NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A proposal to loosen wine sale laws in Tennessee has failed by a single vote in a House committee after members of the panel refused to grant the sponsor a week's delay to negotiate a final version.
The House Local Government Committee voted 8-7 Tuesday to reject advancing the measure, which would allow local referendums on whether grocery stores should be able to sell wine.
Republican Rep. Matthew Hill of Jonesborough, the panel's chairman, cast the deciding vote against the measure after voting in favor of the bill in subcommittee.
Hill said he was upset that supporters called for a vote on the measure before considering a series of amendments that would have significantly changed the bill.
House Speaker Beth Harwell expressed disappointment at the bill's fate.
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