced, provides that person exempt from classroom and firing range training requirement by reason of prior military experience is also exempt from payment of $115 application and processing fee. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13.

*HB0005 by *Hardaway.

Child Custody and Support - As introduced, requires that a court in making a decree or order for child support set a presumptive date for the termination of the current child support obligation. - Amends TCA Section 36-5-101.

*HB0006 by *Hardaway.

Lottery, Scholarships and Programs - As introduced, creates the Tennessee Education Lottery financial assistance grant for certain students who are financially needy. - Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 4, Part 9.

*HB0007 by *Hardaway.

Taxes, Sales - As introduced, reduces sales and use tax on food and food ingredients from 5.5 percent to 4.5 percent. - Amends amend TCA Title 67, Chapter 6.

*HB0008 by *Hardaway.

Banks and Financial Institutions - As introduced, limits fee that high-cost home loan lenders may charge for third or subsequent pay-off statement provided to borrow in 12-month period to $10.00. - Amends TCA Title 45 and Title 62, Chapter 13.

*HB0009 by *Weaver. (SB0003 by *Beavers.)

Election Laws - As introduced, requires a voter to present qualified photographic identification before voting; voters without proper identification shall be allowed to cast provisional ballots. - Amends TCA Title 2, Chapter 7.

Joint Resolutions:

*HJR0003 by *Kelsey, *McDaniel, *Casada, *Lynn, *Maggart, *Matheny, *Johnson P, *Shipley, *Halford, *Rich, *Swafford, *McCormick, *Niceley, *Harrison, *Brooks K, *Cobb J, *McManus, *Bell, *Hill, *Lundberg, *Haynes, *Lollar, *Evans, *Dennis, *Brooks H, *Hensley, *Weaver, *Sargent, *Ford , *Dean, *Williams, *Coley, *Watson, *Floyd, *Montgomery, *Carr, *Eldridge, *Johnson C, *Harwell, *Faulkner.

Constitutional Amendments - Proposes an amendment to clarify the constitutional language that currently prohibits the levying of a tax on any class of income, other than income derived from stocks and bonds, and to prohibit any tax levied on or measured by employer payrolls. -