Tenn. wine transport bill passes House

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Tennesseans could buy up to five cases of wine at out-of-state wineries and carry them back into Tennessee under a proposal that passed the House.

The measure sponsored by Rep. Glen Casada, a Franklin Republican, was approved 78-1 on Thursday with little debate. The companion bill passed the Senate last month, but now goes back to the upper chamber to work out minor differences in the legislation's language.

The measure is designed to overcome a recent federal appeals court opinion that found existing rules designed to promote Tennessee wineries are unfair to competitors from outside the state.

Republican Rep. Richard Floyd of Chattanooga says he voted against the proposal because he opposes "any bill that's going to make alcohol more accessible."