Overview

• Tennessee's Senate passed a bill allowing the Department of Tourist Development to exempt certain records from public disclosure, citing sensitivity.
• The Senate version specifies that records can remain secret for up to 10 years, with conditions that could end the secrecy sooner.
• Critics argue the bill undermines transparency, with concerns about what is being hidden regarding taxpayer-funded tourism efforts.
• The legislation is seen as a step to secure high-profile events like the Super Bowl, with ongoing negotiations for a new stadium in Nashville.
• Differences between the Senate and House versions of the bill must be reconciled before it can be signed into law by Governor Bill Lee.