Tennessee Governor Bill HaslamNASHVILLE - Gov. Bill Haslam's administration officially has voiced opposition to 22 bills pending in the Legislature, including measures revising the state's motorcycle helmet law, allowing school faculty and staff to carry guns and increasing the penalty for motorists not wearing a seat belt.
The governor this year is not issuing formal "flag letters" to legislators except when there are "philosophical" objections to the measure, according to gubernatorial spokesman David Smith.
In the past, Haslam also issued "fiscal flags" against bills that called for what the governor deemed inappropriate state spending. But this year, Smith said, the administration policy is to caution against any legislation that has a "fiscal note," prepared by legislative staff, projecting a need for spending that is not part of Haslam's budget proposal for the coming year.