Is there a way to avoid having to declare %tests and then assign to %tests on another line?
In a word 'no', or at least, not using lexicals. You could just use a package var however 
our %tests = ( ... );

## or the more compatible, less line lean

use vars '%tests';
%tests = ( ... );

[download]
Or perhaps 
use Test::More tests => do { ... };

[download]
HTH

_________
broquaint

In reply to Re: BEGIN, strict, and variable assignment by broquaint
in thread BEGIN, strict, and variable assignment by dragonchild

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