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January 25, 2005Welcome Back! On January 11, 2005, the Senate reconvened with the first Republican majority in 140 years. It remains to be seen how soon the new majority will adapt to its responsibilities and exercise effective leadership, but the transition is underway. Norris is Chairman of Senate Transportation Committee Senator Mark Norris (R-Collierville) received a key appointment as the new Senate Transportation Chairman Thursday as the 104th General Assembly completed its organizational business and began its first day in Regular Session. Senator Norris will also continue to serve as a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. He was elected to a second, four year term last year. "I am particularly pleased to serve as Chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee. Roads, rail and aviation are the lifeblood of our economy in Tennessee. This is especially true in West Tennessee, but all of rural Tennessee needs better access,” said Senator Norris. “The prospects for construction of Interstate 69 have major implications for economic development and environmental enhancement throughout West Tennessee and the entire mid-south over the next quarter century,” said Norris. “It will probably be the largest project of its kind this century, and our state government will play an important part in it.” Norris served as county chairman of transportation and member of the Regional Rail Steering Committee when he was a Shelby County Commissioner. In the Tennessee Senate, he served as a member of the Transportation Committee in the 103rd General Assembly. He sponsored the law which modernized the Department of Transportation’s communication of planning and projects across the state. Senate Standing Committee Assignments For the 104th General Assembly Commerce Education Environment Finance General Welfare Government Operations
Judiciary State & Local Transportation Senior Citizen Homestead Exemption is SJR 1 First Resolution Filed in the 104th General Assembly The Norris bill to amend the Tennessee Constitution to protect senior citizen’s from being taxed out of their homes was the first Resolution filed by Senator Norris in the new 104th General Assembly. The Senior Citizen Homestead Exemption, Senate Joint Resolution 1 (SJR1), was passed through the 103rd General Assembly, but now must pass the 104th General Assembly by two-thirds vote in the House and the Senate before going to the voters in 2006. In 1979, the General Assembly attempted to provide property tax relief for senior citizens (65 years old and up) by adopting TCA 67-5-705. The statute is still "on the books," but it was ruled unconstitutional 1980 and, therefore, has never been used. The statute has also never been repealed. Monroe County attempted to implement a similar tax relief program under the statute in 1989, but the Attorney General also opined that it was unconstitutional. This Norris Resolution is designed to remedy that problem by rendering the statute constitutional. It would give county and municipal governments authority to adopt an ordinance or resolution freezing the assessed value of a citizen's principal place of residence at the value assessed during the year in which the homeowner turns 65. Property taxes are still paid, but they are capped for those with incomes below an amount to be established by the General Assembly. When the statute was originally adopted back in 1979, that amount was $12,000. It would be higher today, but relief would not be available to those with significant incomes. The proposed amendment provides that the income cap would be established by the General Assembly so that it can be adjusted without amending the Constitution each time adjustments are warranted. Senator Norris Addresses State Meeting on Medical Liability Reform Senator Mark Norris (R-Collierville) will spoke to health care providers and others about the need for medical liability reform and access to affordable health care at the Nashville Convention Center on January 21, 2005. The Tennessee Medical Association hosted a Town Hall Meeting, "Making Reform a Reality," at the Nashville Convention Center. Over 450 physicians and other health care providers attended. Norris Brings National Conference to Memphis Legislative Agriculture Chairs Convene at Peabody State Senator Mark Norris (R-Collierville) announced today that more than 150 legislators and commissioners of agriculture from across the United States and Canada will meet in Memphis, Tennessee for three days to discuss rural economic development and agriculture January 28 through 30. Norris, who has served on the Tennessee Senate Agriculture Committee and is a member of the Rural Policy Task Force of the Council of State Governments, announced that Memphis was selected as the 2005 site and will host the summit meeting of state agriculture chairs this year. The group met in New Orleans last year where he nominated Memphis as the site for this year’s meeting. “I am very proud that West Tennessee has the honor of hosting this important summit of the nation’s leading officials concerning agriculture and rural economic development. It is a great opportunity for us to showcase West Tennessee and the Mid-South, including Arkansas and Mississippi,” said Norris. Norris, a senior member with the law firm of Armstrong Allen, PLLC and Chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, will speak on agriculture and energy policy. He was the prime sponsor of the Tennessee Processing Cooperative Act of 2004. The Processing Cooperative Act, which modernized traditional cooperative law to encourage capital investment in modern agricultural technology, was honored as model legislation by the Council of State Governments last year and will be published in the forthcoming 2005 Edition of Model Legislation. He also co-sponsored legislation to encourage development of alternative fuels during the last legislative session. Other speakers include Bill Hawks, Under Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture, Gene Hugoson, Past President of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, and former Congressman Charles Stenholm of Texas. Agricenter International will provide a tour of its facilities and Ducks Unlimited will host a reception at DU’s headquarters during the opening session. The summit will be convened by Representative Douglas R. Jones of Idaho and Representative Roger Thomas of Kentucky. Topics include perspectives on rural development, agriculture and energy policy, rural job development, property rights and the right to farm, tobacco funds, entrepreneurship and value added products. The Legislative Agriculture Chairs Conference is sponsored by the Council of State Governments, National Conference of State Legislatures, and the Rural Policy Research Institute. |
