Serving Hohenwald, Lewis County Tennessee Since 1898
Serving Hohenwald, Lewis County Tennessee Since 1898
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The Essence of Christmas is Captured in the Spirit of Giving Christmas is a most joyful time of year. It means gatherings with friends, beautiful lights, holiday food, and spending time with loved ones. It is a marvelous time of celebration. But most of all, it is the season during which Christians everywhere give thanks to God for the gift of His Son. The story of Christmas is as relevant today as it was over 2,000 years ago. It is the story of a family desperately searching for a place to...
The U.S. Supreme Court is considering one of the most important decisions on abortion made in decades – what does that mean for Tennessee? U.S. Supreme Court justices are preparing to make one of the most important decisions the nation’s high court has made in decades in the Mississippi Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case. The landmark case could decide whether states can protect the lives of unborn babies before viability. Technically, the court is hearing three abortion cases...
Two significant federal court decisions are delivered this week regarding the Biden Administration’s unconstitutional COVID-19 vaccine mandates There were two significant federal court rulings this week regarding the unconstitutional COVID-19 vaccination mandates issued by the Biden Administration earlier this fall. The first ruling came out of the U.S. District Court’s Eastern Division of Kentucky to enjoin vaccination requirements for federal contractors and subcontractors in three sta...
Tennessee continues efforts to combat human trafficking For the past decade, the Tennessee General Assembly has worked diligently to combat human trafficking. This includes enactment of the new laws passed this year to provide greater protections for crime victims and support to help them recover. This past week, Shared Hope International released their latest report. Shared Hope International is a premier organization which is dedicated to bringing an end to sex trafficking through a...
Senator Hensley encourages citizens to shop local as November 27th marks Small Business Saturday Thanksgiving is truly a special holiday. Although it did not become official until declared by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863, Americans have been celebrating this holiday for 232 years. It has evolved over the years to include family reunions, football and parades, but the heart of the holiday still remains acknowledgement to God for his bountiful blessings on our lives and the precious gift of...
General Assembly stands up to condemn Biden Administration’s federal overreach during Special Session on COVID-19 issues The Tennessee General Assembly adjourned the Third Extraordinary (Special) Session of the 2021 legislative year on October 30 after tackling a number of important issues regarding state and federal response to COVID-19. Last week we looked at the comprehensive legislation addressing mask, vaccine and quarantine mandates. In the second part of this two-part series, we will l...
General Assembly passes legislation protecting the constitutional rights of Tennesseans regarding COVID-19 mandates. The General Assembly passed significant legislation during the recent Special Legislative Session protecting the constitutional rights of Tennesseans regarding COVID-19 mandates and federal overreach. The most comprehensive bill approved during the session addresses COVID-19 vaccine, mask and quarantine mandates. Senate Bill 9014, which I co-sponsored, aims to provide clarity...
General Assembly meets to consider legislation regarding vaccine and mask mandates and other matters related to COVID-19 State lawmakers returned to Capitol Hill this past week for the Third Extraordinary Session of the 112th General Assembly to consider legislation regarding vaccines and mask mandates, and other matters relative to COVID-19. As you may remember, the First Extraordinary Session held in January addressed COVID-19 learning losses by focusing on intensive education interventions...
General Assembly passes transformational legislation cementing Tennessee’s place as a leader in electric vehicle production A special session of the Tennessee General Assembly closed on Wednesday after lawmakers approved legislation addressing funding and oversight of Ford Motor Company’s historic $5.6 billion investment at the state’s Megasite in West Tennessee. Ford and SK Innovation are set to build a 3,600-acre mega campus called “Blue Oval City” where production of next generation all-elect...
Governor Bill Lee announced last week that he is tackling one of the most important issues affecting education in Tennessee - our state’s funding formula for K-12 schools. The current formula is complex and confusing. It leaves few people who understand how it works and many to disagree on how it should work. One thing that everyone can agree on is that it is very important to students, teachers, parents and schools in our district and statewide. Created in 1992, the Basic Education Program (...
Scammers prey on unsuspecting or vulnerable victims Too many people in Tennessee have fallen prey to scammers And with the increasing sophistication of digital technology, scammers are more devious than ever. That is why I have worked to pass legislation during my legislative tenure to protect Tennesseans from a number of schemes to defraud consumers in our state. Unfortunately, many of these criminals prey on the good faith and humanity of some of our most vulnerable citizens - our elderly. The...
Join me in saying “YES ON 1” to enshrine Tennessee’s Right-to-Work Law in our State Constitution Despite obstacles presented by COVID-19, Tennessee has found much success over the past year in moving our state’s economy forward. Tennessee’s right-to-work status has played a key role in enhancing the state’s business-friendly environment, bringing in record new jobs and capital investment. That is why I am honored to help lead the “Yes on 1” proposed amendment to our State Constitution by...
