Gov. Bill HaslamNASHVILLE – State senators on Monday popped the cork on a bill giving local voters the power to decide whether to allow wine sales in grocery stores.
Senators quickly concurred to minor House changes to the bill, voting 23-4 to send it to Gov. Bill Haslam, who is expected to sign it into law.
“The governor will review the legislation in its final form before taking action on it, but I anticipate he’ll sign it,” said Haslam spokesman David Smith.
“This bill has been a long time coming,” Senate Republican Caucus Chairman Bill Ketron, of Murfreesboro, the bill’s sponsor, told colleagues.
Ketron, who spent seven years trying to pass versions of the bill, said members of the Senate and House “actually listened to the people who want to purchase wine in the grocery stores.”