Right-to-work constitutional amendment heads to ballot

By Michelle Price
Special to the UCBJ

NASHVILLE – Today, the Tennessee House passed Senate Joint Resolution 2 (SJR2), a proposed state constitutional amendment protecting Tennessee’s right-to-work law by a vote of 67-24-1. It passed the Senate earlier in the legislative session and will now head to the ballot next November giving Tennesseans the opportunity to protect right-to-work by making it a permanent part of the state constitution. 

“Tennessee has been a strong right to work state for decades, which has played a huge part of our economic success,” said House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville). “Cementing our right to work status in our state constitution will only strengthen our business-friendly climate throughout Tennessee and solidify our current and future economic standing.”

Amending the state constitution is no easy task. Not only does it take two sets of votes by the General Assembly and a majority vote of Tennesseans to pass a constitutional amendment, but the ultimate number of “yes” votes must be greater than half the number of votes cast for governor.

Michelle Price is the former managing editor of the Upper Cumberland Business Journal and can be reached via email. Send an email.

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