Tennesse House advances a bill to allow tourism records to remain secret for 10 years

By KIMBERLEE KRUESI
Associated Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee’s Republican-dominant House have advanced legislation that would allow the state’s tourism public records to remain secret and hidden from the public eye. Republican Gov. Bill Lee proposed the bill that would allow the head of the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development to exempt any public records for 10 years deemed “sensitive” by both the commissioner and attorney general. Republican Rep. Andrew Farmer repeatedly cited that the state may be vying to host a Super Bowl in the near future and such negotiations over “mega events” should not be aired publicly. The bill passed the House with a 69-16 vote. Four additional members voted present. It now must clear the Senate.