State lawmakers Sen. Stacey Campfield, R-Knoxville, and Rep. G.A. Hardaway, D-Memphis, have filed a bill they say would close a loophole in copyright law and establish digital performance royalties for recordings made before 1972. Under current copyright law, songs recorded prior to Feb. 15, 1972, do not pay a performance royalty to the artist and musicians. Instead, they are protected by a “patchwork of state laws and common law,” the Tennessean reports. Last month, a hearing on comprehensive royalty reform was held in the House Judiciary Committee, but with powerful interests on both sides of the issue action may not be likely any time soon, observers say.

The Senate voted 23-8 today to approve a bill to allow grocery stores, big-box retailers and convenience stores to sell wine, the Tennessean reports. After seven years of debate, senators agreed to legislation that would let voters in 49 counties decide as soon as this November to determine whether to allow wine on their grocery store aisles. The Senate vote does not send the legislation to Gov. Bill Haslam’s desk, however. The House still must approve a companion measure, and there are subtle differences between the two plans.

The TBA bill enacting a five-year statute of repose for lawyer and accountant malpractice actions, SB 1506, was recommended for passage by the Senate Judiciary Committee by a 7–0–1 vote today. The bill, sponsored by Committee Chair Brian Kelsey, makes explicit the common law exception for fraudulent concealment and applies prospectively only to acts or omissions giving rise to the professional responsibility. For more information visit TBAImpact.

A scheduled Senate vote on the proposal to elect Tennessee's Attorney General has been delayed to Feb. 3, WATE News reports. The constitutional amendment, proposed by Sen. Mae Beavers, R-Mt. Juliet, would require popular election of the AG every four years. The attorney general is now appointed to an eight-year term by the Tennessee Supreme Court. The TBA supports the current system because it insulates the office from political pressures and personal aspirations, ensuring that opinions are grounded in law, not party politics. Use TBAImpact, TBA's new legislative tool, to learn more about the issue.

Legislation introduced this week by Senate Finance Committee Chair Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge, would make sweeping changes to the way state courts are managed, judges are appointed and judicial discipline is administered, Gavel to Gavel reports. Specifically, the bill, SB 2322, would transfer the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) to the comptroller of the treasury; replace the Judicial Nominating Commission with a body chosen by the governor and legislative leaders that would suggest replacements for vacancies due to death or resignation; disband the Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission, forcing judges to stand for contested elections; and disband the Board of Judicial Conduct in favor of a new body comprised of appointees from the governor and legislative leaders. The bill also would make all AOC and Board of Professional Responsibility documents open to public inspection.

Finally, it would prohibit judges from extending filing deadlines in death penalty cases and assess fines on government-appointed lawyers who later are found to have provided ineffective counsel in capital cases. Use TBAImpact, TBA's new legislative tool, to see the status of the bill and let the General Assembly know how this proposal negatively impacts the administration of justice.

The House Local Government Committee will vote Tuesday on HB610, which would allow wine to be sold in grocery stores. The measure failed to win approval in the committee by one vote last year, however, the bill’s sponsor Rep. Jon Lundberg, R-Bristol, says opposing sides are close to striking a deal that should lead to passage. He expects a compromise amendment to be put before the committee before a vote is taken. Lundberg declined to outline the tentative compromise, but indicated it would not exclude “big box” retailers such as Walmart and Costco from selling wine, Knoxnews reports.

The Senate State and Local Committee rejected a bill this week that would allow students at public colleges and universities to use their campus identification cards to vote. The panel voted 7-2 against SB 1082/HB 0252, which would have amended the voter ID law that the Tennessee General Assembly passed less than three years ago. Senate Minority Leader Jim Kyle, the Memphis Democrat who sponsored the measure, argued that the voter ID requirement has been a burden to students because they often do not have driver’s licenses. The Tennessean has more.

Republican lawmakers have filed legislation that would give workers the option of waiving their 30-minute lunch break currently required under state law, the Tennessean reports. Sen. Brian Kelsey, R-Germantown, said his intent is merely to give workers the option of bypassing the 30-minute unpaid break that almost everyone working at least a six-hour shift must take. Critics, including House Democrats, blasted the bill Tuesday saying it would take away an important workplace safety requirement and create a work environment in which employers could strong-arm workers into skipping meal breaks.

The Senate Commerce Committee today unanimously recommended for adoption the TBA’s 90-page bill, SB 1505/HB 1442, to adopt comprehensive amendments to the Tennessee Nonprofit Corporation Act. The measure, sponsored by Senate Commerce Committee Chair Jack Johnson, R- Franklin, is the result of a three-year effort chaired by Nashville attorney Richard Johnson.

State Sen. Brian Kelsey, R-Germantown, and State. Rep. Jeremy Faison, R-Cosby, filed joint resolution SJR 0493 calling for a constitutional convention that would require Congress to balance the federal budget each year. Specifically, the resolution states that in the absence of a congressional declaration of war or an economic recession, the total of all federal appropriations made by the Congress for any fiscal year may not exceed the total of all estimated federal revenues for that fiscal year. The Chattanoogan has more.