(The Center Square) – Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee quickly signed a bill redrawing the state’s congressional district lines on Thursday, but bills passed in the General Assembly’s regular session are still awaiting transmittal to his office.
The governor has signed a few bills since the regular session ended on April 23. A bill that expands the Education Freedom Scholarship program by 15,000 to 35,000 students was signed on Thursday.
The Tennessee Department of Education said all of the 35,000 scholarships are reserved. Students will receive $7,530 to attend the school of their choice.
More than 56,000 applied, according to the department. The other 17,735 applicants are on a waiting list.
The governor also signed a bill that would allow school systems to display the Ten Commandments, the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution, the Tennessee Constitution and the Bill of Rights. House Bill 0047/Senate Bill 303 does not require them to be displayed.
Two immigration bills were signed, while others are awaiting transmission to Lee.
House Bill 1705/Senate Bill 1922 requires local entities to use the federal E-Verify program to ensure applicants are eligible to work in the United States.
The attorney general will investigate complaints that school districts or governments have violated the law. If the attorney general determines the complaints are credible, the entity could lose grants and state-shared taxes, according to the bill.
Gov. Bill Lee signed the bill on April 21. It takes effect July 1.
Lee also signed a bill that creates a class A misdemeanor for anyone under a deportation order and remains in the country for more than 90 days after the order is signed.
Legislation that requires local sheriff’s offices to participate in the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement 287(g) program or face funding cuts is awaiting Lee’s signature, along with a bill that would require citizenship checks for people applying for public benefits.
Two other unsigned bills would allow state intervention in education and aviation.
House Bill 662/Senate Bill 714 creates a nine-member board to oversee school districts that fail to meet four out of six criteria.
The metrics only apply to the Memphis-Shelby County Schools. The committee will have the authority over the school district’s budget. It could also determine if any schools should close.
The bill passed the General Assembly on its final day and was signed by House Speaker Cameron Sexton on Thursday. Once it is transmitted to Lee, he has 10 days to sign it.
Once signed, the oversight board would be formed, according to the bill.
A bill that would give the state control over local airport authorities in Memphis, Nashville, Chattanooga and Knoxville is also awaiting Lee’s signature. House Bill 2507/Senate Bill 2473 would give the state six seats on a nine-member oversight board. The other three members would be chosen from the community.
A controversial bill that would require pharmacies to divest their pharmacy benefit managers only needs Lee’s signature to become law. Senate Bill 2040 could force the closure of 25 CVS locations, a CVS Health spokeswoman said in a statement.
Supporters of the bill said it could help keep independent pharmacies in business.
