Serving Hohenwald, Lewis County Tennessee Since 1898
Serving Hohenwald, Lewis County Tennessee Since 1898
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Tennessee Accommodations for All Children Act – Public Chapter 452 requires a public school to provide a reasonable accommodation to a person who has conveyed through a written request that they are unwilling or unable to use multi-occupancy restrooms or changing facilities designated for the person’s sex. (Bell / Transmitted to Gov 5/4) Student Athletes / Safe Stars Act – Public Chapter 272 creates standards and metrics for student athlete safety in a program that has been recognized as one o...
Expanding School Choice within a School District – Public Chapter 479 expands public school choice to additional districts that do not already have open enrollment policies. It allows students within the same school district to enroll in open seats at other schools if there is space available. Achievement School District – Public Chapter 490 creates a framework for schools to exit from Achievement School District (ASD) governance, including one option to allow those which are successful to con...
Session Highlights Teacher Shortages - Public Chapter 125 simplifies the process for teachers who are moving to Tennessee to receive an appropriate teaching license, helping qualified teachers get into classrooms quicker. Teacher Discipline Act –Public Chapter 77 establishes a process for local school districts to enable a teacher to remove a student who causes repeated disruptions. Teachers / Endorsement Pathways – Public Chapter 571 seeks to increase retention of high-quality educators by prov...
Session Highlights Special Session / Tennessee Literacy Success Act – Public Chapter 3 targets literacy skills to get students on track in the early grades, so they can become proficient readers by 3rd grade. It calls for LEAs and public charter schools to use foundational literacy skills instruction with a phonics-based approach for early reading instruction and establishes a reading screener to identify when a student needs help before third grade, so they won’t fall behind. This includes hel...
Session Highlights BUDGET Appropriations Bill – Public Chapter 454 provides appropriations for the no-debt, structurally-balanced $42.6 billion budget, which will fund state government for the 2021-2022 fiscal year. It continues lawmakers’ efforts to take care of the state’s most vulnerable citizens, ensure public safety, keep promises to state employees and maintain fiscal discipline. It prioritizes education, health care and job development, including a record investment in broadband. It in...
General Assembly ensures Covid-19 vaccines remain voluntary Legislation aiming to ensure Covid-19 vaccines remain voluntary passed the House and heads to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk for his signature. House Bill 575 will ensure that medical information reflecting the status of a person’s vaccination cannot be required by any state entities in Tennessee. The legislation prohibits a state or local governmental official, entity, department or agency from mandating a private business to require a “vaccine passport” or proof of a Covid-19 vaccine as a co...
House Republicans pass historic criminal justice reform The Tennessee House of Representatives approved two major criminal justice reform bills this past week in Nashville. Both are proposals from Gov. Bill Lee’s legislative package and are part of his efforts to reform criminal justice in Tennessee. The bills reflect changes recommended by the Tennessee Criminal Justice Reinvestment Task Force. House Bill 784 provides by alternatives to incarceration expanding Tennessee’s successful Rec...
The General Assembly approves $42.6 billion budget The House and Senate of the 112th General Assembly on Thursday successfully approved a no-debt $42.6 billion budget that provides strategic investments in education, health care, public safety and economic development initiatives. As a result of careful spending decisions and governing by conservative principles, Republicans were able to return to many pre-pandemic priorities with the 2021-22 fiscal year budget. The spending plan makes key...
House Republicans make Covid relief tax deductible for business Tennessee businesses will be eligible to receive more pandemic assistance through a bill that will exempt relief funds from state taxes. Republican leaders on April 5th successfully guided unanimous passage of House Bill 776 which exempts Covid-19 relief payments received between March 1, 2020 and Dec. 31, 2021 from the state’s excise taxes. This legislation provides an excise tax deduction for Tennessee business and entities t...
House Republicans make Covid relief tax deductible for business Tennessee businesses will be eligible to receive more pandemic assistance through a bill that will exempt relief funds from state taxes. Republican leaders on April 5th successfully guided unanimous passage of House Bill 776 which exempts Covid-19 relief payments received between March 1, 2020 and Dec. 31, 2021 from the state’s excise taxes. This legislation provides an excise tax deduction for Tennessee business and entities t...
House Republicans propose to protect consumer privacy Republican leaders this week announced a proposal that protects Tennesseans’ right to privacy and returns control of personal information back to consumers. The Tennessee Information Protection Act requires large technology companies to fully disclose to consumers what information is being collected about them through their online activities. When consumers interact on websites, social media, or apps they leave behind personal information tha...
Republican leaders this week advanced legislation aimed at further protecting first responders through the Criminal Justice Committee on Wednesday. House Bill 511 was amended to add new language under the current definition of terrorism that creates new protections for law enforcement, paramedics, firefighters, correctional officers, department of corrections employees, and other emergency medical rescue workers. The bill raises the offense of murdering an on-duty first responder for their profession to an act of terrorism. If convicted, the...
