A look at some of the winning and losing legislation during the 2015 session of the Tennessee General Assembly.
WINNERS:
Tennessee budget: Appropriating the state’s annual $33.8 billion budget. SB1399.
Guns in parks: Stripping local governments of power to ban people with handgun carry permits from being armed in parks. HB0995.
Common Core: Rebranding Common Core education standards and establishing a review mechanism. HB1035.
Abortion clinic restrictions: Requires facilities or physician offices to be licensed as ambulatory surgical treatment centers. SB1280.
Abortion – informed consent: Requires informed consent and a 48-hour waiting period before an abortion. SB1222.
Arming constables: Allowing certified constables to be armed where other law enforcement officers can carry firearms. HB1094.
Cannabis oil: Allowing possession of cannabis oil to treat seizures. SB0280.
Citizenship test: Making it a requirement to pass a U.S. citizenship test to gain high school diploma. HB0010.
Fedex tax break: Phasing in a cap on aviation fuel taxes that could save FedEx more than $20 million per year. HB1147.
Lifetime carry permits: Creating $500 lifetime handgun carry permit. SB0700.
Longevity bonuses: Eliminating annual longevity bonuses for new state workers. SB0606.
Motorcycle helmets – parades: Allowing motorcyclists to ride without helmets in low-speed parades. SB0469.
Racial profiling: Requiring written policies banning racial profiling in state police departments. SB0006.
Rape kit backlog: Creates a protocol for the collection of sexual-assault evidence kits. SB0981.
Revenue modernization: Taxing software and video games accessed remotely and creating incentives for companies to distribute products in Tennessee. HB0644.
Teacher politics: Barring teachers from engaging in political campaigning during work hours. HB0158.
Traffic cameras: Banning most speed cameras after current contracts expire. SB1128.
LOSERS:
Insure Tennessee: Authorizing Gov. Bill Haslam to strike deal to expand Medicaid in Tennessee. SJR0093.
Bible as official book: Making the Bible the official book of Tennessee. HB0615.
School vouchers: Creating a limited school voucher program in Tennessee. HB1049.
Tuition Equality: Offering in-state tuition to non-citizens who are lawfully present in the United States. HB0675.
Tennessee whiskey war: Repealing state law setting requirements for which sprits can be marketed as Tennessee spirits. HB0638.
Judicial appointments: Creating a mechanism for rejecting the governor’s judicial appointments. SB001.
Abortion – ultrasounds: Requiring clinics to either display or describe ultrasounds to women seeking abortions. HB0002.
Alcohol ban: Banning sale of alcohol to people with three or more drunken driving convictions. HB0744.
Autism coverage: Expanding health coverage for children with autism. SB0960.
Motorcycle helmets elsewhere: Allowing adults with private insurance to ride motorcycles without helmets. SB0925.
Municipal broadband: Allowing municipal broadband to be offered outside of electric utilities’ service areas. SB1134.
Open container: Making it a crime for passengers to have open alcohol containers in vehicles. HB0140.
Parent trigger: Making it easier for parents to convert struggling public schools into charter schools. SB0600.
Physical education: Requiring schools to offer physical education classes to K-5 students. HB1070.
Pre-K funding: Cancelling federal funding for pre-kindergarten programs if court requires universal pre-K. HB0159.
Public records: Allowing government agencies to charge for public record searches. HB0315.