NASHVILLE (AP) – House Speaker Beth Harwell says the lower chamber of the General Assembly plans to take up Gov. Bill Haslam's proposals on tenure and charter schools before taking up a measure to do away with teachers' collective bargaining rights.

Harwell, a Nashville Republican, said in speech to the state chapter of the National Federation of Independent Business on Tuesday that she expects the collective bargaining measure to pass, but not without changes to the version awaiting a full Senate vote.

Harwell said she wants to focus on areas like removing unions' ability to block merit and differential pay.

Haslam said after a speech to the same group that he's pleased lawmakers are beginning to address the education proposals that he finds most urgent. The Republican said the collective bargaining bill is "still developing" and that he'll wait to weigh in on it.

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