TBA Law Blog

TBA Law Blog

Senate Committee Approves Bill to Remake Historical Commission

Posted by: Stacey Shrader Joslin on Mar 19, 2021

The Senate Government Operations Committee on Wednesday approved SB600, sponsored by Sen. Joey Hensley, R- Hohenwald, which would remove 29 Tennessee Historical Commission members appointed by the governor and replace them in July with 12 members: four appointed by the governor, four by the House speaker and four by the Senate speaker. The move comes after the commission voted to relocate the Nathan Bedford Forrest bust from the Capitol to the State Museum. Many lawmakers want more say over the process, Tennessee Lookout reports. Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge, and House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, have said they believe the legislature has control over the second floor of the Capitol and have sought an opinion from Attorney General Herbert Slatery on the legal process for the bust’s removal. The measure goes next to the Senate State and Local Government Committee. Gov. Bill Lee opposes the measure to remove the sitting members and cut the size of the commission by more than half. 

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