In house committees this past week, the Truth and sentencing reform advances. House Bill 1047 requires any person convicted of violent or sexual offenses that historically target women and children to serve their full sentencing term as assigned by a jury or judge. While the legislation does not remove judicial discretion, it ensures that parole or probation are not options for those found guilty of crimes that fall into these categories of offenses. If passed, it strengthens protections for...
Gov. Bill Lee delivered his third State of the State address this week in a joint convention of the House and Senate at War Memorial Auditorium in Nashville. The governor’s speech focused on recent Republican accomplishments and shared legislative and budget priorities for the 2021 legislative session. Lee presented his $41.8 billion budget plan to members which included key investments in public education, economic recovery, health care, public safety, and an emphasis on business and rural T...
As you all know, the business of state government will once again start January 12, 2021 with session of the 112th General Assembly. Rep. Byrd’s office would like to take this opportunity to say we will continue to bring daily updates from this year’s session and any upcoming issues that may arise to keep constituents informed as much as possible. Also, his office wanted to let constituents know that Rep. Byrd’s office remains open for any questions or concerns regarding government or other issues in that Mr. Byrd will continue to be the voice...
New laws strengthen penalties against child sex offenders – Public Chapter 588 was passed this year strengthening Tennessee’s statutes against the “worst of the worst” child sex offenders. Previously, sex offenders could be charged with aggravated rape of a child if their victim was zero to three years old. Beginning July 1, the new law raised that age range to zero to eight years old. Under recent legislation passed by the General Assembly in 2019, aggravated rape of a child is a Class A felony offense which is automatically punisha...
FAST Act simplifies and modernizes financial aid programs, while maximizing stewardship of grants benefitting students - Cost-saving legislation, simplifying and modernizing the HOPE Lottery Scholarship’s financial aid program, was approved in 2020. Called the Financial Aid Simplification for Tennessee (FAST) Act, it is the most comprehensive financial aid overhaul since the implementation of the HOPE Lottery Scholarship Program in 2003. Public Chapter 794 streamlines state law so that students and their families have a clearer understanding o...
3th General Assembly passes major pro-life legislation banning abortion when a fetal heartbeat is detected -- Major pro-life legislation, which includes a prohibition on abortions where a fetal heartbeat exists, was approved before the close of the 2020 legislative session. The comprehensive life-affirming bill, which was part of Governor Bill Lee’s legislative priorities, seeks to protect the life of the unborn. Public Chapter 764 includes a layered structure that prohibits abortion after t...
New law gives more flexibility to directors of schools regarding student discipline – The General Assembly passed a bill this year giving directors of schools in Tennessee more flexibility regarding discipline of students and the utilization of alternative schools. Attendance in an alternative school or program is mandatory for students in grades 7-12 who are suspended or expelled for more than 10 days if there is space and staff available, unless the student commits a zero tolerance offense. P...
Legislation encourages school districts to provide students with a wide variety of career-based experiences - State lawmakers approved a new law this year encouraging Tennessee school districts to provide their students with a wide variety of career-based experiences to help them make informed decisions about future careers. Public Chapter 527 calls for more on-the-job training for students, as well as opportunities to build professional relationships and learn about workplace expectations....
Legislation to extend CoverKids Program passes General Assembly - An extension of CoverKids (Public Chapter 582), Tennessee’s children’s health insurance program (CHIP) was approved this year, extending the program to June 30, 2025. CoverKids provides coverage to uninsured Tennessee children who are not eligible for the Tennessee’s Medicaid program. Similar to Medicaid, the program is financed and administered by both the federal and state government. The new legislation covers about 40,00...
Legislation expands access to dental care – A bill to help nonprofit dental clinics provide free care to more Tennesseans in need passed during the 2020 legislative session. Public Chapter 724 expands the maximum number of dental hygienists a dentist can oversee at a nonprofit provider of free mobile clinics from three to ten. This legislation will allow organizations, like Mission of Mercy and Remote Area Medical Clinics which provide free dental services from volunteer dentists and h...
New law encourages alternative pain treatments to opioids – Legislation encouraging the use of more alternative pain treatments rather than opioids was approved during the 2020 session. Public Chapter 573 amends the state’s opioid reform legislation to include medical devices like pain pumps, spinal cord stimulators, occupational therapy and non-opioid medicinal drugs as non-opioid based alternative therapies for chronic pain. A 2019 law called for alternative pain treatment for chi...
Legislation encourages lower health care costs through Association Health Plans – Legislation which aims to lower premiums and overall health care costs for small businesses through Association Health Plans (AHP) was approved this year. The new law, Public Chapter 515, aligns Tennessee’s AHP laws with new federal rules put into place by President Trump’s administration to help small businesses purchase affordable, high quality health insurance as a result of increased flexibility. AHPs allow...
HEALTH Budget – 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 mental health services, and $3 million to expand...
