Push To Give State Lawmakers Sole Power To Write School Budgets Comes Up Short

A plan to give state lawmakers sole authority to set education budgets appears to be dead for the year.

The Senate Education Committee refused Wednesday to approve a proposed amendment to the Tennessee constitution that was meant to keep courts from interfering in school spending decisions.

Some lawmakers agreed the legislature ought to have the final word on education budgets. But only four voted in favor of
Senate Joint Resolution 461, one short of the number needed to advance.

“We amend the constitution, it’s a big, big deal,” said state Sen. Jim Tracy, R-Shelbyville. “And we’re in the last committee, the last week of session.”

Supporters of the amendment had hoped to squeak it in before lawmakers adjourn for the year next week. That would have put it on track to appear before voters when they go to elect a new governor in 2018.

Failure now means it can’t go before voters until the governor’s race after that, which takes place in 2022.

But state Rep. Bill Dunn, R-Knoxville, says there may not be much point to pushing the matter again next year. He noted that constitutional amendments eventually have to get a two-thirds majority in both the House and Senate to appear on the ballot — far more support than the proposal got.

Dunn says it might take a court ruling against the state education budget to get legislators interested in the issue.