Tennessee Senate Committee Votes To Block Dept. Of Tourist Development Public Records, Keeping Super Bowl Contracts Hidden For A Decade

Tennessee Legislation With The Goal To Block Transparency Of Records In Department Of Tourist Development As New Stadium and Future Super Bowl Prospects Expect To Bring Billions In New Tax Revenue Advances Toward Passage Into Law.

Image Credit: capitol.tn.gov

The Tennessee Conservative [By Kelly M. Jackson] –

Legislation that would enable state government to obscure public records pertaining to deals made by the state through the Department of Tourist Development for as many as 10 years passed through another hurdle this week in the Senate. 

House Bill 1692 (HB1692), sponsored by Representative William Lamberth (R-Portland-District 44), would allow those records to be exempt from public records laws if the information contained in them was considered “sensitive”.  The Senate Bill (SB2093) is being carried by Senator Jack Johnson (R-Franklin-District 27).

A similar law was passed in 1988 for the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, allowing that department to keep records secret for five years.

According to Lamberth, the legislation actually comes at the request of the Department and Governor Bill Lee’s administration.

A similar law was passed in 1988 for the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, allowing that department to keep records secret for five years.

“They wanted some of the same options that ECD has when they are pursuing a large tourist opportunity for the state,” Lamberth stated. “Some of those preliminary discussions are not public when it comes to ECD projects, and they wanted the same thing.”

Lamberth noted that from the beginning he went through the legislation to ensure that the department wasn’t given “carte blanche.” He says that is why the attorney general is part of the decision making.

Amanda Murphy, spokesperson for Tourist Development, says that passing the bill would give them an advantage by allowing them to work on business proposals without having to expose the finances of potential investors.

“Tourist Development needs the ability to conduct due diligence without risking the disclosure of sensitive information that could harm our stakeholders’ competitive edge or business deals,” Murphy said.

Governor Lee’s office claims that protecting the confidentiality of potential clients would aid Lee in “creating jobs and greater opportunity for Tennesseans.”

Critics of the bill say it creates a problem with transparency, allowing the commissioner and the attorney general to determine what is sensitive. 

“It’s just a very broad definition, and very subjective based on what the commissioner feels is sensitive,” Deborah Fisher, executive director of Tennessee Coalition for Open Government, told The Tennessean.

“If that’s what they want to keep confidential – developing contracts – then all they would have to do is write into that exemption,” Fisher continued.

SB2093 was recommended for passage in the Senate State and Local Government Committee with amendments, and referred to Senate Calendar Committee with a roll call vote of 8 Ayes, and 1 No. 

Senators voting aye were: Briggs, Jackson, Lowe, Pody, Stevens, Walley, Yager, Yarbro — 8.

Senators voting no were: Kyle — 1.

The bill will now move to the Senate Calendar Committee to be scheduled for a full vote on the Senate floor.

About the Author: Kelly Jackson is a recent escapee from corporate America, and a California refugee to Tennessee. Christ follower, Wife and Mom of three amazing teenagers. She has a BA in Comm from Point Loma Nazarene University, and has a background in law enforcement and human resources. Since the summer of 2020, she has spent any and all free time in the trenches with local grassroots orgs, including Mom’s for Liberty Williamson County and Tennessee Stands as a core member.  Outspoken advocate for parents rights, medical freedom, and individual liberty. Kelly can be reached at kelly@tennesseeconservativenews.com.