The following bills were passed during the second session of the 105th General Assembly. They have been signed or are awaiting Gov. Phil Bredesen’s signature: BUDGET. $27 billion state budget that cuts spending next year by nearly half a billion dollars. LOTTERY SCHOLARSHIPS. Changing rule eligibility for lottery scholarships, including measure that loosens requirements for maintaining a scholarship. COMPETITIVE CABLE. Creating statewide permits for cable TV providers. DROUGHT-STATE LINE. Rejecting participation in boundary commission suggested by Georgia lawmakers. FAKE GUNS. Making it a crime to brandish fake guns in a threatening manner. LONG-TERM CARE. Allowing TennCare to offer more home and community-based care in Tennessee. MEDICAL MALPRACTICE. Requiring 60 days notice before filing a medical malpractice lawsuit and requiring an independent medical expert to vouch for its merits. METAL THEFT. Requiring scrap metal deals to register with the state and for sellers to show ID and submit thumb print. MIXED MARTIAL ARTS. Legalizing and regulating mixed martial arts competitions in Tennessee. OPEN GOVERNMENT. Overhauling the state’s open records law. UNIVERSAL CARDING. Revoking mandatory carding requirement for all beer buyers to people who look younger than 50. BIBLE CURRICULUM. Allowing the state Department of Education to develop a curriculum for the academic study of the Bible. CHILD ABUSE-FALSE REPORTS. Making false reports of child abuse a felony. CHILD ABUSE. Adding starvation and dehydration to the list of child abuse charges. CONFISCATED LIQUOR. Allowing the state to sell confiscated items like booze and cars in online auctions. CREDIT CARDS-STUDENTS. Restricting credit card solicitations to students on college campuses. SB3814/HB3393. DISABLED PARKING. Increasing penalties for illegally parking in spaces reserved for disabled drivers. DUI OFFENDERS. Restoring mandatory 48-hour jail time for DUI.
