6/18/02 - A tax proposal unveiled June 12 would double the cost of one-time truck trailer registration fees in the state for the 2003 fiscal year. The proposal also would increase the corporate income tax, as well as the cost of cigarettes and beer.

Rep. Frank Buck (D-Dowelltown) and Sen. Doug Jackson's (D-Dickson) proposed tax hike would increase the current fee from $50 for the life of a truck trailer to $100 for the next fiscal year. "It has a 12-month sunset, so at the end of the next fiscal year, it automatically goes back to the $50 one-time fee," Sen. Jackson told Land Line. "It's an automatic sunset requiring no other vote."

The tax plan requires a three-fifths majority of Assembly members' approval for passage. Rep. Buck and Sen. Jackson have introduced HB2569 and SB2829 in their respective houses. The session is scheduled to end June 30.

For Senate bill status, call (615) 741-2730. For House bill status, call (615) 741-2901

2/23/01 - SJR0005, introduced by Tennessee State Sen. Douglas Henry of Nashville, has set off alarms throughout the retreading community. The joint resolution "urges the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to study feasibility or prohibiting the use of recapped tires on commercial motor vehicles."
Harvey Brodsky, managing director of the Tire Retread Information Bureau (TRIB), said in a letter to members, "the consequences would be terrible for the retread and trucking industries in Tennessee and it might spread like a virus to other states."
TRIB believes the likelihood of the resolution passing is "very slim." However, the group assured its members, "TRIB takes all detrimental mentions about retreads very seriously and we will continue to follow up on this issue until we are certain it is a dead issue."
The association has sent two letters to Henry and said it would welcome him to attend the International Tire & Rubber Association conference to held in Nashville in April and also to visit a nearby retread plant. Brodsky told Land Line that the senator was very receptive to both ideas and "we're encouraged that he appears to be willing to meet with us."
To contact Sen. Henry's office call (615) 741-3291.