Collective Bargaining Bill Advances In TN House
A proposal to limit teacher’s collective bargaining rights is advancing after the House speaker stepped in once again to cast a tiebreaking vote.
The measure sponsored by Republican Caucus Chairwoman Debra Maggart of Hendersonville passed the House Finance Committee 13-12 on Wednesday. Republican House Speaker Beth Harwell of Nashville said she broke the tie because of a commitment to GOP caucus members to give them a chance to vote on the bill on the House floor.
In March, Harwell broke a 6-6 subcommittee deadlock on the proposal.
The House Finance Committee recently declined to take up a version similar to one passed by the Senate earlier this month to more thoroughly dismantle union negotiations.
The version that passed Wednesday changes the bill back to exempt from negotiations areas like evaluations and merit pay, but stopped short of abolishing bargaining altogether.
