NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Lobbyists are scrambling to nail down sponsors for their clients' key legislative initiatives following House Speaker Beth Harwell's announcement that she wants to impose a cap on how many bills are filed each year.
Under the Nashville Republican's proposal, each lawmaker would be limited to 10 bills each legislative session. That comes out to an average of about two bills each for the more than 500 lobbyists registered to ply their trade at the state Capitol.
Mark Greene, a lobbyist for the Tennessee Lobbyists Association, says his colleagues quickly moved to lock up lawmakers with a reputation for successfully shepherding bills through the legislative process.
Harwell's proposal would have to be approved by a special committee she will appoint when the session begins.