Though tight state finances posed obstacles, some progress was made this year on Fast Forward state priorities. Tougher gun laws, charter schools, and funding for bioscience moved forward. Also, while Pre-K and K-12 funding did not grow, last year’s gains held steady.
This year’s new gun law makes it a felony for convicted violent or drug felons to possess any kind of gun, compared to previous law that only barred hand guns. Any other type of convicted felon with a hand gun will now face stiffer penalties. Though far short of targets for comprehensive gun law reform, these are steps in the right direction.
Charter schools were a winner, with laws passed to keep these schools open in Tennessee until 2015. Student access was also increased, though not to the level sought.
While requested funding for the UT Baptist Research Park was not granted, the state did provide $600,000 for the local BioAg initiative to attract bio-based manufacturing and support area farmers in expanding crops.
The Governor’s planned increases of $25 million for Pre-K and $86 million for K-12 funding through BEP 2.0 were scrapped. However, last year’s funding gains in both were preserved.
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