Serving Hohenwald, Lewis County Tennessee Since 1898
Serving Hohenwald, Lewis County Tennessee Since 1898
Sorted by date Results 176 - 200 of 201
Businesses, Tax Equity, and Workers Resolution gives voters an opportunity to embed the state’s Right to Work law into Tennessee Constitution -- A resolution allowing voters to embed the state’s Right to Work (RTW) law into Tennessee’s Constitution was approved during the 111th General Assembly. The measure protects the right of Tennesseans to join or refuse to join a labor union or employee organization, saying it should always be a “fundamental civil right.” Currently, there is legislati...
4 Transportation Improvements General Assembly enacts legislation improving transportation options for Tennesseans with disabilities and the elderly - Legislation designed to improve transportation options for Tennesseans with disabilities and the elderly was approved by the 111th General Assembly. The Tennessee Accessible Transportation and Mobility Act of 2020 creates an office within the Tennessee Department of Transportation to focus solely on expanding and improving accessible transporta...
Legislation passed effecting Courts and Judges Legislation clarifies judges can determine appropriateness of domestic case decisions -- Legislation was approved this year clarifying that Tennessee judges can continue to determine the appropriateness of decisions in domestic cases without a formal on-the-record hearing. The new law addresses conflicting opinions in the Court of Appeals, one of which said Tennessee judges are not allowed to settle domestic cases unless there is a formal hearing wi...
Corrections, Courts, and Crimes TRICOR moves to bring job training to those housed in county and city jails – Under a new 2020 law, the Tennessee Rehabilitative Initiative in Correction (TRICOR) is now authorized to provide job training to individuals incarcerated in Tennessee’s county and city jails. TRICOR is an organization operating within the Tennessee Department of Correction that provides job training to inmates in an effort to make them workforce ready and reduce the state’s recid...
It was the Constitution that made the War for Independence a Revolution Celebrate Constitution Day and Freedom Week Our nation is about to celebrate a very important birthday on September 17th. On September 17th many years ago, 39 delegates of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia signed the greatest protection of life, liberty, and property the world has ever seen – the U.S. Constitution. It is altogether appropriate that we stop and reflect on this amazing document and what it means t...
Corrections, Courts, and Crimes. Revised statute seeks to protect children from relative sex offenders - The General Assembly voted this year to clarify a 2019 law prohibiting sexual offenders or violent sexual offenders from staying overnight at a residence in which a minor resides or is present. A lawsuit was filed after passage of the legislation pertaining to parents and children who fall under the statute’s provisions. I sponsored this new law which addresses the matter by authorizing a D...
Higher Education The 2020-2021 budget includes $38 million in capital maintenance across higher education institutions from the Higher Education Capital Maintenance Fund and $2 million non-recurring statewide security grants. It also includes $1 million for additional Veteran Reconnect grants. In addition, a correctional education investment of $4.43 million was approved in recurring funds and $984,600 in non-recurring funds. The legislation below was passed during the 2020 session to improve...
General Assembly passes major legislation during Extraordinary Session to aid in state’s recovery from COVID-19 The Tennessee General Assembly met on August 10th in an Extraordinary Session passing two major bills to aid in the state’s recovery from the effects of the pandemic. One bill provides reasonable liability protections against frivolous COVID-19 lawsuits on businesses, proprietors, non-profits, health care providers, schools, day care providers, religious organizations and other entitie...
1th Commemoration of Women’s Suffrage On August 18th, our state and our nation recognize the 100th birthday of the ratification of the 19th Amendment to our U.S. Constitution giving women the right to vote. Tennessee was the 36th state to ratify the amendment, which was the number needed to mark the three-fourths required for ratification of what was then the 48 states. This historic vote was taken in the same House Chamber that we use today and the one in which I once served. Congress had p...
3th General Assembly - 2020 Session Education related Legislation As schools across the state plan to tackle the challenges of the new school year and begin to re-open, it is important to look at legislation that was passed this year involving education. Tennessee continued its efforts to prioritize education and pass important bills that benefit students across the entire state. Below is a continued list of some of the key pieces of legislation that was passed into law during the 111th...
3th General Assembly - 2020 Session: Health related Legislation The 2020-2021 budget increased funding for health care, with highlights including: • An additional $9.2 million in non-recurring funds for the adult health care safety net and $3 million in recurring funds; • A combined $26.5 million to strengthen the safety network for both mental health and health care services; • Approximately $19 million to support the health care network, $7.5 million to support the children’s behavioral and...
The last weekend in July will begin the 15th annual Sales Tax Holiday in Tennessee, though it will look a little different this year. In June, the General Assembly approved an extension of the 2020 Sales Tax Holiday. Not only did we double the price limits for tax exempt items, but we also included an additional weekend for the retail sale of food and drink at restaurants to be tax-exempt. Citizens, restaurants and retailers across our community have felt the economic hit from the COVID-19...