When the General Assembly meets in January, one of the top issues on the agenda will be reapportionment of the state’s House, Senate and congressional districts. It is an arduous task done every 10 years after the U.S. Census is completed. The census figures were released last month, prompting the speakers of both the House and Senate in the Tennessee General Assembly to appoint special redistricting committees to begin the process of drawing new maps. The purpose of redistricting is to e...
Safe Senior Act to take effect October 1 helps protect elderly and vulnerable adults Most laws enacted by the General Assembly have July 1, January 1 enactment dates or become law upon the governor’s signature. Occasionally, another date is set by legislation and that is the case with an important law passed this year to protect elderly and vulnerable Tennesseans. The Safe Seniors Act of 2021, which will go into effect on October 1, was passed this year to assist law enforcement and p...
State’s sound financial footing benefits Tennesseans Our state’s conservative fiscal strategy is working - creating new jobs and opportunities for Tennesseans. Over the last decade, we have worked diligently each year to prepare responsible balanced budgets that include strategic investments in jobs, education and infrastructure to boost our economy; thoughtful reductions to promote government efficiency and accountability; and even put back savings to weather economic storms. This strategy has...
Recent tragedies show Tennessee’s Volunteer Spirit is still alive and well Recent tragedies over the last couple of weeks have underscored why they call Tennessee the Volunteer State. Although we gained the nickname in the War of 1812 for our state’s role in sending far more than the requested number of volunteers into battle, that moniker is still alive and well in Tennessee. When our neighbors in Humphreys County were hit by the worst flash flood in our state’s history, volunteers from acros...
The strength of the American workforce compares to no other. For generations, the American worker has been a strong force driving innovation and progress. The Labor Day holiday recognizes our labor forces’ continued effort to strengthen and grow our economy. And we are deeply grateful to the American worker and their important role in creating the greatest economy in the world. U.S. workers have been vital to providing our nation the highest standard of living and the greatest production the w...
In 2022, there will be two initiatives put before Tennessee voters to enshrine new amendments to the Tennessee Constitution. Both ballot initiatives have passed the Tennessee General Assembly with a two thirds majority vote in each chamber and must now receive a majority of the vote in the gubernatorial election in order to be added to the Constitution. Right to Work Constitutional Amendment – The first proposed amendment is to enshrine Tennessee’s Right to Work law in the State’s Const...
Decision by Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals is very important for unborn children in Tennessee The full Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals recently upheld the constitutionality of a 2015 law passed by our General Assembly requiring a 48-hour waiting period for abortions. This decision was very important for unborn children in Tennessee. The Sixth Circuit Appeals Court reversed a lower court decision that the law imposed too many burdens on women seeking abortions. The Appeals Court concluded that...
We are off to a new school year! It is always an exciting time for students to get back into the classroom as the new academic year starts. Recently, Governor Lee announced the results of our Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) tests. It shows we must be very diligent this school year to make up for learning losses experienced by students during the pandemic. The decline in academic gains was not unexpected news due to school shutdowns and remote learning. That is why we got to...
Re-employment protections to Tennessee National Guard – Legislation protecting civilian reemployment rights for Tennessee National Guard members upon completion of service in a State Active Duty was approved during the 2021 session. This provides members of the National Guard returning from State Active Duty the same right to reemployment afforded to servicemembers called to federal active service, protecting them from discrimination in the workplace based on their military service. Tennessee’s...
PBMs / Prescription Drugs – The Patient Access Choice and Transparency Act was passed during the 2019 legislative session prioritizing patient-centered care by making certain reforms to how Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) operate in Tennessee. It helps ensure patients can use the pharmacies they choose and trust rather than being forced by their insurance companies to use specialty pharmacies that often don’t meet patients’ needs. This is particularly important for patients with chronic, compl...
5 Legislative Session Legislation Enacted July 1st Second Amendment Rights / Stronger Penalties for Gun Theft - The General Assembly approved legislation during the 2021 legislative session allowing Tennesseans to exercise their constitutional right to carry firearms without a permit, while cracking down on criminals who steal guns or possess them illegally. The new law allows law-abiding citizens in Tennessee who are at least 21 years old or are honorably discharged or active in the U.S....
Crime / Good Samaritan – State lawmakers approved legislation that I sponsored this year which enhances penalties for murder against a person who was acting as a “Good Samaritan.” This refers to a person who helps, defends, protects, or renders emergency care to a person in need without compensation. The new law applies to cases when the defendant knew that the person was acting as a Good Samaritan. Criminal Justice Reform – The General Assembly passed major criminal justice reform legisla...
Children / Severe Child Abuse / Exposure to Dangerous Drugs – A new law was passed this year to protect children from being exposed to dangerous illegal drugs. It expands the definition of “severe child abuse” to involve a child’s exposure to certain extremely dangerous or illegal drugs. It also provides an individual that knowingly allows a child to be in the presence of and have accessibility to such drugs as cocaine, methamphetamine or fentanyl will be guilty of severe child abuse. Safe Ho...
