Short-term rentals, political social media campaigns and 3 more things to watch this week in the legislature

About two months into the legislative session and several bills are reaching the point in committees where they’re likely to be voted down or move on to the chamber floors.

Some of the most talked about measures, such as reduction to the University of Tennessee Board of Trustees, bills to address the opioid epidemic and changes to gun laws, will receive their final thorough review this week.

Here are five committee meetings we’ll be sure to watch during week eight in the legislature.

Reductions to the UT Board of Trustees

As part of the UT Focus Act, Gov. Bill Haslam has proposed signature legislation to reduce the University of Tennessee’s Board of Trustees. The initiative has thus far received wide support among legislators and has progressed through previous meetings. This week, the measure is scheduled to go before the House Education Administration and Planning Committee on Tuesday at 9 a.m. in House Hearing Room III. Agenda:

Social media in political campaigns

One bill in committee that might draw attention from the many national, state and local campaigns currently underway would require political communications through social media to indicate the candidate or political committee who has either paid for or authorized the communication. When some campaigns are believed to be operating anonymous social media handles as of late, if passed, this measure would require disclosure of the person or entities behind the profiles.

This bill is scheduled to go before the Senate State and Local Government Committee at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday in Senate Hearing Room I.

State preemption on local short-term rental ordinances

While it was supposed to make a splash last week in the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee, a controversial measure that would override local ordinances banning short-term rentals was rolled to this week. This bill as amended would essentially prevent local municipalities across the state from banning non-owner occupied short-term rentals, while allowing many of the regulations cities have previously considered. The bill is scheduled to go before the committee at 1 p.m. on Tuesday in Senate Hearing Room I.

Opioid bills

Recently, we wrote about the many bills that have been introduced to combat the opioid epidemic killing more than three Tennesseans per day. The governor has launched an initiative that takes into consideration prevention, treatment and law enforcement avenues to make a change, with the most emphasis on prevention and treatment. While there is debate on how much money should be spent and what limits should be placed on prescribers, most lawmakers agree that changes must come. Lawmakers are likely to engage in much discussion during a Senate Health and Welfare Committee with a Wednesday calendar heavy on opioid bills. The committee meeting is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. in Senate Hearing Room I.

Gun Bills

Last week, the House Civil Justice Subcommittee advanced a measure that would reduce the penalties for carrying a gun without a permit. This week, they’ll review a range of other gun laws, including a bill that’s garnered attention recently that would permit private certified firearms instructors to train teachers in distressed rural counties who are allowed to carry concealed firearms on school property. This bill and others is scheduled to go before the subcommittee on Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. in House Hearing Room III.

Reach Reporter Jordan Buie at 615-726-5970 or at jbuie@tennessean.com. Follow him on Twitter @jordanbuie.