3th General Assembly - 2020 Session Education related Legislation The 2020-2021 budget continues Tennessee’s efforts to prioritize education and boost student achievement. The budget invests $50.3 million to fully fund growth and inflation in the state’s Basic Education Program (BEP). It also fully funds the growth in the Department of Children’s Services to take care of children who are in state custody. Education is of the upmost importance and is something that we should continue to impro...
Balanced budget focuses on economic recovery and essential state services, while keeping promises for tax relief to Tennessee seniors The Senate and House of Representatives worked together this session to find common ground on several key points before passage of the state budget. Although the bare bones spending plan focused on economic recovery and providing essential state government services, the measure also keeps promises to Tennessee seniors by keeping the Hall Income tax phase-out on...
Legislation Effective as of July 1st, 2020 The 111th General Assembly adjourned on the morning of June 19th after overcoming many obstacles this session. I am proud to say that despite the destruction and devastation of COVID-19, we passed a balanced budget and other key pieces of legislation that will benefit Tennesseans across this state. Below is a continued list of some of those bills that become effective on July 1st. Please reach out to my office if I can be of assistance to you. It is an...
Legislation Effective on July 1st, 2020 The 111th General Assembly adjourned on the morning of June 19th after overcoming many obstacles this session. I am proud to say that despite the destruction and devastation of COVID-19, we passed a balanced budget and other key pieces of legislation that will benefit Tennesseans across this state. Below are some of those bills that became effective on July 1st. Although we have completed our legislative work for the year, I will continue to provide these...
Independence Day As families across the state gather on this Independence Day to observe the founding of our nation’s freedom with family picnics, fireworks, and other special events, may we all remember those who have fought and are still fighting for our freedom. We have much to be proud of in Tennessee regarding our state’s rich heritage in fighting for the precious rights we all enjoy as Americans. As we look back to our nation’s first struggles in the American Revolution, even before Tenne...
Final Actions of the 111th Session of the TN General Assembly The 111th General Assembly adjourned to become a part of Tennessee history on the morning of June 19th with several important bills approved during the final week of legislative action. This includes the state budget, a bill to ban abortion after a heartbeat is detected, and a resolution allowing voters to adopt a Right to Work Constitutional Amendment. Resolution allows voters to embed Tennessee’s Right to Work Law to state’s con...
Limited Visitation at Tennessee Long-Term Care Facilities Will Resume Under New Guidelines I recently voiced my encouragement on the Senate Floor for The Department of Health and Governor Lee to re-open visitation to long-term care facilities here in our state. I understand the decision to limit exposure to these residents, but I believe the time has come to open these facilities back up. I know how important it is to the health and well-being of patients to be allowed visitors. I am very please...
State Senators return to Capitol Hill to wind up 2020 session Week is highlighted by Governor Lee’s new proposal to balance budget Tennessee lawmakers returned to Capitol Hill on June 1st amid a wide range of devastating effects caused by the Novel Coronavirus, COVID-19. The General Assembly is working to wind up the 2020 legislative session which recessed March 19, with the most important task being passage of a balanced budget. On June 4th, Finance and Administration Commissioner Butch Eley o...
Legislation passed Through March 19th New law aims to strengthen integrity of Tennessee’s voting process - The General Assembly has approved a new law strengthening the integrity of Tennessee’s voting process, as well as making the system more flexible in times of emergency. It establishes that counties using an electronic ballot marking system or ballot-on-demand technology do not have to fasten paper ballots and ballot stubs together in books so that each ballot may be detached and rem...
Final actions of the 2020 legislative session through March 19 Our last update discussed the significant bills that we passed through March 19th regarding Education. I would like to now give you an update on legislation that we have passed involving Health. One of our main concerns is ensuring the health and welfare of Tennesseans and I believe the passing of this legislation is a step in the right direction. My office is always open to assist you with whatever needs you have, especially during...
Final actions of the 2020 legislative session through March 19 Although our 2020 legislative session was cut short due to the Pandemic, we were able to pass key legislation before we adjourned. Last update discussed the legislation passed this year involving corrections, the courts, and strengthening laws against violent offenders. Today I would like to discuss some of the significant bills that we passed through March 19th regarding Education. My office is always open to assist you with...
CORRECTIONS, COURTS, AND CRIME We understand that our state has fallen on hard times due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. My office is still committed to serving you and providing assistance in whatever way you need during this time. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me if you need help. Although we aren’t set to return to the Capitol until June 1st to resume our work on legislation, numerous bills have already been signed into law dealing with crime, corrections and the courts. Before r...
Schools to remain closed for the rest of the academic year Governor Lee called on schools to remain closed for the remainder of the school year. Although this was a tough decision, it was made with the student’s best interest in mind. Students have missed a significant amount of learning time in the classroom and the State of Tennessee remains committed to continuing to provide resources to keep our students involved in their studies. Education resources provided through innovative p...
