Final Drafts Of Pivotal Legislation Could Be Written By Small, Select Groups Of Lawmakers

Senate Education Committee Chair Dolores Gresham briefs reporters moments after a conference committee was called, laying out a deal to continue the current statewide test next school year in lieu of a new one tied to Common Core. (Photo: Bobby Allyn/WPLN)

Methamphetamine, Nashville’s proposed bus line, and a new statewide test tied to the Common Core: All three have led to dueling proposals in the state House and Senate, and all three are being hashed out by select groups of six lawmakers, known as conference committees.

A conference committee is when three House members and three senators work out a take-it-or-leave-it deal the chambers then vote up or down. One already released a plan to put off a new test tied to Common Core that was set to start next school year. Instead, the state will continue its current test while taking bids for a replacement.

As for meth, lawmakers want to limit the sale of allergy medicine used to make the drug in meth labs.  Whether they allow for a two month supply or closer to four will likely be up to another conference committee.

As will a bill that could torpedo a proposed bus line in Nashville known as the Amp.  Some lawmakers say they just want oversight of the project, not to scuttle it outright, but that nuance might not make it into the final version.