Special legislative session begins in Nashville over drunk driving law

JACKSON, Tenn. — Tennessee lawmakers made their way back to Nashville Monday for the first day of a special session.

Gov. Bill Haslam called a special session this week to discuss a drunk driving law. The law went into effect in July, but lawmakers ran into a $60 million problem with the new standards.

“So here we are, back in Nashville, because we didn’t critically think through this, and it’s costing the taxpayers $225,000 for the next three days for us to make a correction on legislation that we should have never changed in the first place,” Rep. Johnny Shaw said.

The law raised the penalties for driving under the influence by 18- to 20-year-olds, but the law wasn’t compliant with federal standards.

Rep. Andy Holt says the loss of the $60 million is a drop in the bucket when looking at the $32 billion state budget.

“I think this is a really good example of where the federal government has stepped in and has alienated the state and caused us to actually have to move backward on a very positive piece of legislation,” Holt said.

Also potentially making its way to the floor this week, Rep. Jeremy Durham faces a likely expulsion vote over a report from the attorney general detailing anonymous allegations of improper sexual contact with 22 women over the course of his two terms in office.

“We have laws in place that if you commit crimes, you cannot serve in the legislature,” Shaw said. “But I do think by the same token you are innocent until proven guilty. Jeremy Durham has never been to court.”

Durham denies most of the allegations, and many in the legislature hope it doesn’t come to a vote.

“I think it would be best for Rep. Durham to most likely to resign of his own accord,” Holt said. “I think he has made it abundantly clear that he won’t do that, so we will see what takes place if there is a vote on that situation.”

The session will last until Wednesday.