Legislation to create a special authority to oversee the 130-acre East Bank area surrounding the Titans stadium in Nashville could be reaching the finish line, even as outside forces try to wave a caution flag.
Lawmakers in the Senate delayed the measure, Senate Bill 2968, sponsored by Sen. Charlane Oliver, D-Nashville, after finance committee Chair Bo Watson, R-Hixson, had several concerns about the legislation.
In the House, Local Government Committee Chair John Crawford, R-Bristol/Kingsport, appears to be satisfied after sending the legislation to the comptroller’s office for review. It could go back before his panel this week for reconsideration after he requested the Calendar & Rules Committee take the rare move of sending it backward rather than to a floor vote.
North Carolina-based Speedway Motorsports LLC, which owns Bristol Motor Speedway, was supposedly a key factor in the bill’s snail-like pace. The racing company wanted state lawmakers to use the East Bank Authority as leverage to force Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell to strike a deal to help fund renovations at Nashville Fairgrounds racetrack.