Tuesday, January 12, 2010

General Assembly Re-Convenes - Special Session Begins

On January 12th, the General Assembly returned to Nashville for the 2010 legislative session. Many legislators actually returned the previous day to House and Senate Education and Finance meetings related to a Special Session on education. Governor Bredesen called the legislature into a special session in order to rapidly consider the adoption of certain education reforms that would better position the state in its application for Federal Race to the Top education grants. The state's application is due on January 19th.

Before the special session began, the House and Senate held regular floor sessions at noon today. Of note to county governments, the Senate took up legislation to delay the implementation of the Voter Confidence Act to 2012. The House passed legislation to delay implementation last year, but the Senate fell one vote short on passing the bill on the last day of session. After lengthy discussion and debate and consideration of several amendments, the Senate voted 22-10 to delay implementation of the act to the 2012 election cycle. The legislation will now go to the Governor for his consideration.

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