Serving Hohenwald, Lewis County Tennessee Since 1898
Serving Hohenwald, Lewis County Tennessee Since 1898
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On December 4, the United States Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments in United States v. Skremetti which challenges a 2023 Tennessee law aimed at safeguarding children from undergoing transgender medical procedures. The legislation, known as Senate Bill 1, specifically prohibits minors from receiving irreversible gender-transition surgeries or pharmaceutical treatments. Across the nation, there have been alarming reports of medical professionals encouraging life-altering treatments for...
Thanksgiving is the unofficial beginning of the Holiday season and it has different meanings to each of us. For most it is being with family and friends, having too much delicious food, and watching some football. Let’s not forget the huge sale papers advertising the bargains to be had by the early shoppers on “Black Friday”. Most everyone is familiar with the story of the “first” Thanksgiving with the pilgrims and the Indians, but I wonder how many know about the Proclamation issued by George W...
As the holiday season nears with all the joy it brings, we also must be aware that respiratory viruses will appear and spread through houses and communities. Between travel, family gatherings, Christmas shopping, and other indoor festivities, unfortunately, this is the perfect storm for viruses to spread. During this time, it is important to know that antibiotics cannot defend against or treat viruses. They are ineffective against colds, runny noses, most sore throats, COVID-19 and the flu....
Tennessee Republican leadership introduces Education Freedom Act of 2025 on behalf of Governor Lee The morning following President Trump’s historic win, Tennessee Republican lawmakers filed the first bill of the 2025 legislative session. The Education Freedom Act of 2025 was filed November 6 to launch a new era of student success and put the Volunteer State on the pathway to having the best public schools in the nation. Providing parents with the ability to make education decisions for their c...
Next week, Governor Lee will kick off a series of budget hearings with departments and agencies of state government regarding their appropriations needs in the 2025/2026 fiscal year. These are important hearings and mark the beginning of the budget process which will conclude with passage of the budget at the end of session in 2025. I will provide updates on these budget hearings as they unfold. Ahead of the budget hearings, the following is a review of the 2024/2025 budget we passed in the...
When Tennesseans across the state cast their ballots for the upcoming November 5 election, we can all take comfort knowing that Tennessee elections are among the top run in the country. Every election matters. From the local school board, to the United States Presidential election it is imperative that every vote counts. In the General Assembly, we recognize the importance of election integrity and have taken many steps over the years to ensure the ballot box is protected. This year, I was...
New laws target elder abuse and protect vulnerable adults Caring for aging adults is an essential aspect of fostering a compassionate and functioning society. Every year in the General Assembly we make improvements to our laws to better protect vulnerable populations in Tennessee – including elderly adults. As life expectancy increases due to advancements in healthcare, more individuals are living longer, which makes elder care an even more pressing issue. And unfortunately, there are bad a...
Recently, East Tennessee was devastated by severe floods caused by Hurricane Helene. The damage is horrific. Over 600 homes are damaged and at least 120 homes are completely destroyed. On top of that, many others are left without power and water. On October 2, the federal government approved a major disaster declaration for Carter, Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, Hawkins, Johnson, Unicoi and Washington, which will make federal funding available for those hard hit counties. Tennessee’s first r...
The right to keep and bear arms is a fundamental liberty in America, and Tennessee has long been a champion of this constitutional right. In recent years, in the General Assembly we have taken significant steps to reinforce and safeguard the Second Amendment for our law-abiding Tennesseans. With a range of laws and policies, Tennessee has aimed to ensure that its residents can exercise their right to self-defense without undue restrictions or infringement. Permitless Carry One of the most notabl...
Criminal abuse can have deadly consequences for victims. This is why it is of the utmost importance that our laws in Tennessee protect victims and punish abusers. Unfortunately, for many years, Tennessee has been in the top percentile for domestic violence and, specifically, domestic violence deaths. Thousands of people in Tennessee are, or will become, victims of domestic violence. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, around 39.6% of women and 36.8% of men in the...
This year is the 23rd anniversary of the evil terror attacks of September 11, 2001. During this time of year, we are reminded of the 2,974 innocent victims who tragically lost their lives as a result of the acts of terror committed on that day. We also remember and appreciate the heroes of that day: our first responders – some of whom lost their lives -- and others who still suffer great consequences in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks. They did their duty with great courage and s...
The 113th General Assembly has adjourned for 2024, and it was a very successful year. We have taken measures for Tennessee to be a better place to live, work and to raise a family. Protecting children and family values is a top priority in Tennessee. Over the years we have taken steps to continue to strengthen our laws to protect children from harmful procedures and inappropriate sexual content. Tennessee has been at the forefront of the fight to stop hormone treatments in children to change...
