NASHVILLE – Before ending their annual legislative session this week, Tennessee lawmakers’ final act was to push through a bill that attempts to find friendlier legal venues to handle constitutional challenges filed against state laws as well as lawsuits involving legislative redistricting and state agency actions.
The result of a last-minute House and Senate compromise Wednesday night among Republicans who had disagreed on the approach for weeks, the bill creates a new, three-judge panel to hear such lawsuits. They are currently heard by elected judges in Nashville, which is the seat of state government and has a Democrat-leaning electorate.
Democrats opposed the measure, but after heated debate it easily passed the Republican-dominated House on a 67-22 vote with the Senate later following through and passing it 27-2. Four of the six Democrats in the Senate walked out and did not vote.
The bill has not gone to Republican Gov. Bill Lee, who has not said what he will do.
(READ MORE: Tennessee bill that would create ‘super court’ has Chattanooga opposition)