Lawmakers in Tennessee are facing pushback from the conservative Beacon Center’s advocacy arm regarding a bill that would limit access to Department of Tourist Development recruiting information for up to a decade. Sen. John Stevens, who is carrying the bill through the Senate, has confirmed that they are working with Beacon Impact to address their concerns. The House has already passed the bill, and the Senate is waiting to move on it.
The bill would allow tourism department information to be kept confidential under certain circumstances, such as when disclosure would adversely impact the department’s functions. Trade secrets, marketing documents, and proprietary information would remain confidential. The goal of the bill is to make businesses and events feel more comfortable negotiating with the state to attract businesses to Tennessee.
However, there are concerns about the lack of transparency in government spending and the wide latitude given to the tourism commissioner to keep documents confidential. Lawmakers are questioning whether the details of economic and tourism recruiting deals should become public once a contract is signed. The Commissioner of Tourist Development, Mark Ezell, has defended the bill, stating that negotiations with companies and events can be lengthy and require confidentiality.
The discussions between lawmakers and the Beacon Center’s advocacy arm are ongoing, with efforts to clarify the language of the bill and align it with the guidelines used by the Economic and Community Development Department for recruiting. Despite the opposition from Beacon Impact, there is a willingness to address concerns and find a middle ground.
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