The 113th General Assembly has adjourned for 2024, and it was a very successful year. We have taken measures for Tennessee to be a better place to live, work and to raise a family. Tennessee workers are essential to our state’s economic growth and prosperity On September 2, while many of our citizens enjoy a day of recreation and rest on Labor Day, it is also important to set aside time to honor the working folks of this state and reflect on what Labor Day means to our country. The origins of L...
The 113th General Assembly has adjourned for 2024, and it was a very successful year. We have taken measures for Tennessee to be a better place to live, work and to raise a family. New Tennessee laws combat illegal immigration in state I am proud to consistently support and pass legislation to crack down on illegal immigration and protect our communities. While immigration is largely a federal issue, for decades the federal government has failed to uphold their end of the bargain. With record...
The 113th General Assembly has adjourned for 2024, and it was a very successful year. We have taken measures for Tennessee to be a better place to live, work and to raise a family. The General Assembly strongly supports law enforcement in their brave work to keep our communities safe Tennessee is blessed to have some of the finest local and state law enforcement officers in the country. I am so grateful for their service and sacrifice to keep our communities safe. Our law enforcement have our...
New law safeguards parental rights this school year In the General Assembly this year we passed the Family Rights and Responsibilities Act which protects parents’ fundamental rights and responsibilities to make education, health care, moral and religious decisions for their child. As school starts back, it’s important for parents and schools to be aware of this law and understand how it affects students. Parents love and know their child best, and this new law puts parents – not the gover...
The 113th General Assembly has adjourned for 2024, and it was a very successful year. We have taken measures for Tennessee to be a better place to live, work and to raise a family. This is some of the legislation that was passed during this session. Veterans / First Responders Bonuses for skilled military personnel - A new law this year allows the Department of Military to administer a critical skills retention bonus program to fill critical military operations specialties within the Tennessee...
The 113th General Assembly has adjourned for 2024, and it was a very successful year. We have taken measures for Tennessee to be a better place to live, work and to raise a family. Voting is the cornerstone of our democracy and the best way to preserve Tennessee values Tennessee is proud to be ranked #1 in country for election integrity Following the assassination attempt against President Trump, the engagement at the Republican National Convention, which convened the following week, was off...
The 113th General Assembly has adjourned for 2024, and it was a very successful year. We have taken measures for Tennessee to be a better place to live, work and to raise a family. This is some of the legislation that was passed during this session. Tax Cuts / Jobs / Commerce Simplifying franchise tax and returning money to taxpayers - This year, lawmakers cut taxes by simplifying the state’s franchise tax – a business tax on net worth. This adjustment will offer relief to taxpayers, mod...
The 113th General Assembly has adjourned for 2024, and it was a very successful year. We have taken measures for Tennessee to be a better place to live, work and to raise a family. This is some of the legislation that was passed during this session. Committed to Public Education Supporting Tennessee Public Schools and Tennessee Students Over the last decade, the state has invested more than $3.5 billion in public education. More recently, Tennessee has made historic investments in public...
Legislation passed to protect children and family values, Prohibiting gender transition surgeries and irreversible hormone treatments for minors Tennessee lawmakers have been at the forefront of the fight to stop hormone treatments in children to change their gender identity. Tennessee led the nation when we took our first steps to ban hormone treatment for children. Since then, we have expanded those efforts and now under current law, medical “transition” surgeries that remove body parts to...
The 113th General Assembly has adjourned for 2024, and it was a very successful year. We have taken measures for Tennessee to be a better place to live, work and to raise a family. This is some of the legislation that was passed during this session. Protecting Victims Marsy’s Law - Victims’ Rights - Tennessee lawmakers passed a measure proposing to put Marsy’s Law in the state constitution to ensure crime victims’ rights are protected. Marsy’s Law will ensure that victims have equal access to ju...
Legislation passed to fight illegal immigration Tennessee stands with Texas in fight to secure our southern border Lawmakers passed a resolution supporting Texas in the fight against illegal immigrants flooding into the United States at the southern border. Because the federal government has failed to do its job to protect our border, Texas absolutely has the right to defend itself from this invasion. The overwhelming chaos at the border is enabling terrorists and drug cartels to invade our coun...
The 113th General Assembly has adjourned for 2024, and it was a very successful year. We have taken measures for Tennessee to be a better place to live, work and to raise a family. This is some of the legislation that was passed during this session. Higher Education Policies for AI in higher education – Legislation, which I sponsored, passed this session requiring the governing boards of public colleges and universities, public charter schools, and local boards of education to regulate the r...
The 113th General Assembly has adjourned for 2024, and it was a very successful year. We have taken measures for Tennessee to be a better place to live, work and to raise a family. This is some of the legislation that was passed during this session. Improving access to charter school facilities - Legislation passed to ensure public charter school students have access to the same quality facilities as other public school students. The new law requires school districts to regularly provide a list...
