NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee said Wednesday he expects to sign a major bill passed by GOP lawmakers that imposes new limitations on how businesses, public schools, local health departments and others grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I anticipate that I’m going to sign that bill, the omnibus bill,” Lee told reporters following the state’s annual Veterans Day event in Nashville. “There are some issues we need to work through the General Assembly, and I’ve spoken with both speakers about that, after meeting about that even today. But my plan is to sign that bill.”
The main bill, sponsored by House Speaker Cameron Sexton and Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, the Senate speaker, passed Oct. 30 following a three-day special session.
Lawmakers called themselves into session, for only the third time in Tennessee history. That came after Lee opted not to call them into session himself.
While a number of the more controversial provisions in the main bill (House Bill 9077/Senate Bill 9014) were whittled down, it has still managed to put some businesses, local governments and public schools back on their heels.