Serving Hohenwald, Lewis County Tennessee Since 1898
Serving Hohenwald, Lewis County Tennessee Since 1898
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Proposed Constitutional Amendment gives Tennessee voters opportunity to create emergency succession plan for office of governor Vote ‘YES’ on Amendment 2 to the Tennessee Constitution to ensure stability for state executive office On the November 8 ballot, Tennessee voters will have the opportunity to weigh in on a proposed amendment to the state constitution that establishes a framework for a temporary transition of power for the highest elected official in the state. If approved, the ame...
Parents can download SafeTN app as part of back-to-school preparations The first day of school for many students, teachers and parents can elicit mixed emotions. There is much preparation that leads up to the first day of school. Students worry about if they will have friends in their class, what their schedules will be, and what their new teachers will be like. Teachers finalize new lessons plans and refine old ones. They organize and decorate their classrooms for eager young learners to spend...
The 112th General Assembly has adjourned for 2022, 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. I will go over the laws passed this session over the next few weeks. Cracking down on mail-order abortions — A new law creates criminal and civil penalties for anyone who provides abortion-inducing drugs through telemedicine and subsequently supplies those drugs via courier, delivery or mail service. Abortions via mai...
The 112th General Assembly has adjourned for 2022, 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. I will go over the laws passed this session over the next few weeks. Cracking down on drive-by shootings — To impose stricter penalties on criminals who engage in drive-by shootings, a new law requires that a person convicted of aggravated assault that involved the use or display of a deadly weapon be punished one c...
The 112th General Assembly has adjourned for 2022, 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. I will go over the laws passed this session over the next few weeks. Truth in Sentencing – To protect victims of crime and provide true accountability for those who commit crimes, a new law requires a person convicted of certain offenses to serve 100% of the sentence imposed before becoming eligible for release. It e...
The 112th General Assembly has adjourned for 2022, 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. I will go over the laws passed this session over the next few weeks. Age-Appropriate Materials Act of 2022 – To increase transparency and oversight of instructional materials and literature used in public schools, a new law requires public schools to post online a list of the materials in their libraries. It also r...
6 Budget Overview This year’s no-debt budget highlights lawmakers’ continuous efforts to cut taxes for Tennesseans, maintain fiscal responsibility, ensure public safety and prioritize education. It invests $52.58 billion in the state of Tennessee for the 2022/2023 fiscal year, with total legislative initiatives making up $84.1 million recurring and $570.8 million in non-recurring expenditures. To maintain fiscal responsibility, lawmakers are making a $250 million investment in the state’s Rai...
Tax relief, public safety and education highlight fiscally responsible budget passed by General Assembly The state budget led a host of important bills approved by lawmakers this week as the 2022 legislative session begins to close. The General Assembly, which is looking to adjourn soon, has completed the majority of its business with most of the remaining action pending on bills that were behind the budget due to their cost. This year’s no-debt budget highlights lawmakers’ continuous eff...
Senate approves proposed civics institute at UT-Knoxville The Senate continued to wind down its business as many important bills received final approval this week. The Senate passed Governor Bill Lee’s proposal to establish the Institute of American Civics at Tennessee’s largest public university. Senate Bill 2410 locates the institute within the Howard H. Baker, Jr. Center for Public Policy on the campus of the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. Governor Lee announced the proposal during his...
Campaign ethics reform passes first hurdle to increase accountability for political organizations As Senate committees continue to finalize their business for the 112th General Assembly, the Judiciary Committee approved legislation to enhance protections for victims of human trafficking and abuse. Important legislation to shine light on political organizations advanced in the Senate State and Local Government Committee this week, and Senators continued to present their proposals for budget...
Budget becomes central focus of General Assembly Action on Capitol Hill continued to shift from committees to the floor of the Senate this week as lawmakers worked diligently to approve many important bills. Over half of the Senate’s nine standing committees have completed their business for the 112th General Assembly. Meanwhile, the state budget will be the central focus during the final weeks before adjournment. Governor Lee proposes new budget amendment Finance and Administration C...
Senate passes legislation to combat indoctrination in higher education The Senate this week passed legislation that protects students and employees at public universities from being forced to believe or embrace divisive concepts. Senate Bill 2290 stipulates that students or employees at public higher education institutions must not be penalized, discriminated against, or adversely treated due to the student’s or employee’s refusal to endorse divisive concepts. The bill also prohibits public uni...
Truth in Sentencing legislation gets committee approval The Judiciary Committee this week passed a “truth in sentencing” bill that requires a person convicted of certain offenses to serve 100% of the sentence imposed before becoming eligible for release. Senate Bill 2248 applies to 14 violent crimes, including aggravated assault, vehicular homicide, attempted first degree murder where the victim suffers great bodily injury and aggravated robbery, to name a few. Under the bill, there will be no...
