Tennessee Lawmakers End Session for Year

Tennessee lawmakers closed out the year’s session at the capitol Tuesday after resolving several last-minute squabbles and letting a few others drop.

One sticking point was a bill to make people prove their legal status in the country before getting government services. It passed in the session’s waning hours amid reassurances from the sponsor it is constitutionally sound. Also approved was a tax on roll-your-own cigarettes. The holdup was a dispute over when the tax should begin, to leave affected tobacco shops time to be ready.

Franklin Republican Glen Casada tried for a late revival of a bill to relax campaign finance rules for corporations, but ultimately gave it up. House members also weighed joining an effort with other states to challenge President Obama’s healthcare law, but abandoned it before going home for the year.