After Gov. Bill Haslam vetoed the so-called “Ag Gag” bill, sponsors Rep. Andy Holt, R-Dresden, and Sen. Dolores Gresham, R-Somerville, are planning to try again in 2014. Knoxnews reports that the two legislators issued a joint statement saying there would be no override attempt, but they plan to file a new bill with revisions aimed at meeting objections from Haslam and questions about the bill’s constitutionality raised by Attorney General Bob Cooper.

State Sen. Doug Henry, D-Nashville, told the Tennessean yesterday that he will not seek re-election for his seat in 2014. The 86-year-old was first elected to a House seat in 1955 and has held his current Senate seat since 1971. “During the last quarter century that I served with Sen. Henry, no one served with more dignity, greater intelligence and greater fidelity than Sen. Henry,” said Tennessee Democratic Party chairman Roy Herron, a former Tennessee state senator. “He is respected by all and loved by so many,” he continued. “The Tennessee Senate will miss his wise leadership and tremendous example.”

Tennessee lawmakers passed a resolution designating August 31 as an annual celebration, “Traditional Marriage Day” the Nashville Business Journal reports. Chris Sanders of the Tennessee Equality Project said the resolutions sends the wrong message and his organization has declared August 31 “Tennessee Marriage Equality Day.”

Gov. Bill Haslam has signed a measure outlawing library cards and other types of county or city issued photo ID cards for voting, the Murfreesboro Post reports. The House passed the bill and the Senate subsequently concurred with the House version, dropping an amendment that would have allowed use of state college issued IDs for voting.

The Tennessee General Assembly wrapped up its 2013 session early, but not without acrimony, sending senators and representatives home without passing a number of key pieces of legislation. Political reporters from publications across the state offer their take on the session, including comments from TBA Executive Director Allan Ramsaur and others. Memphis attorney and Judicial Nominating Commissioner Barry Ward also offers his thoughts on the death of that commission. Read more or offer your thoughts on the TBA website.

Legislation to extend the life of the Judicial Nominating Commission failed to win approval Friday, falling by the wayside along with key measures on issues ranging from charter schools to judicial redistricting. With the failure of the bill to extend the Judicial Nominating Commission, the panel will cease to exist on July 1, meaning there is no way to replace a judge who resigns, dies or retires after that date, TBA Executive Director Allan Ramsaur tells Knoxnews.

The Tennessee House on Friday voted to form a committee to review the TBI's four-month investigation into 10th Judicial District Attorney Steve Bebb's office. Lawmakers voted 75-10 to name six members – three Republicans and three Democrats -- to a special committee that can meet during the recess. The six were selected from among the members of the Criminal Justice and Civil Justice committees, the Chattanooga Times Free Press reports. The group said it would begin reviewing the files as soon as practical. Also on Friday, the House Judiciary Committee approved a resolution directing the TBI officials to turn over all files, records, back-up materials, notes, interview transcripts and other exhibits. Senators previously had approved a similar resolution.

With Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey’s judicial redistricting bill failing to garner support in the House of Representatives, supporters of the plan are asking if they have time to bring it back up when the legislature reconvenes in January 2014. Allan Ramsaur, executive director of the TBA, tells The Commercial Appeal that “It’s technically possible they could get something done when the legislature first convenes next year, but the qualifying date for judges running next year is Feb. 15” and “it would be disruptive to the system to redraw things that quickly and put judges and district attorneys and public defenders — all of whom are up for election next year — into play.” For his part, Ramsey indicated he was walking away from the effort, The Tennessean reports.

The Tennessean’s coverage of the legislature’s final passage of conservatorship reform gives the TBA credit for laying the groundwork for the bill with a series of public hearings across the state on the issue. In the article, Executive Director Allan Ramsaur expresses his appreciation for the opportunity to review the legislation, saying the changes "should bring some clarity to the way the process works." The bill now awaits the governor’s signature.

Merit selection, considered by many to be the key feature of the successful Tennessee Plan, was eliminated from the process today when lawmakers could not, at the last minute, reach an accommodation on an unrelated squabble.

Three attempts to pass a bill to extend the life of the Judicial Nominating Commission in the House were stymied during the last day of the session. Since the constitutional power to fill vacancies is vested in the legislature, there will be no mechanism to appoint trial or appellate judges to replace jurists who die, retire or are removed.

Appellate judges will be evaluated by the present Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission before standing for election in August 2014. No changes in the composition or membership of that commission will come as a result of the inaction.

Some observers also saw developments early in the day on judicial redistricting (see related story) as part of the overall spat.

The legislature adjourned for the year this afternoon.