Bill aims to expand access to broadband internet in rural Legislation aimed at expanding access to broadband internet in rural communities advanced through the Commerce and Labor Committee this week. Building on successful legislation passed in 2017, Senate Bill 2034 would allow rural electric and community services cooperatives to provide broadband services outside their service area to people who do not purchase electricity from the cooperative. Existing law makes such allowances for...
Senate approves compensation for families of deputy jailers killed in the line of duty Tennessee currently offers a compensation program for families of first responders killed in the line of duty. Senate Bill 278, passed by the Senate this week, expands the definition of a law enforcement officer in the program to also include deputy jailers, retroactive to March 1, 2020. Under the program, families of first responders killed in the line of duty receive a $250,000 annuity paid over five years...
Gov. Lee, Commissioner Schwinn Unveil Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement Act Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and Tennessee Department of Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn on Thursday released the details of the Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement (TISA) Act (SB2396) that would transition Tennessee’s K-12 public schools to a student-based funding approach. Starting in the 2023-24 school year, the TISA would invest an estimated $9 billion in education funding for the state, i...
(NASHVILLE, Tenn.), February 17, 2022 – The Education Committee this week passed legislation requiring public schools to post online a list of the materials in their libraries. Proposed by Gov. Bill Lee, the Age-Appropriate Materials Act of 2022 (Senate Bill 2407) now goes to the full Senate for consideration. This bill simply sets forth a framework for all of our public school libraries to use to make sure parents and other stakeholders, including teachers and school board members, have a w...
Commerce and Labor Committee passes “New Markets Development Act” The Commerce and Labor Committee unanimously approved legislation that would create a tax credit program to encourage economic growth in rural and low-income areas. The bill will be reviewed by the Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee next. The program created by the “New Markets Development Act” would fund small businesses located in Tennessee through insurance premium tax credits. Variations of the program have been impleme...
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee on Monday delivered his fourth State of the State address and presented budget and legislative priorities to a joint session of the General Assembly. “Tennessee stands as a beacon to the rest of the country for how we can change lives when we control the size of government, prioritize efficiency, and make smart and responsible investments,” Lee said. “I am proud to propose a budget and America at Its Best policies that reinforce freedom, innovation, excep...
The State Senate this week unanimously passed legislation that ends the practice of surprise or unexpected medical billing in Tennessee, also called balanced billing. Balanced billing occurs when providers bill a patient for the difference between the amount they charge and the amount the patient’s insurance covers. The amount that insurers pay providers is almost always less than the providers’ “retail price.” Some providers will bill the patient for the difference or balance, thus it’s ca...
General Assembly starts 2022 legislative session with Redistricting The Tennessee State Senate on Jan. 20 voted in favor of new Senate and Congressional redistricting maps for Tennessee. The votes followed a lengthy and transparent process of gathering and considering input from stakeholders throughout the state. The new Senate map balances the federal mandate of “one person, one vote” with the state constitutional mandate not to split counties. In the new Senate map, there are just nine county...
Preview of the 2022 Legislative Session of the 112th General Assembly Redistricting maps The Senate Ad Hoc Committee on Redistricting voted on Thursday to recommend both State Senate and Congressional redistricting maps to the Senate Judiciary Committee. The maps are expected to be voted on by the General Assembly soon. Redistricting occurs every 10 years following the census. The purpose of redistricting is to ensure Tennesseans have equal representation. This right is rooted in both the...
PREVIEW OF THE 2022 SESSION The General Assembly will convene on January 11, 2022, and one of the primary issues of the 112th General Assembly will be dealing with the state budget. The budget is always a top issue and the most important constitutional duty of the Tennessee General Assembly. This year it will be especially important due to strong tax collections, excess revenues and the flow of federal stimulus funds into Tennessee. The state is in the best financial condition in recent...
Preview of the 2022 Legislative session BUDGET - The budget is always a top issue but it will be especially important due to strong tax collections, excess revenues and the flow of federal stimulus funds into Tennessee. The state is in the best financial condition in recent history. Economic advisors, however, have cautioned that one-time stimulus funds, changing spending patterns and high inflation could cause revenues to wane in the next fiscal year. Expect the legislature to be very...
New Year rings in enactment of several important new laws December 22, 2021 -- It is just days before we usher in 2021. January 1 often marks a time of new beginnings. This is true in state government as well, with several significant new laws set to take effect then. These include three bills I sponsored dealing with school discipline, access to chiropractic care for TennCare patients, and election integrity. I also co-sponsored several other bills. Among them, are two bills that will take effe...
