3 minute read
Capitol Notes
Capitol Notes | Peggy Sue, the Beagle Hound
Trumpet, the Bloodhound, gets a big congratulatory howl for winning Best in Show at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in June this year. Trumpet is the first bloodhound to win the prestigious award where he competed against over 3,000 other dogs. The four-yearold does all us hound dogs proud, even with the extra floppy ears, floppy jowls and a multitude of wrinkles.
Election Update. The upcoming November general election ballot will be easier for voters to navigate than the historically long August primary and general election ballots. November 8 is the general election for state and federal offices. All 99 state house positions are open and the odd numbered state senate districts are open. The governor’s office occupant will be determined as will the nine members of our US House congressional delegation. Close to home, the newly redrawn Fifth Congressional District may well prove to be the most interesting race.
New Campaign Finance Statute. (Chapter 1087 of the Public Acts of 2022 / SB 1005 by McNally / HB 1201by Sexton). After the FBI worked their way through the Cordell Hull Building and various residences of State House Members in January, the noise level decreased, and many forgot about those dark law enforcement activities. Then Representative Robin Smith pleaded guilty and resigned on March 7, 2022. A reform bill was inevitable, and Chapter 1087 is the result. Interestingly, the requirement for the disclosure of certain expenditures by an organization that is tax exempt under Internal Revenue Code Sections 501(c)(4), (5) or (6) generated the most conversation during the legislative debate. On closer reading, affected multicandidate campaign committees (PAC’s) are now learning that Section 27 requires each PAC to certify to the Registry of Election Finance the name and address of all officers and all persons who directly control expenditures. Section 11 adds personal liability for civil penalties for those who directly control expenditures. In addition, Section 12 requires all PAC funds to be separate and segregated from other funds. This provision is particularly important for any business client that makes corporate political contributions.
School Library Book Review (Chapter 1137 / SB 2247 by Lundberg / HB 2666 by Sexton). Expands the jurisdiction of the state textbook and instructional materials quality commission to school library books and permits determinations of age appropriateness and removal of books. (Effective July 1, 2022 and December 1, 2022.) This one has been barked about previously, but the enterprising human should check out the “I Read Banned Books” library card now offered by the Nashville Public Library.
Calendar Notes.
Wilson County & State Fair August 18-27.
State and NBA offices will observe the Labor Day holiday on Monday, September 5.
Tuesday, October 11, is the deadline to register to vote in the November 8 election.
Ongoing Sales tax holidays:
July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2023 – gun safes and safety devices (new)
August 1 through August 31, 2022 – Grocery food items (new) n
PEGGY SUE is fond of the classic 1957 Buddy Holly song. When hunting legislative news or biscuits, she is hard to contact.
