Serving Hohenwald, Lewis County Tennessee Since 1898
Serving Hohenwald, Lewis County Tennessee Since 1898
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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...
7 Session of the 113th General Assembly A new report shows Tennessee students are making important progress in reading For years, Tennessee struggled to significantly improve rates of proficiency in English Language Arts (ELA), including in third grade. In 2021, we faced less-than-stellar literacy rates, along with significant learning losses due to the Covid-19 pandemic. So the General Assembly held a special session and decided to take a different approach to address reading. During the...
7 Session of the 113th General Assembly In Tennessee, We Protect the 2nd Amendment From self-defense to recreational use, protecting the use of firearms in the 2nd Amendment is a Tennessee tradition. In the time I’ve served in the General Assembly, we have passed many laws to solidify our commitment to the 2nd Amendment. This year, we passed legislation I sponsored to protect firearm and ammunition manufacturers. This new law provides civil liability protection to firearm and ammunition m...
7 Session of the 113th General Assembly Condemning the invasion of Israel by Hamas The Tennessee General Assembly this week issued a proclamation condemning in the strongest possible terms the invasion of Israel by the terrorist group known as Hamas. The proclamation demonstrates that the people of Tennessee and their legislature stand united in their support for the state of Israel and against those who seek to destroy America’s strongest ally in the Middle East. As the proclamation s...
When Tennessee ushered in our current fiscal year on July 1, 2023, a slew of new Tennessee laws passed by the General Assembly went into effect. I was proud to pass new laws to care for children by improving adoption and foster care services, as well as strengthening resources to the Department of Children’s Services (DCS) and the Wilder Youth Development Center in Fayette County. A new law went into effect this year to protect prospective adoptive parents and expectant parents from illegal a...
Recognizing Breast Cancer Awareness Month Every October, our nation is painted in various shades of pink as we collectively observe National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It is a time to come together to raise awareness about breast cancer, support those affected by it, and emphasize the importance of early detection and research. Beyond the ribbons and pink products, National Breast Cancer Awareness Month carries profound significance in the fight against this deadly disease. As the most...
Joint Working Group on Federal Education Funding Last week, the Tennessee State Senate and speakers announced the creation of a new Joint Working Group on Federal Education Funding and I was appointed to serve on it. The working group will study the impact federal education funding has in and out of the classroom. That includes the restrictions, mandates, and additional regulations required by the Federal Department of Education, and whether the state can provide similar services without taking...
It was the Constitution that made the War of Independence a Revolution Celebrating Constitution Day Our nation celebrated a very important birthday on September 17. On this date 231 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 to us as Americans. That is why I s...
The 113th General Assembly has adjourned for 2023, 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 some of the laws passed this session. Adding “In God We Trust” to the state seal - The General Assembly approved a measure to add “In God We Trust” to the Tennessee state seal. The new law asks the governor, who is the keeper of the seal, to direct the Secretary of State to redesign the state seal. O...
The 113th General Assembly has adjourned for 2023, 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 some of the laws passed this session. Protecting senior citizens from stalkers - This new law expands aggravated stalking offenses to include anyone who stalks a person 65 years of age or older and is at least 15 years younger than the victim. The change increases the punishment from a Class A misdemean...
The 113th General Assembly has concluded Governor Lee’s extraordinary session on public safety and accomplished the business he called on the General Assembly to address. In the special session, the legislature continued efforts to prioritize investments in mental health and school safety and approved the majority of the governor’s legislative package. The new laws passed aim to enhance public safety by encouraging responsible gun ownership, speeding up the background check process for pur...
The 113th General Assembly has adjourned for 2023, 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 some of the laws passed this session. Supporting firefighters suffering from PTSD - The Senate unanimously approved a new law that seeks to reduce stigma and provide support for firefighters following a post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnosis. The James ‘Dustin’ Samples Act allows a fir...
The 113th General Assembly has adjourned for 2023, 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 some of the laws passed this session. Ensuring smart, financially responsible investment – This year, the General Assembly passed legislation to ensure that the state is only investing taxpayer funds into financially responsible companies. The new law specifically prohibits the Tennessee Treasurer from...
The 113th General Assembly has adjourned for 2023, 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 some of the laws passed this session. Small Government Efficiency Act becomes law - A new law ensures effective local representation and the utmost efficiency for taxpayers. Known as the Small Government Efficiency Act, the law reins in excessive government growth by lowering the maximum size of...
The 113th General Assembly has adjourned for 2023, 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 some of the laws passed this session. Extending COVID-19 liability protections indefinitely – The General Assembly made permanent certain laws passed during the COVID-19 pandemic to protect citizens from government overreach and provide businesses and health care providers with liability protections f...
7 Session of the 113th General Assembly The 113th General Assembly has adjourned for 2023, 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 some of the laws passed this session. Do-Not-Text law - The General Assembly passed legislation to allow Tennessee consumers to block unwanted text messages. The law merges text message solicitations to the state’s Do Not Call Registry, and extends the same p...
The 113th General Assembly has adjourned for 2023, 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 some of the laws passed this session. Cracking down on TikTok use at Tennessee College Campuses - This law prohibits the Chinese-owned social media platforms TikTok and WeChat from being accessed on Tennessee public higher education institutions’ internet networks. The State of Tennessee and the F...
7 Session of the 113th General Assembly The 113th General Assembly has adjourned for 2023, 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. Creating Sexual Assault Response Teams - On January 1, 2024, law enforcement agencies in Tennessee must begin forming a sexual assault response team (SART) under a new law approved by the General Assembly this year. The team will...
7 Session of the 113th General Assembly The 113th General Assembly has adjourned for 2023, 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. Increasing penalties for strangulation - To crack down on crime and abuse, lawmakers approved a new law to increase penalties for strangulation charges. It clarifies that if a victim loses consciousness as a result of...
The 113th General Assembly has adjourned for 2023, 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. Strengthening Tennessee’s laws protecting mothers and the unborn – Tennessee law makers reaffirmed their commitment to protecting pregnant women and the unborn by passing a law that clarifies that doctors should protect the life of a mother when a nonviable pregnancy end...
7 Session of the 113th General Assembly The 113th General Assembly has adjourned for 2023, 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. Transportation Modernization Act - The General Assembly passed major legislation to modernize Tennessee’s infrastructure and address traffic congestion, prolonged project delivery timelines, and the deteriorating revenue stream f...
The 113th General Assembly has adjourned for 2023, 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 some of the laws passed this session that deal with healthcare. Training Bonus for EMS - EMS personnel must receive from the board of emergency medical services a pay supplement of $800 for completing the 40-hour in-service training course in addition to their regular salary. Effective January 1, 2024....
The 113th General Assembly has adjourned for 2023, 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. Enhancing the appeals process for capital offenses - When defendants are convicted of a capital offense, they are awarded a request for collateral review, which is a judicial re-examination of evidence that is handled by the original trial court. These requests are the defendants’ right, but they often come late i...
7 Session of the 113th General Assembly The 113th General Assembly has adjourned for 2023, 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. 2023/2024 Budget Highlights The $55.6 billion, no-debt budget addresses the needs of all Tennesseans while advancing efforts to strengthen families, bolster safety, improve education, create new opportunities for economic development and modernize transportation. The...
5th General Assembly The 113th General Assembly has adjourned for 2023, 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. Addressing the teacher shortage – The Senate passed several bills to alleviate the shortage of teachers at schools throughout Tennessee. Senate Bill 1221, would grant a temporary teacher license to student teachers in c...
