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Following testy exchange on Senate floor, Watson de-annexation bill sent back to committee

Sen. Bo Watson listens to Rep. Mike Carter during the Times Free Press sponsored Legislative Roundtable at the newspaper in this file photo. Sen. Bo Watson listens to Rep. Mike Carter during the Times Free Press sponsored Legislative Roundtable at the newspaper in this file photo.

By Andy Sher March 21, 2016 1 min read

Sen. Bo Watson listens to Rep. Mike Carter during the Times Free Press sponsored Legislative Roundtable at the newspaper in this file photo.

NASHVILLE – Sen. Bo Watson’s de-annexation bill ran into trouble on the Senate floor this afternoon and over the Hixson Republican’s objections was re-referred to committee on a 19-12 vote.

Senators later approved requiring the Senate State and Local Government Committee to hold a hearing on the bill this Wednesday.

Earlier, the chairman of the committee, Sen. Ken Yager, R-Kingston, objected to amendments on the House version of the bill as passed by Rep. Mike Carter, R-Ooltewah.

Yager questioned whether the amendments, which made de-annexation by public referendum available to only six cities, including Chattanooga, was constitutional and said it was certainly not what the Senate envisioned when Watson’s version was moved out of Yager’s Senate panel last year.

Watson strongly objected but senators sided with Yager.