The companion bill, which does do away with bargaining, passed the Senate 18-14 on Monday. Except for some difference in language, the proposed House amendment is very similar to the Senate version.

Republican Caucus Chairwoman Debra Maggart of Hendersonville is the sponsor of the House proposal, which is still in its original form because it was sent back before the amendment was added. She said she's not concerned even though several of her Republican colleagues voted to return the measure.

"I didn't have any problem getting the first one out, and so I hope to get this amendment out," Maggart said. "Sending it back to education is not a setback."

However, House Majority Leader Gerald McCormick, who tried to table the motion to send the proposal back, told reporters after the committee meeting that the legislation is in trouble this session.

"I think there's some work to be done, and some persuasion to be done," said the Chattanooga Republican. "Time is running out."

Opponents also believe the measure is struggling.

After the companion bill passed the Senate the day before, Tennessee Education Association lobbyist Jerry Winters told reporters he believed the legislation would have a tough time in the House.

"It certainly slowed down the train," Winters said Tuesday. "And … it's good that this has been slowed down. The amendment that's been proposed still repeals a law that's worked very well."

Gera Summerford, president of the Tennessee Education Association, which has about 52,000 members statewide, said Tuesday's action gives opponents of the bill reason to be optimistic.

"It was very encouraging to see some of the members of the majority party … willing to look at this again," she said. "We've got a lot of concerns about what's going to come out."